When there’s a bomb threat or, God forbid, an explosion, we run away and report it so attackers can be arrested and punished.  more

It is the fourth subzero day of January as I put pen to paper, every day of which I have devoted to mining for inspiration for my February columns. more

The first snow fell on December 27th. According to an old wives' tale, whatever day the first snow falls is how many snows we will have that winter. Whew! 27 snows. I sure hope those old wives' are wrong. more

I didn’t know that families did not reuse, renew and recycle. All households did not practice conservation. I thought saving and reusing things was as normal as having salt and pepper on the dinner table. more

I’ve never depended on farming for my bread and butter, but I can thank FFA — Future Farmers of America, in my day — for launching my career as a journalist. more

Dear readers, I’m taking some time off this week to help my mom during her cancer treatment. But while I’m away, I’m sharing a column published nearly 14 years ago about a topic that has boomeranged back into pop culture in a big way. In a few weeks when the Academy Awards are handed out in Hollywood, the movie “Barbie” will be one of the films in the running to take home the Oscar. I watched the movie with my 17-year-old daughter, and we both laughed and loved it. more

I'm old enough to remember drive-in theaters. They were in full swing when I was a teenager. more

My Ruby Red Slippers carried me back to one of my homes this month, St. Louis. My slippers were red Hey Dude sneakers. The experience brought back memories and experiences only a tour of St. Louis can bring to me. more

Often I miss the good old days of my farm boy youth. more

I contemplated tossing out the old Royal typewriter last week and stopped writing columns or feature stories. For the past two months, I've only been able to get out a few times because I could rarely drive. My health prevented me from enjoying life at home or in the neighborhood. more

Driving south of Buffalo one morning just a few days before the Missouri Conservation Department’s designated Eagle Days, Martha and I saw at least a half-dozen bald eagles, some aloft, some in trees. more

It was in the blood of many of our forefathers - perhaps existing in the tiny interior of their genes-something built in - never to leave. This capacity for actual physical labor - backed up by astute mental properties. Men and women who could create - as well as repair-what was required then and in the future. The very things that mean so much - whose value is not measured in monetary terms - but in terms of practical usage. New or old no matter. Often treasured from one generation to another - where time has no standing. Holding the tools used by beloved parents, grandparents and family - inside the home as well as out - to maintain what was most important in daily living. Having little ownership of what folks yesterday and today call wealth - the value was in using and protecting what was possessed. This belief was passed to each succeeding generation - whether aware of it or not-by the style of living demonstrated each day. Wealth was always measured by the security afforded to loved ones.  more