Good Grief

“Good grief,” I muttered as we inched along the country road that wound along one of the many rounded hills we call “knobs” in Kentucky, this one only a couple of miles from our house. My two-word commentary wasn’t a response to a tractor blocking our way or cattle slow-hoofing it across the road. Lori …

You Are Special

Anyone watching me walk might have wondered what I found so funny at such an early hour. We were in Oklahoma, and I awoke predawn, taking to the streets while all were asleep in the house. That was when my daughter-in-law, Kayla, sent me a Facetime call. Our granddaughter, Stella,  was up early too, as children …

“Rich Men North of Richmond” on Labor Day

It’s being called “The Working Class Anthem.” The song by Oliver Anthony, “Rich Men North of Richmond,” resonates with millions. Anthony describes the working person’s struggles in the song’s first lines before pivoting to the social-political changes that dominate so much public conversation today.  The song has become a YouTube sensation with tens of millions …

Inch by Inch

I sat in my doctor’s office for my annual wellness exam. I felt a sense of satisfaction as he carefully reviewed my lab work: “Vitamin D3: great; cholesterol: excellent, potassium, fine….” It all checked out favorably as he analyzed each item.  I was glancing toward the exit when my doctor hesitated. “Let’s see, did you …