Opinion

One of my earliest memories was my mother’s voice. I was on her lap and she was reading to me. We were likely in our cottage by the sea with a fire blazing in the hearth. She had a good strong reading voice with...

“Take care of yourself!” they rant. “Diet and exercise, exercise and diet.” Yes, we all know about that. Some of us consistently live by excellent habits, others less so. I’ve always loved to swim and walk — that’s my idea of exercise — and...

For decades in the Salinas Valley, the short-handle hoe, known as “El Cortito,” was used for weeding and thinning rows of crops that kept farmworkers stooped over for long hours each day. Workers were only able to stand and stretch when they reached the...

Two weeks ago I opened the Rustler to a long article whose headline proclaimed, “Western Flyer Sets Sail With Weekend Celebration and Send-Off Festivities.” I immediately ordered tickets online to what was described as an “enchanting evening titled ‘Tales from the Western Flyer’ celebrating the...

Ever since my sister passed, my daughter and I have been wont to follow her lead and give each other experiences instead of merchandise for special occasions. I was so delighted when the kid gave me concert tickets for Christmas. I love concerts, I...

They say you can’t go home again. It’s my experience that sometimes you can, though it is certainly not for everyone. I was recently fortunate enough to be able to spend a week not only in my hometown, but in my home cottage where...

Two canceled flights and two Covid tests later, and it looked like the U.S. to U.K, flight might finally be happening. It would have to be via L.A. with a layover, but it beat the boat any day and I would take it. As...

I couldn’t help it, I had to cough. My throat became the most horrendous tickle fest. It was coming; everyone was looking at me. Noooo! Then, once I started, I couldn’t stop. The lady near me swung around in her chair with her latte...

I am an avid reader, but with limited scope. I don’t read any contemporary novels and don’t know most of the names I see on various Top Ten Books lists. I am a fan of mysteries, though, but usually limit myself to Conan Doyle,...

Getting an oddball pet can be a great motivator, especially when it provides food for you as well as bug control and an endless supply of fertilizer for the garden. I never thought I’d be one to raise a flock of fowl ever again in...