Ice Stormed
My 6th birthday was January 27th, 1967. Having a birthday during the winter can limit the options for birthday activities, but at least it was a month past Christmas, so I never felt like I…
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Spelling Bee
Even though I’ve never been a star athlete or big trophy winner, I’ve always been competitive. Whether it was playing Chutes and Ladders or racing bikes from school to home, I always competed to come…
Rope-A-Dope
My childhood neighborhood was built around a former apple orchard, where my cousins lived in the other houses on the block. In the space behind the houses, the neighborhood kids would play together. We’d play…
Hood Ornament
Today, cars are full of safety features. Air bags, anti-lock brakes, stability control are common. Many cars even have anti-collision features that automatically stop the car in an emergency. In the 1960s, cars weren’t nearly…
Rockets’ Red Glare
Back in 1984, I was in the Army, stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The 4th of July is a big deal in the United States, celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence from England…
Through the Wringer
I’ve always been fascinated by mechanical things. If it rolled, rotated or ran, I wanted to figure out how. Grandma lived next door to us, and while Mom was at work, I was home from…
Reader’s InDigestion
Despite growing up in a small town and skipping kindergarten, I’ve always had a large vocabulary, even if I tend not to use it. When writing, I often say, “Never use a three-dollar word when…
Comic-Book Villain
As a kid, I loved to read comic books. Heck, I loved to read anything, from encyclopedias to phone book ads, to the back of cereal boxes. Most of all, I loved comic books. I’d…
Nine Lives
Back in Kokomo, Indiana, we lived next door to Grandma. No matter how stern Grandma was with her 3 sons, she had a soft spot for the grandkids. She always knew the right thing to…
Golf Clubbed
Back in 4th grade, my buddy Jim and I were thick as thieves. If there was an adventure to be had, we were there. Depending on the day, either one of us could be the…
Soap Box Demolition Derby
When I was a kid, there was always mischief to be found. Sometimes it ended up in scrapes or bruises, other times, it was only wounded pride. No matter what, Mom was always there to…
