lost and found in retirement
Independence Day is when Americans celebrate freedom. This is especially important in today’s politically and socially divided society. Freedom was instilled in my youth. It was the day when the red, white, and blue of the American flag was front and center at family picnics and fireworks at Alliance’s Silver Park. The land of the free and let freedom ring are common rallying points for…
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Early Pride transformed from parades into month-long celebrations with corporate sponsorship and an endless display of rainbow merchandise. LGBTQ+ pride was born in the early 70s in the wake of the Stonewall riots from which the LGBTQ+ rights movement was born. I came across a tweet earlier this year that describes a good bit of my life experiences as a gay…
Two young black males entered Jokie’s Café in Alliance, Ohio on a summer night somewhere around 1968. They walked past neighborhood regulars uncomfortable with their presence. They found their way to the payphone near the cafe’s back room where I was playing pool. I saw my father talking to them. They left the café. The late 1960s was a time of great racial unrest. Large…
Memorial Day signaled that school days would soon come to an end and the freedom of hot summer days would soon be here. My mother, siblings, and I headed into Alliance to my aunt Gert’s home on North Park Avenue on Memorial Day morning. A block west, marching bands, veterans, service clubs, area businesses, elected officials, and an impressive display of American flags filled North…
The Ohio National Guard fired into Kent State University anti-war demonstrators at 12:24 pm on May 4, 1970. Four students were killed. I was a high school sophomore 25 miles away. Kent State was the college of choice for many students in my hometown and high school. The controversies of the shootings would divide Northeast Ohio and the nation for years. The world was in…
Cycling is dope. Cycling is cool. The growing number of cyclists on trails confirms that. It may have been years since your dad guided you down the driveway on your first spin on a bike. That led to a childhood exploring your world by bike. Then life happened. Your two wheels were replaced by four wheels. You never forget how to ride a bike. The…
Many books on my book stack involve bicycle touring. I am a cyclist and enjoy touring by bike. These interests brought me to the books. My book stack also has many motivational books. Bicycle touring books have several things in common with motivational books. Here are five ways authors of bicycle touring books offer motivation by telling their stories. They learn It’s like riding a…
Congratulations on completing week one of Social Distancing 101. The COVID-19 virus sat you on your couch where you binge-watched television. Here are some thoughts on how to make your time at home more enjoyable and productive. I can’t promise they will make 24X7 confinement with your family feel like a week at the beach. Be active every day. Early this year I read Younger…