Ruth was a waste not want not type girl. She saved a lot of things and wasted few. She repurposed objects and made the old new. She had a knack for it. We visited hundreds of craft shows and more often than not, she said, “I can make that.” Sometimes she did. Sometimes she didn’t. …
Author: Robert
Safety First
When my grandson, Brady, was old enough to comprehend simple conversations, we stressed the concept of “safety first”. You know the drill, look both ways before crossing the street, always hold hands, watch the red, yellow, green lights, wear a life jacket near the water, don’t go with strangers, and on and on. There are …
Household Hints
I’ve learned a few things while living on my own these past four months. I picked up a few tips before Ruth passed, but I’ve thrown them in the mix just the same. Here’s some things to keep in mind. Ruth and I had a system for loading the dishwasher. If the door wasn’t closed …
Widower
When I was a kid, the first widow I learned about was a spider. I knew black widows could be deadly and for several months I thought we had one living in our fruit cellar. The fruit cellar was the former coal bin of our house at 500 N. Edgeworth. It was a repurposed spot …
Trips West
I remember how happy my father-in-law, Lou, was when David was born. He had a houseful of females and was over the moon when his grandson was born. He wasn’t the jump up in the air kind of guy, but he and Ruth’s mom stopped into our Kalamazoo home every weekend after David was born. …
California Connection
The last conversation I had with Ruth concluded around 11:00 am the morning of September 27, 2022. We agreed upon a plan to visit our California kids the weekend prior to Kate’s birthday. I overheard her speaking to Michael one evening and Elizabeth, a day or so later, about the trip. She told Mike we’d …
Losers
I had lunch the other day with three friends. After we spoke, I thought about our conversation and determined we’re four losers. I don’t mean that disrespectfully, but we’ve each lost someone in the past several months and share the common bond of loss. Kathy’s husband woke up one Monday morning and announced he was …
Rule Changes
The golf rules listed below are not mine. I’m not clever enough to have compiled them. I have made reference to a golf instruction book I hope to write. I don’t have a title, but I do have a couple of chapters in mind. Most of the titles pop up out of nowhere while playing …
A Memorable Year
I wrote a portion of this blog in 2017. It outlined my intentions for my new hobby. I started writing because I was concerned I’d have too much time on my hands. I had retired from my “real job” in 2008 and was well into a consultant gig I knew wouldn’t last forever. Writing seemed …
My New Seating Chart
The story below was among my first blog posts. With Ruth’s passing, I’ve updated it a bit. It’s a long read, but worth a second look. Many people – perhaps most around the world – never have the chance to share a meal at a table with their family. I’ve been lucky to have four …