-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
ivanbenson on Unfinished Tasks Jonah on Unfinished Tasks ivanbenson on The Demon of Unrest GP on The Demon of Unrest GP on It’s A Small World After… Archives
- December 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- July 2025
- May 2025
- January 2025
- May 2024
- December 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- December 2021
- September 2021
- July 2021
- May 2021
- September 2020
- August 2020
- June 2020
- April 2020
- December 2019
- July 2019
- January 2019
- October 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- October 2017
- August 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- January 2017
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
Categories
Meta
Category Archives: Stories
Lex Oliver (Nov. 15, 2007 – Sept. 4, 2025): A Tribute
He and his two sisters were just a few weeks old when they were found in an abandoned warehouse. We chose the boy; my eldest daughter took his two sisters. I wasn’t eager to engage in this new venture; I … Continue reading →
Posted in Family History, Stories, Uncategorized
|
Tagged dog, Family, Lex, pet, tribute
|
Leave a comment
Losing Altitude
They’re not usually the words you want to hear when you’re flying in an airplane (“We’re losing altitude”), because more often than not they spell impending disaster. They say these words in movies moments before the inevitable crash unless the … Continue reading →
Posted in Aging Parents, Family History, Stories, Uncategorized
|
Tagged adventure, aging, aviation, death, Family, grandchildren, Height, Losing altitude, pilot, travel, writing
|
Leave a comment
The Meaning Makers
I encountered an expression a few weeks ago; it is a popular educator’s term, but it was new to me. The writer was detailing the history of treatment for PTSD and he mentioned the fact that human beings are “meaning … Continue reading →
Posted in Family History, Stories, Uncategorized
|
Tagged atheism, atheist, christianity, depression, God, Meaning maker, Moralistic, philosophy, religion, Sociopath, suicide
|
Leave a comment
The Demon of Unrest
I just finished a fabulous book about the beginnings of the American Civil War; the author is none other than the esteemed Erik Larson. It is a 2024 publication filled with information I have never seen before, and it is … Continue reading →
Posted in Stories, Uncategorized, World War II
|
Tagged books, Civil War, Erik Larson, History, Japan, movies, politics
|
2 Comments
Lex Oliver: Getting Old Ain’t for Sissies
Lex, our black Lab/Pit mix, turned 16 last November, so he is officially “old.” In dog years that makes him 115.5. “Mr. Routine” often sleeps in till 10 AM now, and his now-varying patterns control our day. If he’s not … Continue reading →
It’s A Small World After All
Horrific war in the Middle East, Israel versus Hamas, unspeakable brutality and loss of life; the continuing struggle between Ukraine and Russia; health care concerns over RSV and new strains of Covid; economic upheaval and the rise in the prices … Continue reading →
Posted in Family History, Stories, Uncategorized
|
Tagged Alvin Toffler, Christmas, cold, cold weather, Covid, Donner Party, Future Shock, Hamas, heating, Israel, It's a small world after all, middle east, news, RSV, Russia, Ukraine, winter
|
9 Comments
I Miss Mayberry
When Rascal Flatts released the song “Mayberry” in 2002 they struck a chord that is universal in our modern culture: our desperate need to slow down, find peace, and be known. So that when they sing the chorus, multitudes of … Continue reading →
Posted in Comedy, Family History, Stories, Uncategorized
|
Tagged 1960s, Abraham Maslow, Andy Griffith, Andy of Mayberry, Ararat VA, baby boomer, Dan River, fictional, Floyd's barbershop, I miss Mayberry, Kafka, Mayberry, Mt. Airy NC, nostalgia, Rascal Flatts, reality, Snappy's, The Andy Griffith Show, true stories
|
13 Comments
In the End . . . .
I know that Mary Poppins suggested we “start at the very beginning,” and I agree with her “that’s a very good place to start.” However, I am captivated today with a phrase I heard in a meeting with several men … Continue reading →
Posted in Aging Parents, Family History, Fathers, Stories, Uncategorized
|
Tagged impression, legacy, Mary Poppins, ripples, the end
|
9 Comments
A Family Affair
Divorce, suicide, sexual addiction, child custody case, alcohol abuse, estranged siblings, stillbirth, murder, dementia, autism, food addiction, breast cancer, prostate cancer, heart attack, opioid allergy, etc. Shall I go on? This is just a cursory perusal of some of the … Continue reading →
Posted in Family History, Stories, Uncategorized
|
Tagged aging, alcohol, autism, breast cancer, child custody, cousin Eddie, dementia, divorce, doctor, estranged, family affair, food addiction, funeral, heart attack, hospital, murder, opioid allergy, prostate cancer, sexual addiction, stillbirth, suicide, support group
|
Leave a comment
THIS Comes HIGHLY Recommended!
I had the opportunity recently to say, “Thank you” to two persons who first influenced me over four decades ago; one has terminal cancer, the other is recovering from a stroke. Both are in their 80s, and interestingly . . … Continue reading →
Posted in Aging Parents, Family History, Fathers, Stories, Uncategorized
|
Tagged thank you
|
11 Comments
The Lost Story 