I caught my breath just a little as I pulled out of my mailbox an envelope with a Portland Bureau of Transportation return address. Opening the letter, I was chagrined to find a citation for speeding. Over my many years of driving, I have … Read more
Oh, what a difference one tiny little letter made! My high school classmate, Annette, had just sent me an email telling about her upcoming surgery for shin cancer. Shin cancer? I'd never heard of such a thing, but knowing that Annette … Read more
I enjoy spectator sports of all kinds, but until recently, I had not been very familiar with wrestling. Oh yes, I know about theatrical, slam-bam wrestling as seen on television, but youth wrestling is entirely different. A family friend … Read more
A bouquet of red roses has a heartfelt meaning for me. My husband Lynn gave me a bouquet of red roses on our wedding day. Tucked in among the flowers was his note reassuring me of his deep love on this most important of days. Now, eight … Read more
A PresbyCan devotional that I recently wrote focused on the beauty of words and language as a vehicle for praising God. As regular PresbyCan readers know, each day's devotional includes a hymn of the … Read more
I live in a large metropolitan area with a mild climate and an abundance of generous social services. Consequently, one needn't look far to see panhandlers and homeless tents. Whatever one's viewpoint, great human need all around us is … Read more
When my two college-aged grandchildren are home on school break, I'm often invited to the home of my daughter and son-in-law for games night with my grandkids and their friends. When we play word games or trivia games, that's when our … Read more
I am so thankful to have English as my mother tongue. Many people around the world would like to learn to speak English, but our language presents many stumbling blocks for language learners. Indeed, it can be hard enough for even those of … Read more
Fred Rogers, the "Mr. Rogers" well known to generations of children, gave them comforting advice. He told them that if they were afraid or in trouble, to "look for the helpers" who would be able to help them. I recently took a solo trip … Read more
I love the feast for the senses that comes with the holiday season, don't you? All five of the senses are fully engaged in a way that is like no other time of the year. Here's a short list of such sense stimulators: – Sight: red and green … Read more