He was a skinny boy, about 12 or 13 years old, with sandy blond hair flopping down his forehead. His overalls were faded and weathered from a combination of hard work and harder play. The big cloth sack slung over his shoulder held all his early possessions, which was nothing more than a few changes Read more

I was volun-told for my first paying job at the ripe old age of 11. It was dad’s doing. “Ward E,” he said, I’ve been talking with Mr. Cook, and he needs your help with the evening chores.” “What’s the evening chores?” I asked. “Feeding and watering the animals, and milking the cows. Don’t worry, Read more

It was a warm July evening at the Wilson Family Reunion. Stories of all shapes and sizes flowed freely deep into the moonless night. I looked on in amazement as Allison, my niece, told me all about recovering from surgery to correct her Amblyopia, more commonly known as Lazy Eye. “I watched the whole thing Read more

“Okay Tyler! You Win! You can drive!” I relented in frustration. I couldn’t believe how quickly things had escalated. Within moments we’d gone from the adorable cuteness of a three-year old’s giggles, to a horrifying tantrum, and I was waving the flag of defeat. Or was I? The twins were 4 and Tyler had just Read more

I was fourteenish when I went on a road trip with Mom and Dad in the old VW bus to visit mom’s uncle Collins. He lived on a ranch up in the Coastal Mountains of Northern California. Now, he called it a ranch, but I don’t remember seeing any horses or cows, just a couple Read more