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 …
What could be better for a train lover than living in a town with an annual Railroad Days Festival? Not much. I recently visited Durand, Michigan during Railroad Days to hunt for model railroad treasures at the train show. I was surprised to discover the Durand Depot has several HO scale layouts in operation, the …
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 …
Continue reading Questions from a High School AP Literature Class
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 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 …
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 …
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. …
Continue reading Growing Up Lapeer: Missing Some Favorite Places
I have to admit, even though I don't want to, this winter darkness has not had as much of a detrimental effect on my mental state as in other years. At least it doesn't seem so. But winter isn't over. There is another hype-filled round of snowpocalyptic prognostications beginning to fill the air, even as …
Continue reading Model Railroad Scenery, Coffee, Earl Klugh, and a Sunlight Therapy Lamp
I love driving, I don't care how far. I drove to California from Texas many times. Trips to Florida, Colorado, Wyoming, Illinois, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky were no problem at all. I loved every mile. I would have been a good truck driver. I always said the best job would be …
Maple Valley is a small tourist town in Kertok County, Missouri. The claim to fame in this tiny place is The Old General, a Civil War era steam locomotive that carries visitors to Maple Valley. Maple Valley has been here a lot longer than The Old General has been bringing folks to see it. Years …
Continue reading The Cast of Characters in the Scandal at Maple Valley
A Coffee State of Mind 