As we enter 2022, I’ve taken a look back at my highlights from 2021. Two things come to mind. The birth of our third grandchild and the celebration of our 50th wedding anniversary. That’s two big deals in one year. Our two older grandchildren, Brady (16) and Eva (14) were both in Florida to help …
Judgement Day
I knew I had the right to an attorney but opted to present my own case in court. I thought if I stuck to the facts, which were determined by highly extenuating circumstances, the judge would see things my way and wave the ticket and the fine. What I didn’t bargain for was the city …
Extenuating Circumstances
I had a date after work with a Birmingham girl. I got off work at 7:00 and was scheduled to pick her up at 7:30. Normally, I would have taken Crooks Road through Royal Oak and on to Birmingham, but this wasn’t a normal day. I was about to get beat up by a man …
Lead Foot
I was speaking with Brady during his recent Florida visit, and he told me he received his first speeding ticket. He’s been driving on his own since June and has his own “ride”. After driving with him when he was still “learning” I’m not surprised. He had a lead foot back then. He has to …
Christmas Bears
My first Christmas was spent in the rental unit my parents had in Centerline, Michigan. We lived there until the spring of 1950 when we moved to Royal Oak. I received a teddy bear from my dad on that first Christmas, and several months later, my mom took my bear and me to a photographer …
Dreams
When I was in elementary school, I had a dream that kept repeating itself. I was walking to school and halfway down the block, when I looked down, I wasn’t wearing any pants. I was running late so going back home wasn’t an option. Arriving pantless was preferred to being tardy. In another version, I …
Uber
The first time I heard of Uber I called it Hoover. Like the vacuum sweeper. I knew nothing of the company let alone the concept. My kids and their spouses taught me about it. Ruth and I were taking Brady to Chicago via the train to watch the Chicago Cubs play baseball. It was the …
This Year’s Christmas Card
The first time I recall sending Christmas cards was my freshman year of college. It seemed to be the mature thing to do, so I did it. I picked out a masculine fireplace scene and sent them to several relatives. The next year I sent out the remaining cards. If you received yours, you’re welcome. …
Great Friends and Good Times
When I was growing up, we stood on the front porch of the friend we wished to see and yelled his name repeatedly. If no one answered, we’d walk to the side door. The quickest responses usually came from the front. Bill Graham lived across the street. His call went something like this. Billeeee! Billeeee! …
Blog 423
When I started writing this blog in the fall of 2017, I didn’t know how many stories I’d recall. I had a few I wanted to tell right away because they were important to me, while others were simply crumbs rolling around in my brain. I’ve learned some come in great floods, like poured cereal …