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Retirement days are supposed to be easy

Last week’s column was about a nice day. A really lucky day. Then life happened. Back in my middle years, I made a promise to myself. If I’m going to work throughout my life, then I’m going to make sure I play a little in my retirement. My original plans were for some tennis, lottsa reading, and some bridge playing. Tennis was the earliest casualty, the victim of rampant arthritis and three replaced knees. OK – so now I’m an armchair devotee of Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. With a glass of iced coffee in hand. Retirement reading means the luxury of daytime reading – ...

Anti-abortion issue must address dads

Votes have been cast. Votes have been counted. Seems the election was fairer this year. Less griping. Perhaps someone will figure out why. Abortion was on the ballot in 10 states. Currently abortion is banned after conception in 13 states, banned after six weeks in four more states, and banned after 12 to 18 weeks in another five. This year measures supporting abortion rights were passed in seven of those 10 states. Yet the results of the election also showed support for legislators who would push an anti-abortion agenda. And support for legislators who would appoint judges and ...

View from Hickory Heights: Wildlife can entertain

Hickory Heights has an abundance of wildlife. I enjoy every minute of it. This morning, I watched a black squirrel running around the yard. First, I saw him in the grass. Then he was halfway up a tree. I let my dog out, but the squirrel did pay any attention. I know there are at least two of them around my yard because I have seen them both at once. They are fun to watch. They run a little, then stop and stand up to look around. If there is nothing to disturb them, they continue on their way. One winter I watched a squirrel as it made its way through the snow. He would duck under the ...

Rounding Third: Little surprises make for one good day

Last week, I had a day just filled with little surprises – nice ones. Prior to Thursday, if someone had told me that surprises were heading my way, I probably would have wondered which tire was ready to blow. Or which utility bill was going to double. But on that sunny day, the good little surprises began early. I woke up before the alarm and I actually felt rested. Sleepless nights have become all too common, but this wonderful feeling? Wow! That NEVER happens. Is this how all those cheery morning people wake up every day? Most mornings, no matter how much time I’ve spent in the ...

1503 and other inconvenient truths of nation

For many years, Western Civilization (Western Tradition) has been under assault from the Marxist Left – in schools, colleges, the media, woke corporations, etc. Why? Simply because the foundations of the Western Tradition (dating to around 1750) assume the individual’s right to “Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness”. It stands in opposition to the Left’s authoritarian collectivist / socialist objectives where the individual can only exist as a servant on the State plantation. The Western Tradition, which ironically led the world out of slavery, is disingenuously being ...

Someone is watching me

When I think about the things that have happened, I came to the conclusion that someone has been watching over me. I have had several mishaps with jewelry that have ended very well. First, I lost a pin given to me the year I graduated from college by the family that I babysat for. Since my last initial did not change, I was able to keep wearing it. One day I wore it to my volunteer duty at Warren General Hospital. Part way through the morning I realized the pin was no longer on my sweater. I looked everywhere I had been that morning with no luck. I headed for home very disappointed. I ...