A snow day literally and figuratively falls from the sky, unbidden, and seems like a thing of wonder. ~Susan Orlean Kentucky winters are unpredictable. We might have snow. We might not. When my oldest son was six, he got a sled for Christmas. We did not have sledding snow for years. Then the year he was eleven the heavens opened …
Some things I’ve Learned as a Writer
I started writing when I was around ten years old. That means I’ve been writing a very long time. Sometimes with success. Sometimes without success – at least in publishing that writing. But the actual writing was always successful because words spilled out on paper. Perhaps not the best words. But words were written. In those childhood days, writing was …
What Dad Believes
January 20, 1965 Jocie Brooke here reporting from downtown Hollyhill, Kentucky. Exciting news today. Dad got contacted by somebody to do an interview. It’s usually Dad interviewing other folks for a piece in the Banner, but this time the tables were turned and somebody interviewed him all about what went on last fall here in Hollyhill. You remember, don’t you? …
Blue Monday
Have you heard about Blue Monday? Up until today, I thought Blue Monday was simply one of my favorite candy bars made right here in Kentucky. And it is. But turns out a few years ago, a company decided to do a publicity campaign by naming a Monday in January as the most depressing day of the year. I read …
Some Things Learned in Life
SOME THINGS LEARNED IN LIFE …that one of the most fun things you can do is take a walk with a grandkid and a dog. …that the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person. …that just one person saying “You’ve made my day” makes our day! …that having a child fall asleep in your arms …
Kids are Just Kids
Photo credit: The Roanoke Times, file photo, 1960. January 13, 1965 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. We had to go back to school after Christmas last week. The snow kept us out a couple of days but then it was back to books and teachers. School’s not so bad. Not now that I’m used to high school and …
Stay Calm and Be Optimistic
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.~Emo Philips Ahh, computers. They drive us batty at times but we love them anyway. Many of us now carry a computer of sorts around in our hand or stuck in a pocket or attached to our belts. That phone that does it all …
A One Time Blue Event
I believe God created sports for a good reason. It’s recreation. It’s something that we enjoy. It teaches us a lot as well… I believe God is a sports fan. ~Luke Scott I don’t know about that, but I do know I’m a sports fan. Mostly I’m one of those armchair fans who watch from home with with my eyes riveted …
Snow in Hollyhill’s Summer of Joy
January 6, 1965 Jocie Brooke reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. It’s snowing! It’s snowing! No school in Hollyhill tomorrow. I shouldn’t be happy about that since we just went back to school from Christmas break last week, but when you get a snow day, you have to be happy. Aren’t you happy when you get a snow day? I love snow. …
A New Chapter in Life
No one finishes this race, but everyone gets to pass a baton, and a good hand off means that you will not slow anyone down during the hand off, especially any one of the billions who will live after you. Everyone today is an accumulation of the 106 billion batons that have been passed forward for thousands of years. So make your …