Once upon a time, there was a bored child. To alleviate his boredom, he began spying on his neighbors. He knew what he witnessed wasn’t his business. The people he observed were unaware, and most of the time, what he saw was of no interest to him. However, there was one time that disturbed him…
The Junior-Senior T.P. Wars are a part of the Homecoming traditions at my daughter’s high school. Every evening during homecoming week, the 11th and 12th graders hit many of the opposing classmate’s houses. Hundreds of toilet paper rolls are tossed into trees, wrapped around plants and furniture, torn into tiny bits, and strewn across the…
Not all, but most of you reading this will remember learning to drive a stick shift. Switching gears takes patience. It’s hard to forget the seatbelt taut across your body caused by the jerky motion that was supposed to be a smooth transition from one gear to the next. There was a fine-tuned balance of…
Tomorrow marks a day in American history that no American will ever forget. Most people cannot recall what they ate for breakfast, but on 9/11, no one can erase the details of that day. Where you were, what you were doing, even what you wore is probably on total recall. For some, there is no…
Indulge me for a moment. Picture yourself in the mountains on a dirt hiking trail. There is blue sky above, a river flowing below, and a rainbow of wildflowers in every direction. The beauty and silence are intoxicating until an out-of-place sound pierces the moment. In a split second, your defenses are up as you…
Friends are the people you choose to surround yourself with. They are individuals that grab and hold your attention and make you curious to know more about them. Acquaintanceship is often the starting point of a friendship. Some friendships last for the time needed, and others become lifelong. The longer a friendship lasts, the more…
Being in 4-H, my daughters compete in the county fair. No county fair experience is complete without a visit to the rodeo. At a time when religious opinions are openly expressed, the political climate is tense, and kindness can be hard to come by, I was pleasantly surprised by the rodeo’s approach. Before the events…
How is it that the older one gets, the faster time passes? When you’re a kid, time moves at a snail’s pace. Waiting for summer or your next birthday seems to take forever. The words, “How much longer?” escape the lips of every child. “Faster! Faster! Hurry up!” is the mantra of youth. Before you…
Much of my happiness comes from the outdoors, either being outside or bringing parts of it inside. Nature fascinates me to the point of referring to myself as a “Nature Nerd.” It’s impossible for me to walk a beach or hike a mountain without collecting seashells or rocks. I am easily awed by the intricate and colorful patterns of a…
Monumental events leave a lasting impression. Some years roll over into one another with no distinct variation. You go through the motions without noteworthy happenings. Other years go down in the books for being extraordinarily eventful. The past twelve months have been of the eventful kind for my family. There have been plenty of blessings…