“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 …
Flint Hills on KPR
Here’s a link to the audio version of my ‘At Home in the Flint Hills’ piece: LISTEN HERE. It aired on Kansas Public Radio on Dec. 4. *** *
Crossing Missouri
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: CROSSING MISSOURI As we made plans to travel to Dave’s brother’s house for a Saturday version of Thanksgiving dinner, Dave used a mileage calculator to determine how early in the morning we would need to leave Emporia. I was surprised to learn that it’s only …
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 …
At Home in the Flint Hills
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: AT HOME IN THE FLINT HILLS Our favorite places are the ones where we feel most like our real selves. Maybe your preferred spot on the planet is in the Rocky Mountains, or on a tropical beach, or at your grandparents’ farmhouse. Whenever you arrive …
Travels With Mom
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: In Toronto TRAVELS WITH MOM The pumpkin cheesecake tasted even better than it sounded. When my mother visited recently, she insisted on taking Dave and me to Ad Astra in Strong City. So we had no choice but to go – and to eat …
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 …
Library Love
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: Here’s a photo I swiped from my brother’s blog (Too Long in the Wind). This part of the Pawnee Rock fire station building was the city hall/library. Photo credit: Leon Unruh. LIBRARY LOVE When I was a little kid, the best thing about my …