Columnists
I recently came across a problem of semantics.
Should it be called “distracted driving” if the matter distracting me IS the driving?
I have owned my current vehicle for five years or more, but in all that time, I have never let the fuel gauge touch the “empty” mark–until the other...
Two weeks ago, I wrote an article about how Farmamerica is looking for volunteers to fill various roles during the facility’s round of fall school field trips. I had the chance to speak with volunteers Ron Wood and Rita and Jerry Janish about the sense of personal fulfillment it brings them to...
I’ve mentioned before that I like going to thrift stores. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the socially responsible way to shop. Rather than contributing to the excessive trend of “out with the old, in with the new,” it’s a way to “reduce, re-use, recycle.”
As I’m sure nearly everyone has, I...
MARVELING - This is one of the thunderstorm pictures Deb Bently has taken this summer. Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently
I am transfixed by thunderstorms.
That means that this stormy summer, I have spent a fair amount of time marveling at the sky.
I acknowledge they are dangerous and that the strongest of them can do horrendous damage, but since they are an unremovable feature of nature, I am doing no...
THRILLING RIDE - One of Deb Bently's priorities for her weekend visit to Illinois was to ride the "Wrath of Rakshasa" roller coaster at Six Flags Great America. Star Eagle photo by Deb Bently
After my very enjoyable ride on an Amtrak passenger train a week ago, it wasn’t long before I was taking the ride I had been looking forward to all summer.
A roller coaster named “Wrath of Rakshasa” opened at the Six Flags Great America theme park in Gurnee, Ill. in June. I had been looking...
TRAIN VIEWS - A view of the Mississippi River taken from a railroad bridge during a recent train ride.
Last weekend, I rode an Amtrak train from Winona to a suburb north of Chicago. A major objective of the trip was to meet up with my sister-in-law, so that we could go ride rollercoasters at Six Flags Great America.
The rollercoasters were exciting, of course, but here I want to tell about...
CURIOSITY - Here is a picture of a fawn visiting our cabin while we weren’t there. Star Eagle photo by Dick Herfindahl
I am writing this week’s column while sitting here at the cabin looking out across the lake while taking an occasional sip of my coffee. It is another beautiful day, the humidity is bearable, and the temps are predicted to be in the mid 70’s.
The birds are busily eating breakfast out of my...
This afternoon I was driving westward toward a sun that could only just be blocked by my vehicle’s visor. I topped a hill and found myself doing a double take because the two-mile line of sight ahead of me appeared to be decorated with a lacy lit garland which scalloped up and down more neatly...
I encountered two pieces of good luck this week which stick in my mind as I write this column.
One, I attended a “fine arts” show at the civic center in Mankato. I went specifically to see a friend, a talented artist with the first name Annie who had a booth there. The two of us had taken care...
“Young people are the church of tomorrow.” is a phrase I have often heard repeated over and over again. In a way, this phrase is true. After all, unless the Lord calls them home, the young people of today who have received faith in Jesus Christ will also be the church of tomorrow. But young...