October 2026 I went to the doctor the other day for what I still call my “annual physical”. To professionals, it is now known as a “periodic wellness check”. I have a new doctor, so I was a little nervous, just because it is a change. Something I have talked about before. Doctors, dentists, hair stylists, bartenders, servers at the local diner, I like to keep the same. Once I develop a rapport with someone of this type, I am exceptionally loyal. Or I guess they become

October 2026 They say, once again I'm never really certain who "they" are, that life is like a rollercoaster. I guess that is because life is full of twists and turns and highs and lows. Occasionally, you're even upside down. Well, I am having one of the dips in the track today. It's a “So this is all there is?”, kind of day. You know, the ones where you look life square in the face and say, “Is this it?”. I would hazard a guess that you know what I am talking about. But

October 2026 I really love music. Anyone acquainted with me, or my writing, is aware of this. Listening to music has always been a huge part of my life. It is one of the true joys of living and a great way to connect with the past. However, my current approach for listening to music has significantly evolved from how I previously connected with it. Today I was pondering this. As I did so, I realized that if you are over 50 years old, how you listen to music has likely gon

September 2026 The other day, someone asked me how I liked retirement. Ok, to tell the truth, everyone asks me that. It’s almost a daily inquiry. I have only been fully retired for about 2 years, but I have become an expert at defending the practice. People think I must be miserable. “Don’t you miss working?”, they say. “How do you keep busy?” “You must be so bored”. Granted, I am relatively young to be retired. But I am exceedingly happy, and I have had plenty to do.

September 2026 Today I am pondering history. Maybe not as the title above implies, although that’s a pretty good historical entity to ponder. No, mine is much more recent. It was 52 years ago, almost to the day, that my parents packed our 1972 Chevrolet Impala and took my brother and me on a trip to Maine. On the way, we stopped in New York at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and in Lake Placid, which was the future site of the 1980 Winter Olympics, and finally, For

August 2026 As you may have read, my wife and I recently took a meandering, two-week drive east from our home in the Midwest, through New England to Maine. While traveling across Vermont, we realized we were near the place where a long-time friend of ours, who had passed away a few years ago, was buried. We had attended his funeral in Michigan but decided to make a small detour to stop and pay our respects while we were in the neighborhood. Realizing that we may never pass

August 2026 Ok! So, raise your hand if you’ve heard of the Finger Lakes? Hmmm. Yep, that’s what I thought. When I mentioned it as a potential vacation destination, very few within my circle of friends had heard of them either. My wife had only heard of them in passing. My own familiarity was quite low, other than knowing that they existed in New York State and were supposed to be a wonderful vacation spot, regardless of season. During my business trips to the east coast, I

July 2026 Recently, I made a trip to Muskegon, the town where my wife and I grew up. As I have mentioned before, we are blessed to have a small “cottage” there. It lies up on a hill overlooking Muskegon Lake. It is a small and simple place, not pretentious in any way, but it gives my wife and me a base when we visit our family and friends in a town that we both still call “Home”. Even though we haven’t lived there for over 40 years. Each time I come to Muskegon, I visi

July 2026 Recently, my wife and I attended our 45th class reunion. Although I sort of dreaded the thought of it, I brushed aside my anxiety and fully participated. We had the chance to celebrate and reminisce with old friends as well as talk with people we barely remembered, if at all. We had a 400ish person graduating class, so it was impossible to know everyone. We also toured our old school, which might have been the coolest part. For me, it revived lots of memories that

July 2026 It was the Fourth of July the other day and what I consider to be the consummate American holiday. It was also America’s 250th birthday, which added a bit of extra specialness to it. Leading up to the holiday I had been doing a lot of watching and listening. Trying to assess what people are thinking during these intriguing times. And, I must admit, I became somewhat disturbed while doing so. This turned into a bit of severe agitation as I continued to query and

June 2026 Have you ever looked at someone and thought, “Wow, they really have their shit together?” Or hear someone talking about their life and family, and maybe covet their success? You may even really envy them. Wondering, why is my life not like that? Today I am pondering this. Why do some people seem to have everything so “together”? What makes some people seem so well-adjusted, and appear to have continuous successes in life that are on display for all to see? An e

May 2026 Spring is in the air, albeit more like the April part of spring versus the middle of May. We have had some very cool weather so far this May. Frosty nights and gray chilly days. Regardless, today I went outside and continued "starting" my spring cleanup. It's a process you see! I’m pondering birds because they were out today in full force. A sure sign of spring. For me, and even my family, birds are a pastime. We are not serious birders, but merely observers.

May 2026 Today I am pondering strange coincidences. I had to go to the dentist the other day. Nothing remarkable about that. I do it every six months. What was going to be different was that I was going to have someone new putting their hands in my mouth to clean my teeth. My hygienist from the last million years was the same woman. She finally decided to retire. You get accustomed to people like doctors and dentists and hygienists and barbers. At least I do. I am e

April 2026 Today I ponder the wonder and adventure of riding on a train. A timeless means of travel that still exists, well past its zenith. We must remember that trains were the most important method of transportation in the US from the 1860s until the 1920s, when the automobile usurped its status. Still, there is nothing like a 3-hour train ride through the Midwest, with Chicago as your destination, to fill you full of nostalgia. Given that for years I personally travel

April 2026 I have a dental appointment in three weeks, so my oral hygiene alarm clock just rang. It’s time to start preparing. Almost like cramming for a test! Now, to be clear, I brush my teeth every day. Quite frequently, I do it twice a day... Ok, occasionally... Alright, maybe once a week... Or so. Regardless, I have a fancy, jaw rattling, ultrasonic toothbrush that I love. Thankfully, my teeth have always been healthy. I have only had two cavities, and they were discov

April 2026 As you get older, say around 60, you start to be a bit more in touch with what is going on with your mind and body. Maybe it’s because you have more time to think about it, or perhaps it’s because the things that change are so much more extreme and easier to detect. Whatever the case, some rather emphatic changes begin to occur during this stage of human life. I am in this period now, which causes me to ponder aging. Something I think about all the time and write a

April 2026 I think a great deal about Jesus this time of year, even though I’m not a Christian. But he gets a lot of airtime in March and April. More so even than in December. Which from a historical perspective makes good sense, as according to biblical scholars, it is highly unlikely, he was born in that month. Regardless, it’s kind of fun thinking about him, because I know a good dude when I see one. I’m convinced I would have liked him, had I known him when he was alive.

March I have been in south Florida for just over a month now. In late February and March, it's a great place to escape the cold remnants of winter in the Midwest. This particular winter seemed to nettle my brain a bit. One too many polar vortex’s this year for many of us in the great white north. Where we live in Florida is not on the beach, but it is close enough to make walking to it, and on it, a frequent activity. So today I’m pondering the power of the place where th

February 2026 I often ponder why there is not as much laughter in my life as there once was. Nor in the world in general. These days it’s easier to see all of the bad that goes on. It’s harder to see the good things in life and the funny things. And that is a real loss. Both for me and for society. I think about this all the time. Then, I began to wonder if maybe the reason that there is so little humor is because we fail to embrace it. Or to even recognize it when it

February 2026 (reissue) I took a short road-trip the other day to visit a friend. As I slid into the comfortable seat of my truck, one of the first things I did was to scan through the radio stations to find a tune that caught my fancy. I am pretty much conditioned for this activity. Whether I am driving across the country, or to the grocery store. Quickly, I landed on XM radio’s 70’s on 7. Which is my go-to. I settled in to listen to Casey Kasem recant and play the Top 40 so