It’s been over two months now since Washoe Valley has had a smoke-free day. The California fires and an easterly wind have caused air quality to be in the danger zone most days. Quite often, the dense smoke does not allow me to see the mountain ranges – or even my neighbor’s …
I answer my cell phone. “Hey Don, it’s Merritt.” I know immediately I’m in for some news – good or not so good. As my friend and physician, Merritt always provides the good stuff first, like saying my blood tests were “better than he anticipated.” (What does …
It makes sense that we should feel less anxious as we age. By age 70 or so, we’ve been through the wringer. Most nasty stuff already happened to us. Of course, all of you are wise individuals, so you’ve learned from your mistakes and moved bravely forward, getting …
I was forced to move to an old budgeting trick for tracking my new diet. Now I feel more successful, more in control. I’ve successfully applied the same methodology the federal government uses to account for its spending. I proudly announce I’ve met my weight goal of …
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 …
