Two Gents' Worth
October 4, 2026
Civil Society
Here we are again on another Fourth of July in Ames, Iowa — the heart of the Great American Heartland. You have to trust me on this — there’s nothing quite like celebrating a Fourth in a Midwestern small town. For starters, small-town Fourths around these parts somehow seem more authentic — more personal —…
Read More about The Fourth, Midwest-StyleCivil Society
We have returned, one more time, to this great Heart of the American Heartland — Ames, Iowa. This time, our trek took five days, during which we traveled 2032 miles in mostly good spirits through eight states, had lunch with a former boss who happens to be the best one I ever worked for, ate…
Read More about The Midwest, AgainCivil Society
Chevrolet summers, Dairy Queen nights. I can’t think of a better way to describe those glorious days and nights when I was growing up in the Valley – days and nights I’d give anything to be able to re-live. My guess is that you’re like me – that we look back on those “salad days”…
Read More about Summertime MemoriesCivil Society
I don’t know about you, but as I get older and older, I find that more and more things are making me grumpy. My long-suffering wife tells me that I am, in fact, officially becoming a Grumpy Old Man – an assertion I am resisting mightily because, as everyone around these parts surely knows, I…
Read More about Grumpy — Who, Me?
Civil Society
We moved out of Fresno more than a year ago, but find occasion to return every now and then — mostly for doctors’ appointments. Yes, it’s difficult to grow older, and the need for doctors’ visits seemingly takes up more and more of “retirement” time. But we make that effort and take that time so…
Read More about Fresno, RevisitedCivil Society
Even though we moved away from Fresno a year ago, we still go back every month or so for a variety of reasons. And so it was that I found myself having Starbucks coffee at Fig Garden Village this past Thursday with my buddy Bud Elliott, who not only is the co-proprietor of this blogsite…
Read More about Skills? Yeah, Right
Civil Society
When our Year of Grace 2018 was born at midnight last Dec. 31, people all across this great globe of ours stayed up late to mark the grand occasion. They cheered a lot, and maybe they sang a lot, and perhaps they drank a lot, and they did this in Tokyo and Beijing and Moscow…
Read More about Ring In the New…
Civil Society
“‘Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale; ‘Twas Christmas told the merriest tale; A Christmas gambol oft could cheer The poor man’s heart for half the year.” ** Frosty nights around our Central Coast retirement neighborhood now. If we had a fireplace, three logs would be burning until bedtime. Shiny Christmas bulbs on shrubs and trees…
Read More about Christmas, AgainCivil Society
“Over the river and through the woods To Grandmother’s house we go…” I’ve heard the words to that delightful song almost all my life, and they express a wonderful sentiment, indeed. In fact, I’m pretty sure that every time I’ve listened to them, I’ve visualized being in a horse-drawn sleigh at Thanksgiving. My dad’s piloting…
Read More about Thanksgiving Thoughts