Funny Papers Again Column | Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Not Snow
We live in a valley formed by mountain ranges to the east and west with an ocean bay 50 miles to the north and a coastline 25 miles westward; a geographical formation that climatologists designate a semi-arid area. By comparison to many areas of...
Funny Papers Again Column | Meet Kevin and Malcolm: An Open Letter to Buyers
Dear Salinas Valley Fair Livestock Auction Buyers;
Let me take a few lines to tell you about a young man named Kevin and his pig named Malcolm. I have lived next door to Kevin’s family for about a decade now and have always found them...
Funny Papers Again Column | ‘Oh, Thou Most Horrid of All Days!’
I have never held back vociferous disparagement of this date on the calendar, and I have no intention of abandoning that position at this late time in life. Today, as you all are aware, is the Winter Solstice; the shortest amount of daylight is...
Window on the World Column | The Red Ferrari
As the garage door lifted, a glossy red flash came into view, like a shock from the heavens on a cloudy day. She was shiny and new, fresh from the showroom floor. A Ferrari. Or maybe a Lamborghini? No, definitely a Ferrari with her...
Guest Column | Food Security is Critical to Economic and National Security on California’s Central Coast
The agricultural stretch of California’s Central Coast along the Salinas Valley is often called the “Salad Bowl of the World,” and for good reason. It supplies over 60% of the nation’s lettuce and substantial portions of strawberries, spinach and broccoli. But beyond the fertile...
Window on the World Column | The Dreams of a Rescue Pup
“The beautiful dog awoke from its deep sleep dreamland. Before remembering his recent rescue, a bolt of concern ran through him from all those rude awakenings, and days and nights of fear. He could hear the comfortable long snooze of his new best friend...
Window on the World Column | A Letter to My Sister — Part I
“You’re here.” I hear your whisper. It comes down on a wisp of wind from the mountains above your home. Where your shell now lies still, and your spirit is at peace. Once listless and always searching, you finally slowed your quest to live...
Worthy to Print Column | Put On Your Mask
I’m beginning to think like my personal nurse. Her opinion is that we will be wearing masks for the rest of time. I would have to agree with her. I have been around for a lot of years and watched my government closely as...
Worthy to Print Column: Is Everything All Right?
Is everything OK? I mean no one has gone bonkers about having to stay inside? Of course there are a lot of things not getting done since we can’t do a lot of the things we took for granted getting done. My youngest said...
Window on the World Column | Late for It All
I don’t know what happened. We skipped through Halloween, enjoyed a nice, peaceful Thanksgiving and then all heck broke loose. I took an early Christmas delivery to my dad and sister overseas — and how organized was I! Even had the holiday gift bags...
