As I write this, JB and I are in Moab, Utah. Yesterday we explored Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, CO and today we experienced Canyonlands National Park here in Utah. Countless times we followed snake-like roads, curving right, then left, then right, then left again through unimpressive, monotonous desert scapes. Then suddenly we rounded …
The 1991 movie “What About Bob?” depicts a neurotic, obsessive-compulsive man who latches onto his therapist. In desperation, after countless pleading phone calls, Bob cunningly tracks down this therapist, who thought he’d escaped on a peaceful family vacation. As the therapist tries to shake off his clingy, high-maintenance patient, Bob begs, “Gimme! Gimme! I need! …
If you did an online search for “Experts get it wrong,” you’d find a list of times throughout history when “experts” drew wrong conclusions and made false predictions based on misinterpreting the facts or a lack of information. In 1959 the U.S. Postmaster General declared, “Before man reaches the moon, mail will be delivered within …
Although I avoid sewing at all costs, I find buttons fun. Whether plastic, glass, wooden, brass, or covered in fabric, each has a little story to tell. Affixed to white cards, hanging on display racks, their bright colors and textures draw my interest. And all mixed up in a bag or jar, with dozens of …
What is the most awe-inspiring sight you have ever seen? I’ve been to Niagara Falls, walked through a glacier in Switzerland, and visited the Sistine Chapel. I remember once boarding an aircraft carrier and its size freaked me out. But none of that compares with what happened to Israel at the dedication of Solomon’s temple. …
I’ve never watched Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. But I have heard of celebrities installing gold bathroom faucets, purchasing fleets of expensive cars, or sporting diamonds on their teeth! Even “celebrity pastors” fall prey to the lure of opulence, with mansions and private jets. I wonder what they hope to gain by spending so …
When our three oldest sons were young, I gave them a set of colorful bandannas. They wore these in various ways, depending on that day’s particular imaginary adventure. When wearing them loosely around the front and tied behind the neck, the brothers became cowboys. Pulling the bandannas up to cover their mouths and noses (as …
In his early elementary school years, my husband lived in Belgium due to his father’s job. JB played with Belgian children and easily picked up the French language, along with a perfect accent. In college he majored in French and computer science. Years later he drew on those years of language study while interpreting for …
About four years before my elderly dad died, a young woman approached him after church. With no job and no home other than a motel room, she needed money. True to his kindhearted nature, my dad gladly gave her some cash. Over time their “friendship” continued, with this pitiful woman creating one crisis story after …
Years ago I heard about a man who experimented by posting a sign in his garden reading, “DON’T SPIT ON THE FLOWERS!” He wanted to see how the neighboring kids would respond. As he watched out his window, sure enough, some children gathered around his garden, secretly spitting on his flowers, quickly looking around to …
JB (the fifth of five kids) and I (an only child) met in a high school Spanish class the second semester of our senior year. We went on one date before graduation. Then my family moved from Pensacola, Florida to Minnesota. I attended college there (at St. Olaf) and JB went to Dartmouth College in …
Last summer, almost on a whim, I applied for a summer internship at a tech company. My previous job consisted of two parts. The first involved a bit of SalesForce research before uploading documents I digitized. The second required me to call customers month after month, requesting completed paperwork. We’re talking very little brain strain. …
