Life Lessons

My Own Mortality

I was about thirteen years old when I first thought about my own mortality.  I had lost two of my grandparents a few years prior, but never considered my own death until around the time of my thirteenth birthday.  I don’t know if the thought of being a teenager triggered my fear, but it was …

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Current Events

My Barnes and Noble Presentation

I stood in front of about 100 people at The Villages Barnes and Noble yesterday.  This is what I said. Those of you who are married, or have ever been married, would you please raise your hand? Take a look around.  Most of us have our hand raised.  Now if you were engaged to someone …

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Current Events

2024 MRNA Invitational

The 2024 MRNA Invitational   The first ever MRNA (Mom, Ruth, Nana, Altogether) Invitational will be held tomorrow on Thursday, April 11th.  This would have been Ruth’s seventy-seventh birthday.  Last year’s event was an Open.  This year’s is an Invitational.  The biggest difference between the two is last year we had two person teams and …

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Current Events

Barnes and Noble

When I published my book, Pondering Life’s Lessons, back in the fall, it went on sale via Amazon and all other on-line purchasing services through IngramSpark, another online publishing and distribution company.  I’ve sold several books, but most sales have come through people I know.  You won’t find Robert Tebo on the best seller list. …

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Family

David’s Decisions

When it came time for our three children to decide what was next regarding their education, Ruth and I deferred to them.  We spoke of college all the time but would have been ok if they took a pass.  They didn’t. David was first and he enrolled at Western Michigan University like me.  He planned …

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Family

Young Jackson James @ 3

Young Jackson James turned three today.  Four years ago, Ruth and I didn’t think we’d have a third grandchild.  I’m pretty sure his conception was planned even though he was conceived, and born, during the covid crisis. We knew his birth was on the horizon when I called to check in with Kate one late …

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Ruth

Hands

We hold hands for a variety of reasons: security, relaxation, show respect, connect with others, and as a sign of affection. I’m sure there are others, but I think number one is security. Touching someone in such a manner has a calming effect. When we’re young we hold hands with our parents when we cross …

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Life Lessons

Bird Walks and Eva

When I was an elementary school principal, Madelyn Hunter was one of several educational gurus that I followed.  She had a model for effective teaching that outlined the important parts of a good lesson plan.  I encouraged my staff to use her model.  Some did, some didn’t, but most at least gave a look see …

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Life Lessons

My Left Shoulder

I met with a second surgeon regarding my left shoulder last week.  He’s a sports medicine expert, specializing in shoulders.  He had a new ex-ray taken when I arrived and reviewed an electronic copy of my cat scan and MRI.   We talked a bit as he pulled on my arms and rattled statistics to his …

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