6 days agoMember-onlyA simple birthday cake to celebrate simplicityI forgot to tell people that I wanted a real birthday cake on my birthday. An honest-to-goodness real birthday cake. I had carrot cake and other kinds of cake. They were good, but they didn’t feel like birthday cakes. There is a difference. I’m talking about the kind that is…Birthday3 min readBirthday3 min read
May 21Member-onlyEvery generation loses something we wish we still hadI like it when people say things like “those were the good old days” or “they sure don’t make things like this anymore.” I don’t know exactly why, but those kinds of phrases always make me smile. Maybe it’s because they are always said with kindness and a sense of…1990s3 min read1990s3 min read
Apr 24Member-onlyUnderstanding the meaning of patriotismOn a trip to Washington, D.C., recently, I was reminded of what it feels like to be patriotic. It’s something most of us say that we are, but it can be difficult to explain the emotions it brings up when we are feeling it. The feeling is powerful when you…Patriotism3 min readPatriotism3 min read
Apr 3Member-onlyA guy named Dennis, a street corner, and a prayerI met a guy named Dennis on a street corner in Chicago the other day. I was in town for a few days, mostly attending conference sessions about higher education. Each speaker had something to say about something that he or she wanted us to know. There was a lot…Chicago3 min readChicago3 min read
Mar 26Member-onlyThere really is a silver lining in every cloudI was going to start this column by sharing with you that spring was finally here until those tricky winds and cold mornings returned for one last stand, or what I hope is a last stand, and that I was upset about it because spring and summer are my favorite…Happiness3 min readHappiness3 min read
Mar 5Member-onlyReally big chocolate cookies are for dreamersWhen I was in high school, the little store on campus sold giant cookies. They seemed about U.F.O. sized and everyone’s favorite choice was the chocolate chip kind because you could see endless amounts of chocolate chips through the plastic wrap that held it all together. The computer lab lady…Cookies3 min readCookies3 min read
Feb 26Member-onlyWhen giving up is hard to doI’m not Catholic, but I like the idea of giving up something for a season. In our society, our way of living, giving up something seems like an extraordinary act of sacrifice. We need to give up things more often. This is the season of giving up things. I think…Lent3 min readLent3 min read
Feb 20Member-onlySenior Cafe and other reasons to gatherA local organization that supports disabled people in my town announced this week that they are hosting a new Senior Café event on most mornings of the week. The flyer said there would be free coffee and even continental breakfast for sale beginning at 7:30 a.m. each day. Under a…Coffee3 min readCoffee3 min read
Feb 12Member-onlyReader letters make life worth writing aboutI like to read emails and letters from readers. People don’t have to write something and send it to someone they really don’t know. Still, many of you do, and it means something to me. Sending someone a note of encouragement, a quick message that shares good feelings, seems like…Letters3 min readLetters3 min read
Feb 6Member-onlyWe need more old fashioned hamburger experiencesMy friend always chuckles when I go to a diner or a whole-in-the-wall, family-owned restaurant and order an Old Fashioned. It’s what I call a traditional, classic burger. You know the kind. Toasted bun, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and some mayo. Oh, and the best part is a patty that looks…Food3 min readFood3 min read
