Tuesday, August 30, 2022
The transition of a kid from his parent's house to a college dorm (or taking leave for other reasons) is often described as leaving the nest. The parents left behind miss their kid(s) and the feelings involved are often called empty nest syndrome. What is not so often talked about is the reaction... Sign in to see full entry.
Monday, August 29, 2022
NEIGHBORING - 1960'S STYLE
The sons and I were talking a day or so ago about the neighborhood where they grew up. Even then it was a historic district, strictly residential, with gentle curving streets and a beautiful lake surrounded by a park that took up the better part of two blocks. There was a bandstand gazebo where the... Sign in to see full entry.
Sunday, August 28, 2022
DAYS OF OUR BACKYARD SQUIRRELS
Herb, formerly known as Stubby, had been absent from the Backyard Habitat for a few weeks. Peaches had no idea where her partner had gone, but she knew he was determined to do something about the missing four inches of his tail. He'd lost it while making a terrifying escape from a trap; the door had... Sign in to see full entry.
Saturday, August 27, 2022
DAYS OF OUR BACKYARD SQUIRRELS
White Ears called the meeting to order as the Fall Observation Team gathered in the first maple. They were looking into the actions of the two-leggeds, the smaller ones who played games behind the wrought-iron picket fence across Brick street. White Ears had seen this phenomenon before. It seemed to... Sign in to see full entry.
Friday, August 26, 2022
SUMMER JOB
I was 15 going on 16 that summer, staying with my older sis Marje and her family in Salem, Oregon. She worked as the head waitress at a huge Chinese restaurant and banquet venue and worked most weekends, which left her two boys, 8-year-old Larry and 4-year-old Norm in the tender care of their dad,... Sign in to see full entry.
Thursday, August 25, 2022
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST (OR ANYTHING/ANYONE)
There are a number of observable lifestyles that impact the development of the planet's ecosystems and life forms. The two that come to mind this morning are those we are most familiar with: animal and vegetable. One is passive, takes in sunlight and rain and returns oxygen, which is absolutely... Sign in to see full entry.
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
THE WORLD'S MOST POLITE TRAFFIC JAM
These days it starts around 7:15-7:20 a.m. One after another, backed up along the brick street waiting to turn up onto the parking lot in front of St. B's school. It's more than a parking lot, where folks pull in for weddings, funerals and regular masses. It's also a playground which the monitors... Sign in to see full entry.
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
IN SEARCH OF INNOCENT FUN
Just came in from the front porch where I sat awhile to watch the morning parade of parents dropping off their kids at St. B's. It's a beautiful morning, 62 degrees and the sunrise was unimpeded by clouds. My friend Ebbie walked by with Sergeant, her cute little black dog. Ebbie was one of the stars... Sign in to see full entry.
Monday, August 22, 2022
DAYS OF OUR BACKYARD SQUIRRELS
Georgie and Gracie were up early, watching from the first maple as traffic began to back up along Brick Street in both directions from the entrance to the parking lot across the street. Georgie had a couple nicks in his belly fur where he'd gotten caught by the spurs in a blackberry bush, but he... Sign in to see full entry.
Sunday, August 21, 2022
HONEYMOON FOR THREE
In January of 1960 I bailed out of a dangerous marriage. I took my old Remington portable typewriter, my clothes (most of which I'd had when we said our vows five years earlier), and the old car. I moved into a seedy little walkup flat in Alton that was only one door down from the print shop where I... Sign in to see full entry.