Two Gents' Worth
October 4, 2026
Civil Society
Each week, the great Carol Burnett used to close her legendary CBS variety show by singing, “I’m so glad we had this time together, just to have a laugh or sing a song. Seems we just get started and before you know it, comes the time we have to say, ‘So long.’” Well, Ames, the…
Read More about Leaving Ames, Too Soon
Civil Society
We were just about ready to write off this Summer of Our Coronavirus Discontent here in Ames — until the tornado sirens went off this past Tuesday night. Up to then, our stay here in the heartland had been quiet, if not somewhat boring. After all, the coronavirus had forced the shutdown or cancellation of…
Read More about Into the Basement, Again
Civil Society
The Fourth of July dawned bright and beautiful in our lovely old university town of Ames, Iowa, this morning. And then nothing went as it should have. The street in front of City Hall was empty this morning. Hundreds of people — if not thousands — did not line up at 8:30, as they usually…
Read More about Our Dispirited Fourth
Civil Society
Those lazy, hazy — and, especially this summer, crazy — days of summer have come to the Heartland again. That means — as it always has — hot, humid days and fireflies at night. But this summer is different — oh, so different — because of the coronavirus. Yes, flowers still bloom at Bandshell…
Read More about This Heartland Summer
Civil Society
Here we are once again, back in Ames, Iowa — the great Heart of the American Heartland. Ames is the home of Iowa State University, but this fine old town also boasts a fine old-fashioned downtown Main Street, majestic churches and many historic homes, some dating back to the 1860’s. Yes, we’re finally here, after…
Read More about Back in the Heartland
Civil Society
I figure that with all the bad news that’s been going on “out there” these past weeks and months – and, yes, there’s been a ton of it – you’d really like to read something “uplifting” on this page. Something that maybe – just maybe – makes you smile, if only for a minute or…
Read More about Trippin’ Back “Home”Civil Society
On this Memorial Day weekend, we, as a nation, obviously — and in my view, unfortunately — have decided that “enough is enough,” when it comes to trying to contain the coronavirus outbreak. We have decided that we no longer want to stay inside. We no longer desire to wear masks. We are salivating at…
Read More about Holiday Break-OutCivil Society
These past few weeks have been doozies, all right. Have you been anxious? Have you been scared? Have you been frustrated? Same here. And we’re not alone. It’s been going around – spread like wildfire by the deadly coronavirus that’s roared through our nation and our world. We were all transported into new territory –…
Read More about Weeks Like No OtherCivil Society
Wow. That was fast. It was only 10 days ago when Sharon and I boarded a plane in San Luis Obispo for a flight to Dallas, where we got on board another jet that whisked us to Disney World in Orlando. The idea was to celebrate — if that’s the appropriate word when it comes…
Read More about Older, in a Whole New World