A Flower Stiffens

December 9, 2010

A beautiful person died in Chicago this week. Kathy Wichnienski was a flower. Her quiet kindness and love filled our lives with color. Childless, she adopted nieces and nephews – even my sons – and showered them with love. Kathy’s endless selflessness hid much pain. She suffered for many years from scleroderma. Our flower’s body [...]

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Snowfall Derby 2011 – Blizzard of Profanity

December 8, 2010

Damn, Rochester was just named #4 in the U.S. for foul-mouth cities. How in the hell did that happen?

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A Christmas Dummy

December 6, 2010

Many of us received a very special holiday gift as a child. It is the one we wanted the most or a surprise dream gift. I am the fortunate receiver of a wonderful gift. In fact it actually became two of my favorite Christmas memories.

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Snowfall Derby 2011 – First Snow

December 3, 2010

There are a dozen cars in ditches with vehicles sliding and swerving all over the highway. You’d think a population that lives in a 100” annual snow area could easily adjust to the first snow! I promptly fall on my butt outside the class building. So much for winter pontification. 265 days transpired since our [...]

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Santa’s Hut

December 1, 2010

It remains to be seen whether my 21-month old grandson, Jaymeson, and the other toddlers in my life are ready to sit on the lap of a strange grey-bearded stranger in red. So far, Jaymeson points at pictures of Santa and says, ‘Grandpa.’ I thought about my early experiences with Saint Nick.

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Scrooge Lives In Skaneateles

November 28, 2010

“Have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. Scrooge or Mr. Marley?” “Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years,” Scrooge replied. “He died seven years ago, this night.” Don’t look now, Ebenezer, but Mr. Marley is right behind you. It is going to be a long night for Scrooge, but a great weekend for us [...]

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Knecht Rupercht – Origin of Christmas Elves

November 26, 2010

Many holiday traditions, like the Christmas tree and Santa’s joyful elves, are from Germany. The origin of the happy tiny toy makers comes from a darker and more fearful character, Knecht Rupercht.

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Band Camp Battles

November 23, 2010

There is a flurry of activity as sixty-two musicians assemble saxophones and buzzes from trumpet mouthpieces at the Northeast Instrumental Music Festival in Lake Placid, New York. My wife, Kathy, is among them. This is the year’s final band camp after events in Georgia, Dayton, Williamsburg, and Chautauqua. George drove eleven hours from Detroit while [...]

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Thanks For Now

November 21, 2010

Eleanor Roosevelt wrote, “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift.” The concept is so easy to grasp, but very difficult to achieve. As the holiday season approaches, I give thanks for today.

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The Tipping Point of Hope

November 19, 2010

There are many similarities between today and America thirty years ago. In both eras are impacted by weak economies, high unemployment, partisan debates, a growing Asian economy, a Middle East threat, and a dismal U.S. morale. In 1980 a miracle took place deep in New York’s Adirondack Mountains that tipped America’s scales toward hope and [...]

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