Reflections

My husband and I have apparently begun the habit of traveling on roads which, in hindsight, we should have missed. These shouldn’t-have-taken roads, have provided the fodder for funny stories and lots of laughter…later. Our first mistakenly traveled road, occurred in Georgia when we left the Whistle Stop Café (think “Fried Green … (read more…)

By Marty Coffin Evans

A pink slip arrived in my high school classroom summoning me to the Dean of Girl’s office. “Oh dear,” I thought, believing I was a good kid and not accustomed to being called to a front office, especially one involving discipline. Dean Ruth Dinsmore proceeded to introduce me to Donna, a student new to our school. She … (read more…)

What are you going to do next? Most likely we’d agree, change is all around us. Perhaps it always has been. Whether in changing jobs, retiring, or making another life-altering move, answering the question “What’s Next?” follows. You may have been asked this question, or possibly asked another.

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It’s a funny thing about washing dishes. There’s something about that action which is grounding, has a sense of home and reminds us of family times. In her poem, “After the Move,” my friend Carol Grever wrote about soapy hands, washing dishes and easing life’s disruption of change in her new place. After carefully placing all the forks, … (read more…)

In acknowledgement of Mother’s Day this month, I’m certainly reminded of mine. I’d likely say this happens on a regular, or even, daily basis. One look in the mirror and I’m reminded of a feature of hers which now bears a strong resemblance to mine. Then, there’s that inadvertent side glance, and once again, I see mother in me. Perhaps … (read more…)

“I need your help,” my friend said. “I’ve tried to think of everything. I need to know who will give my dogs a new, future home. I’d like to keep them together, if possible.” With that as the kicker, I set about sending emails concerning her dogs. For all of us with furry family friends, this brings up a question, “Who will care for … (read more…)

It’s quite likely I never learned this word, or its use, in my high school or college English classes. However, in a different grammatical form, it pertains to making a difference. My hunch is most of us would hope our lives mattered. We may not verbalize this, and, yet, it might be an unspoken nod to making a difference that we lived. … (read more…)

Recently a friend who had relocated from her two-story house of many years to a one- bedroom apartment commented, “I realize I just called this home.” In her case, she had closed her mother’s home of many years with all those old treasures from times past. Two homes to close in less than eight months was significant. Additionally, her husband … (read more…)

No doubt, many have had the opportunity over time to live in a multiple family complex whether an apartment, townhouse or condo. We may realize at some point such living accommodations don’t work for various reasons such as loud noises or distracting odors.
Our recent experience began with our dogs barking at something they knew had set up … (read more…)

We laughed, ate favorite foods, and reminisced as the six of us enjoyed a reunion time at my Indiana cousins’ lakeside home. With travel more safely accomplished this summer than last, our time together held added significance. We wondered when the three cousins and spouses last enjoyed a meal together. Memory fades in remembering a date although … (read more…)

“What’s next for you?” I asked a young student. His answer included his chosen university location in the Midwest where his grandparents had attended. He had a good idea about his anticipated major. Having grown up in the Mountain West, the opportunity to move elsewhere excites him even though he’s aware the sun doesn’t shine as much … (read more…)

During last year’s spring and summer, when many were sequestering or having staycations at home, yards and landscaping received the benefit of those redirected dollars. Perhaps those yard facelifts were already part of the budget along with the planned, and not taken, vacation.

In our neighborhood, at least six yards received extra attention. … (read more…)