Month: July 2026

A 4th of July to Remember, or Not

Posted in 4th of July, 9-11, Alex Jones, antique store, architects, children, conspiracy theory, dancing, divorce, engineers, Holocaust, humor, Iowa, parade, Sandy HookLeave a comment

(re-run) It wasn’t a typical 4th of July. I was getting divorced, and I had a boyfriend, although he was a conspiracy theorist. If you don’t believe me, you could just look at his wardrobe. He owned a collection of t-shirts that screamed, I am anti-government, anti-media, anti-logic of any kind. But he was cute,… Continue reading A 4th of July to Remember, or Not

The Thrill Gene

Posted in bears, bicycles, Big Sur, cars, cliffs, gene, mountain lion, Orinoco River, peer pressure, roller coasters, scuba dive, waterfalls, zip lineLeave a comment

Because two climbers scaled the Empire State Building today . . . (re-run) I have never liked roller coasters. I puke on the teacups ride. I don’t like to dive, and I brake hard on steep hills on my bicycle. I have figured out that I don’t have the thrill gene. Of my three children,… Continue reading The Thrill Gene

Uncle Frank and the Jar of Coins

Posted in 4th of July, antique, California, carnival, cats, cousins, Des Moines, grandfather clock, memoir, mom, money, uncleLeave a comment

(re-run) I grew up with three uncles: one in Colorado, another on the other side of the state, and one near my home town in Des Moines, Iowa. Uncle Frank was older than the other uncles, but since his daughter, Nina, was my age, I hardly noticed.  He was married to my grandma’s younger sister. … Continue reading Uncle Frank and the Jar of Coins