Between my freshman and sophomore years of college, I worked for the summer at the Reynolds Aluminum plant in McCook, Illinois. It was my first big-boy job. I had to join a union and punch a time clock. Often, I worked a 16-hour double shift. I was assigned to the cast house …
Did you know, many, many years ago, my big sister threw her peas behind the stove when Irene and Vern were distracted by The Ed Sullivan Show? It wasn’t her fault. It was that darn dictum that one should eat everything on one’s plate. How silly is that? The “clean your plate …
Here’s a question: What activities do you do on a daily basis? Here is just a partial list of mine: I make my bed each morning before leaving the bedroom. I prepare the evening meal for our four pups (more complicated than you might imagine). I read a portion of the New …
I feel lucky. I have a number of close friends, both men and women, who are in my age range. Most often, I’m not very interesting. But I’m interested and curious about what’s going on in their worlds. Here is one thing I’ve noticed. My good friends fall into two categories. …
After 25 years living on our property in Washoe Valley, Nevada, Sherry and I have learned to happily accept most of our animal friends. Coyotes roam through on an almost daily basis. Bobcats and an occasional mountain lion visit our creek. Black bears are common, including …
My first football game under the big lights took place on Curtiss Street in Ames, Iowa. It was Irene and Vern’s bridge night across town. Big brother Eddie had a master plan. I was about seven but “very gifted” for my age. Eddie told me to collect every lamp in …
I have a favorite place to eat in Carson City: Glen Eagles. The restaurant closed for a period of time due to COVID and then reopened with all sorts of modifications. One of them was replacing the salt and pepper shakers with little paper packets. I love pepper but hate the …
John Wooden is my favorite coach of all time. What a fabulous basketball dynasty he built at UCLA – and doing it all in the right way. Wooden was credited with saying, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” This is what we elderly folks have over all those …
For those who are aging along with me, have you noticed some longstanding options are being taken away from us? Here is an example. I’ve always been a cash guy. I still like to pay for things with greenback dollars. It gives me a sense of whether I’m making good choices. Am …
Over the last few years, I’ve had three back surgeries, both hips replaced, a bout with COVID-19… and now a new injury. So picture this. I’m in the safest place possible: my special bed, high above the worries of the day. At 75, I still have problems going to sleep, …
