Winning Enemies

My younger brother is a best friend. We can discuss different viewpoints and values without jeopardizing the love and appreciation we have for each other. It wasn’t always like that, especially when we were teens and our sense of competition with each other was at its highest. He was becoming larger and stronger than I, and I felt a compelling need to try regularly to subdue him in a wrestling, punching, or verbal match. Our fights were almost always about insignificant things, like which radio station would we listen to in the car, or who would drive. The need to Read More

Kansas 2019

My life began in Kansas, though I’ve only lived there the first 3 years of my life. I enjoy visiting, and love the various landscapes and sceneries. The contrast of the farmed prairies and the extensive marsh areas attract some very interesting birds and wildlife. I always make the 45-minute drive to Quivera National Wildlife Refuge when we are visiting the Hutchinson area. We were there in early August, and I saw more than 50 species of birds in one visit to the Refuge.

Trust

About 40 years ago I was sitting in a courtroom, complete with a real judge, real prosecuting attorneys, and real defense attorneys. But it wasn’t in a courtroom. It was a school classroom in a remote First Nation. The room had been commandeered for the day and officially transformed into a legal court of law. The proceedings were fascinating: partly because I was not a participant in any way, and mostly for the fact that I was friends with all the individuals facing the judge. The court personnel were all Caucasians from a city. All of the various accused were Read More

2019: What Shall We Fear?

My mother had a lot to think about. She felt responsible to care for a large family, with the prospect of many more offspring to come. Her experiences in the Great Depression likely contributed to her concerns about having enough of life’s basic needs. To add to Mom’s anxieties, a common theme in the ’60s was the threat of frightening and global changes to our existence. The church and the news media both promoted a fascination with the end of the world as we knew it. When I was a child, I remember Mom’s musings about saving things–even considering saving worn-out shoes in case Read More

Celebrations

I remember numerous Christmas experiences from childhood, and I’m very fortunate that they are happy memories, for the most part. I grew up in a very large family where relationships and togetherness made the Christmas season feel like a happy occasion. I’m not making that up. My parents didn’t put a high value on buying gifts. Maybe that’s because shopping for 15 children would be a daunting project. By the time I came along, there were already in-laws and grandkids added to the family. Gifts were limited, and gifts were small. What seems remarkable is that while we eagerly anticipated Read More