I often drive by several homes I’ve lived in, but I pass a particular small ranch on a postage-stamp in-town lot more regularly now. It’s on one of my routes to my newest place, hopefully my last one. I lived in that old house for a very short time. But my time there is magnified…
Category: Blog Posts
The Gift of Rising Early—On Purpose
When I retired from working with the public daily, I planned to make sure I got up at least as early as my grandfather used to. No, it wasn’t a credo or a new paradigm; it was just a passing thought, prompted by memories of hearing his cough echoing from the living room while he…
Making Change
I’m not college-educated. But you’ve probably figured that out already. I don’t feel diminished in any way as a human. Many people are surprised after meeting me, speaking with me, hearing me speak, reading my books or posts, or getting an answer to a question, that I am far less educated than most people I…
Solar Snooze for a Senior
For the first eleven years of Ellie’s life, I don’t believe I’ve seen her lie down in the dooryard for more than a minute at a time. And I could count those times on two hands and one of my feet. That’s not hyperbole. Since moving to the Ranch on the Knoll (ROTK in the…
Left Behind
Remnants, leftovers, discarded, and forgotten; each word, to most folks, represents a negative thought. Washington County, Maine, the undisputed wild blueberry epicenter of the universe, in my mind, has been picked clean of its antioxidant-rich fruit. Almost. Human rakers, sweaty, flesh-covered laborers, are few and far between in the modern era. Sure, on smaller fields…
Rosemary’s Blanket
I’ve been Internet “viral” a couple of times. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. It started with a winter storm post back in my Bangor Police Department Facebook days. I received gifts from all over the country. One standout was a couple of cases of Cap’n Crunch cereal. It was hilarious. You’d have…
Proper Screen Doors
It’s Wednesday. With nothing heavy on my mind, besides the general bumps and potholes of life, I perused my pile of pics, hoping for some inspiration. During the morning stroll/scroll, I realized that we’d all been talking about screen doors. Actually, we’ve been talking about the perfect slam and bounce of a proper screen door….
Another July Wednesday
I only knew one of my grandfathers. He was a shining example of quiet confidence. He was filled with wisdom, and intelligence; two vastly different things, but when combined in the right person, those around them learn something every time there is a conversation. John Coleman “Coke” Miller and I became closer as he aged,…
“She’s Some Sturdy”
A couple of years ago, I had the bright idea of having someone that I did not know, nor had ever met, build me a heavy-duty screen door for the camp in the woods. From what I could see in his advertisement, he could do anything. He specialized in ‘custom’ doors. None of it was…
Puddin’
There are distinct, yet unwritten rules at the ROTK in the USA. None have been documented in stone, but firm they are. If I break down into snack mode, consuming anything from a plastic cup, be it yogurt, ice cream, or pudding (Puddin’ for the cool kids), Ellie is a recipient of the last lickings….