Before and After on The Maple Valley Model Railroad

View On WordPress

Stupid Things Bug Me

It’s not stupid things that bug me. After all, who decides what things are stupid? Is there a master list of stupid things? And who decides what’s funny? For example, have farts always been funny? Why are they so much funnier in the dark? Growing up, I was never allowed to say fart, but I was allowed to laugh at them. So, I was allowed to fart and laugh, but I couldn’t say, “I farted.” It was…

View On WordPress

How to Reach the Master Skill Level of Moving

People excel at all kinds of things. A lifetime ago, cool kids could spin a hula-hoop around their waste for hours. They could eat lunch, do homework, talk on the phone if their mom let them and the phone cord was long enough, and play catch while doing the hula-hoop shuffle. I found the best use of a hula-hoop was rolling it on the ground. My trick was flicking it with a backspin so the hoop…

View On WordPress

Scandal at Maple Valley - Episode 37: The Phantom Phone Call

For all the visitors to Maple Valley, it was just another day in make-believeville. Maple Valley is an idyllic town with perfect weather enjoyed by happy people strolling pristine streets, greeting loving neighbors mowing weedless yards, watching delightful children sharing all their toys, while barkless dogs play with scratchless cats. The coffee at Ya’ll Sit Cafe is always hot and mugs never…

View On WordPress

Treasures Remembered

Do kids still play with sticks? We ran through the neighborhood playing army with nothing in our arsenal but sticks. They didn’t have to look like weapons. If they were long enough to hold under our chin so we could look down the barrel and aim, we were good. We were limited only by our inability to make effective explosion sounds with our mouths. Ricky J was the best. When it was obvious we hit…

View On WordPress

Powell's Family Restaurant in Houghton Lake, Michigan - Great Food in a Lovely Place

View On WordPress

A Summer Prayer

Untitled

View On WordPress

Addendum: Our Kids' Response to "And Then I Was 70"

When our children read my post, “And Then I Was 70,” one of our boys asked if there were items that “didn’t make the cut.” That started an avalanche of “you should have said this!” comments. “Dad was doing a Bible study in the living room with two ladies from our church. One mom had to change her daughter’s diaper and left the room. After a few minutes, one of the two-year-old boys went into the…

View On WordPress

And Then I Was 70

The nice lady asked me how old I was. I worked hard to hold up three fingers, and then I was 70. My mother stood outside looking at me through the window. I was abandoned forever in my seersucker jacket and bow tie on the first day of kindergarten. And then I was 70. I walked through the front door carrying my square green lunch box on the last day of first grade and yelled, “I’m home!” And…

View On WordPress

Hidden Scenes on the Maple Valley Railroad

I enjoy looking behind the obvious scenes, which is why details are so important. More things are happening than we can see at first glance. A lot of life takes place in hiding. Maybe the good folks of Maple Valley aren’t hiding on purpose, but not everyone sees everything they’re doing. That’s good. No one should see everything they’re doing. The gravel access road at the loading docks of Maple…

View On WordPress

The Durand Railroad Days Train Show 2023

View On WordPress

Questions from a High School AP Literature Class

I was relaxing in a beach chair, covered with sun-screen guaranteed to protect me from jelly fish, squid, snaggle-tooth sharks, stray footballs and sunshine. I hadn’t been on the beach long enough to have a beverage in my hand. I was minding my own business when they walked up. When I’m on the beach, which doesn’t happen very often, especially in March, I’m not thinking about strangers wanting…

View On WordPress

Reflections on the Movie "Champions"

I have to admit, Woody Harrelson is not one of my favorite actors. In fact, the only movie I can think of that he was in is “2012.” He played a whacky apocalypse predictor screaming about the end of the world, all of which happened by movie’s end. In the new film, “Champions,” Harrelson plays a hot-headed NBA coach wannabe who gets fired from an unknown below semi-pro basketball assistant…

View On WordPress

I Wonder About a Lot of Unimportant Stuff

A few days ago, we were in an antique store in Holly, Michigan, which happens to be one of our favorite towns anywhere. While we were walking through, looking at everything that reminds us we’re old, I noticed a box sitting high on a shelf. Inside was a plastic furniture cover. I’m thankful my mother never decided to cover the couch and chair with plastic. She just told me not to sit on them,…

View On WordPress

Great Movie Scenes, Lines, and Song Lyrics

We have favorite movies we’ve seen so many times we use lines from the movies in conversation. “You’re gonna need a bigger boat” is a great example. Whenever a situation creates a big problem, the line fits. “Jaws” has been part of our family since our kids were young. Summer isn’t really summer until we watch Quint, the Chief, and Hooper fighting against the massive shark attempting to eat…

View On WordPress

Growing Up Lapeer: Missing Some Favorite Places

If I say “swamp-water,” what comes to your mind? Green algae with unseen beasts waiting just below the surface to bite off a toe if you dare step in? Lilly pads? Frogs? Snakes? Large-mouth bass? Swamp-water is none of those things, except, I guess it could be if I were talking about a real swamp. Swamp-water is a mixture of A & W root beer and orange drink. It is delicious! In the old days, a…

View On WordPress

Model Railroad Scenery, Coffee, Earl Klugh, and a Sunlight Therapy Lamp

View On WordPress