For My Mom: 9.23.19 – 9.25.09

I am going to tell you a story about a woman who lived her life striving to give what she had to those closest to her – unselfishly and without regard to her own needs. This is a story about each one of us as well.
The story begins — and ends — in Southern, Illinois, [...]

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The Ugly Face of Elitism

Elitists feel they have outstanding personal abilities, intellect, wealth, specialized training or experience, or some other distinctive attributes, and therefore their views and ideas must be taken more seriously or carry more weight. In addition, they may assume special privileges and responsibilities and feel they have earned certain rights that others do not or should [...]

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Spirited Christmas, Then and Now

Christmas time is here
We’ll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year”
Plenty of Christmas childhood memories float around my head this time of year. Like the several-year-stretch of purchasing flocked Christmas trees from Del’s Garden Center in Spencer, Iowa. Dad and Mom even bought a red flocked tree (around 1972, I [...]

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High School Student Facebook Bruhaha Continues

In toney Eden Prairie, Minnesota, high school students have been busted. Busted by dozens of photos they or their friends have posted on their profile pages found on social networking pages like Facebook (see the previous post about this story as it broke on Jan. 9).
So far, 42 students have been disciplined and 13 have [...]

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Recipe for Accepting Dysfunction

In a room filled with 30- to 40-something adults, if a facilitator said, “Who here comes from a dysfunctional family?” how many hands would shoot up?
All of them.
It’s no joke. While I’m sure “Dr. Phil” might spout off some dumb-ass Texas cliche about dysfunctional families, the bottom line is, all of us hail from dysfunction. [...]

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A Birthday for Kiddo No. 1

It’s January 5, and this early in the year, every day is still a great day.
But today is special. It’s been this way for 17 years. At 4:30 in the afternoon on Jan. 5, 1991 my daughter came into the world. She’s my first born and I continue to be ecstatic that she’s in my [...]

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Real or Fake? Both Have Their Advantages

I’m not talking about silicone breast implants. Although I have an opinion on them. What I am blogging about is the conundrum of real versus artificial Christmas trees.
Each have their advantages.

Real trees smell wonderful when freshly cut.
Artificial trees don’t prick you to death when you’re stringing on the lights. In fact, the latest of [...]

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Like An Oak Tree

Like the old oak tree that’s lived a long and healthy life, my Mom turns 87 on Sunday. Since she and Dad divorced in 1984, Mom has lived “down home,” not far from where she grew up as a kid. She’s been surrounded by her brothers and sisters in her senior years. Family means the  [...]

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Back to School

Yet another first day of school is in the books. Both kids started back on September 4: One in 7th grade (first year of junior high), and one now a junior in high school. They scrambled to tell me how their first days went and I listened, congratulated them and patted them on the backs [...]

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Minnesota State Fair

The Great Minnesota Get Together starts on Thursday and runs through Sept. 3. This year I’ll find myself at the fair. Last time I strolled the Fairgrounds along Snelling Avenue in St. Paul was 2005 and my head wasn’t in the game, so to speak. I’ve always liked a good fair. The sights and sounds [...]

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