As a child, I spent most of my summer breaks with my grandparents in Daisy, Arkansas. They owned and tended to a large farm there. I can remember seeing them both work so hard. But they enjoyed every minute of the modest and fulfilling life they had created in the southwest corner of rural Arkansas. […]
Electroconvulsive Therapy and the Damage Done Read More »
Hiking was never a strong passion of mine when I was younger. We had places to hike where I grew up in Northern California, but in my youth, it was not a regular hobby for my family or me. Little Darby was a hiking trail nestled in the hills east of our home. The trail
Stanley Canyon Is Worth the Effort Read More »
Recently, I said to my wife, “If I die before you, please don’t have my funeral in a megachurch. I might have to come back and haunt you for that.” Inspired by a funeral pageant on television, I’d made the mistake of imagining my own taking place with smoke machines, jumbotrons, and an army of bagpipers
Funeral Planning Strategies Read More »
By Janayva Solis Born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, 911 Dispatcher Janayva Solis grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is fond of the outdoors. Hiking, camping, traveling, and adventures have always been her hobbies. Janayva’s bucket list consists of traveling to every state and eating food she can barely pronounce. She tries to learn a new
More than a Phone Call: The Life of a 911 Dispatcher Read More »
Here, during my fifty-fifth year on earth, I’ve come to understand something everyone around me knew long ago: I’m not a born team player. Those who know me are underwhelmed by this revelation. Others, please read on. Really, all the evidence is there. I don’t like sports, and I loathed high school pep rallies. Churches
Whatever You Do, Don’t Read the Comments: Why I Don’t Argue About Politics Read More »
I am really irritated at my neighbor’s dog, a miniature schnauzer. And not for what you might think. I have had neighbors whose dogs barked incessantly and pooped indiscriminately. That’s a whole other set of problems. Of course if I am really honest, it’s my neighbor and not her dog that I am really irked