Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: Hiking Trail, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Chase County, Kansas A SENSE OF PLACE I love it when a writer, in her poem or short story, gives me the native’s tour of a small town. Maybe she takes me to her town’s only tavern …
Winter’s Good Side
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: cat tracks into the neighbor’s yard WINTER’S GOOD SIDE I should at least get partial credit for making it through half of winter without whining or complaining. But I lost my cool, my patience, when February opened with a sleet storm, followed by 7 …
The Trip
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: THE TRIP In a recent email conversation, my friend Ed Durall described a lengthy move that his father’s family had made in the 1920s. Ed wrote, “In family lore, that was always known as ‘The Trip.’” First, I love the term family lore. And I …
Another Trail
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: ANOTHER TRAIL ANOTHER TRAIL Blue-violet clouds ride the northern horizon. I am following Kansas Highway 99 toward Admire, Eskridge, and beyond. While the clouds toward the north appear flat, perhaps that’s just because of distance. Clouds in the foreground are bulkier, boxier, and are in …
Grandma’s Ghost Chamber
Flyover People column for Dec. 31 GRANDMA’S GHOST CHAMBER Last week, on a cold winter’s night when the wind was scaring up noise outside, I pulled the blankets to my chin. At that moment, Grandma Unruh came to mind. When my brother and cousins and I spent nights with her during the winter, Grandma …
Looking for Joy (Radio version)
“Looking for Joy” – Here’s my radio piece that aired this morning on Kansas Public Radio. There are 2 “listen” buttons. The 2nd button includes the intro and outro – with fabulous music. Listen here. *** ** *
The Sounds Around Us
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: THE SOUNDS AROUND US Last night I opened a bottle of cat treats and gave one to Tiger. Across the room, Zorro, who had appeared to be in a dead sleep on the couch, lifted his head and looked expectantly for a personal delivery. Our …
Major Astro
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: Major Astro promotional photo, courtesy of Laramie Unruh MAJOR ASTRO On school day afternoons from 1962-1973, “Major Astro” aired on a Wichita TV station, KARD (now KSN). As Major Astro, Tom Leahy Jr. wore a white space suit and sometimes held a helmet in …
Gathering Leaves
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: GATHERING LEAVES Thanksgiving is a time to gather the leaves: table leaves – and maybe leaves of a different sort. My dad and Uncle Laramie always performed the table-stretching maneuver at Grandma’s farmhouse when we arrived for Thanksgiving Dinner. They retrieved the leaves from the …
Family Stories
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: FAMILY STORIES Clouds hung low over Highway 50 as I drove westbound toward Chase County one October morning. Leaves were beginning their brilliant farewell. A few days earlier, Ila Mae Whitlock who lives near Elmdale, had called, saying that she had stumbled across a few …
My Soaps
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: MY SOAPS In the store the other day, I stood before an array of bath soap. Blue packages, green ones, yellow ones, white. Which brand to choose? There’s Irish Spring – which I don’t buy because its scent is overwhelming and because 20 years ago …