It’s a big day today. I’m starting my cardio rehab. Immediately after receiving my two heart stents, I was directed to start five medications and go through cardio rehab. I was preparing to return to Michigan, so I opted for rehab in the mitten. I arrived almost four weeks ago, but today’s the first time …
Make Sure
I took a friend, Barbara, to the Grand Rapids Airport on Thursday for a trip to Chicago. The stop was on my way to Jackson to play poker with the poker group I’ve been a part of for going on forty-eight years. I’d driven to the airport a dozen times since moving into my Tullymore …
My Plant Based Diet
I started a plant-based diet a few weeks ago. I’m eating this way for health reasons. I began a Mediterranean diet around Christmas in order to live a healthier lifestyle. I ate chicken and fish, fresh vegetables and fruits, eggs, a limited amount of bread, and several dairy products. You know, all sorts of cheeses. …
The Little Red Hen
I met Larry Bush in the fall of 1991. He was the President of the Britton-Macon Area School Board of Education. I was one of six candidates being considered for the superintendent position. When I received the news of his death on a Facebook post eight months ago, I learned he was three years younger …
78
I’ll be 78 tomorrow. My name was going to be Danny Lee until it came time to sign the birth certificate. Danny, not Daniel. I’m happy that my mom changed her mind. When I use Robert, I see it as being more formal. I used it when I attended important meetings while I was working …
Nippy Cups
I visited Michael, Kate, and young Jackson James in California to celebrate Jackson’s second birthday. Mike and I were having an adult beverage and Jackson knocked my glass over. It wasn’t a deliberate act. He simply bumped the side table where the drink sat, and his blow tipped it over. Jackson was oblivious to his …
A Sense of Community
I’ve always believed that each of us should be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Being a part of a larger something adds value to our lives. When we’re young it’s the kids in the neighborhood and those we go to school with. We just like being together. Play is the common bond. When …
Always Spin the Wheel
Last January, Elizabeth and I took part in a book expo in The Villages. Part of our setup included a spinning wheel. Visitors could spin the wheel and win a prize. We gave away candy, book marks and slips of paper with “life lessons”. The lessons looked like the fortunes you’d find in a fortune …
Heading Back
I’m heading back to Michigan tomorrow. I’m not the same guy that came to Florida last September. I’ve gained a new shoulder, added two heart stents and in spite of my new hardware, I’ve lost over thirty-five pounds. I’m basically the same guy inside but with different goals. I never dreamed of being where I …
Hot Pursuit
If you’ve ever had teenagers in your life, you may be able to relate to this tale. The event took place about thirty years ago, but I remember the key components like they occurred yesterday. One of the perks of being a school superintendent was attending conferences in Traverse City each fall. Ruth enjoyed going …