More Grandchildish Behavior

I am drool resistant, attract dirt, love to wallow, don't mind eating things off of the ground and sometimes need changing. I fit right in with kids.

I am a sucker for the little buggers, most likely because a good part of me still is one.

I can get down to and play at their level with no effort whatsoever. So... I guess I want grandkids more than Veronica does... CONTINUE READING >>

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Grandchildish Behavior

I've had two unexpected conversations recently that have given me pause for reflection. The first was with my father-in-law while dining over Mexican food in Kansas. While catching him up with our kids' lives, he asked me if they were dating anyone of note. I told him that at the moment there were no significant others. Then, the bolt out of the blue,

"Oh, you must be sad that you won't be having grandchildren anytime soon."

The next exchange was with my daughters, The Piglet and Decibel.

“All of our friends' mothers are on crazy grandma patrol. How come you aren’t nagging us about having babies?”

It started out as gentle teasing, but... CONTINUE READING >>

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60 Years of Marriage: A Gift My Parents Gave Me

Next week our family will be celebrating a remarkable event, my parent's sixtieth wedding anniversary. Only an extraordinary mixture of love, trust, faith, hard work, and -- yes -- luck could have made this event possible.

I'm not going to attempt to analyze the inner workings of how a union can not only survive, but thrive over six decades, I am simply going to offer thanks.

More than gratitude for the care and security that I received, although that too often goes unspoken, I want to particularly express how grateful I am for... CONTINUE READING >> 

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The Best? (Worst?) Funniest. Family Portrait. Ever.

Every family has 'em. Piles of throw-away snapshots that you can't bear to actually throw away. Before digital cameras our generation put every picture, no matter how bad, into a photo album. After all, they were precious - and we shelled out big bucks to have them developed. Then there are the CLASSICS. The ones you should have thrown away, but instead you frame them. This one is ours.

Think about it, we thought we were sitting for a lovely family portrait. Clearly, all heck is breaking loose and none of us could... CONTINUE READING >>

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Oh My Stars!

Looking up at the night sky at an out-in-the-boondocks National Park sent my thoughts wandering, as only the night sky can. Then came a shocking thought:

How long until we can no longer see the stars?

Sitting up and scanning the land around me I saw the bright dots from tiny little towns - and, alas, the Park itself - enough light pollution to hinder me from observing what The Ancients or Magella... CONTINUE READING >>

More Grandchildish Behavior

I am drool resistant, attract dirt, love to wallow, don't mind eating things off of the ground and sometimes need changing. I fit right in with kids. I am a sucker for the little buggers, most likely because a good part of me still is one. I can get down to and play at their level with no effort whatsoever. So... I guess I want grandkids more than Veronica does... CONTINUE READING >>

The Best? (Worst?) Funniest. Family Portait. Ever.

Every family has 'em. Piles of throw-away snapshots that you can't bear to actually throw away. Before digital cameras our generation put every picture, no matter how bad, into a photo album. After all, they were precious - and we shelled out big bucks to have them developed.

Then there are the CLASSICS. The ones you should have thrown away, but instead you frame them. This one is ours.

Think about it, we thought we were sitting for a lovely family portrait. Clearly, all heck is breaking loose and none of us could... CONTINUE READING >>

Oh My Stars!

Looking up at the night sky at an out-in-the-boondocks National Park sent my thoughts wandering, as only the night sky can. And then a shocking thought -- how long until we humans can no longer see the stars?


Sitting up and scanning the land around me I saw the bright dots from tiny little towns -- and, alas, the Park itself -- enough “light pollution” to hinder me from observing what The Ancients or Magellan... CONTINUE READING >>

HOliday HOmecoming HOopla

The holidays are fast approaching so now is a good time to explore some of the unique aspects of family gatherings for empty nesters.

(A little note from the authors: When we refer to Christmas, please feel free to substitute Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, Saturnalia, winter solstice or whatever it is you celebrate. We are only using Christmas as an example because it is our family tradition, and to keep from having to write three or four names every time we refer to a holiday. Absolutely no slight is intended or any preference for one over another. If your family is like ours, no doubt any one of them can be just as crazy as the next.)

Thanksgiving, Christmas or both... CONTINUE READING >>

Oh My Stars!

Looking up at the night sky at an out-in-the-boondocks National Park sent my thoughts wandering, as only the night sky can. And then a shocking thought -- how long until we humans can no longer see the stars?

Sitting up and scanning the land around me I saw the bright dots from tiny little towns -- and, alas, the Park itself -- enough “light pollution” to hinder me from observing what The Ancients or Magellan... CONTINUE READING >>

HOliday HOmecoming HOopla

The holidays are fast approaching so now is a good time to explore some of the unique aspects of family gatherings for empty nesters.

(A little note from the authors: When we refer to Christmas, please feel free to substitute Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, Saturnalia, winter solstice or whatever it is you celebrate. We are only using Christmas as an example because it is our family tradition, and to keep from having to write three or four names every time we refer to a holiday. Absolutely no slight is intended or any preference for one over another. If your family is like ours, no doubt any one of them can be just as crazy as the next.)

Thanksgiving, Christmas or both... read more