By Nancy Patrick As an observer of life, I have formed theories and given advice to my fellow human beings for a long time. I demonstrated this talent better in my younger years than I can now at 74-years-old. I find that as my body wanes, so does my talent. I attended a funeral of a dear friend a few
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Now that the election is over, my ancient Uncle Mort and his domino-playing buddies down in the thicket can resume their usual mostly-minutia confabs that too often lack authenticity. This reminds me of the annual extravaganza birthed in 1929 when old-timers of Burlington, Wisconsin, held their first-ever “Liars’ Contest.” They called it “harmless fibs
Read moreBy Marianne Wood I’ve been swimming a lot lately. It is good medicine for my heart, mind, and spirit. It allows me to take a break from my phone and transports me to another, more childlike world. While I stroke, kick, and stretch in life’s soft, clear essence, I often practice French vocabulary—particularly those darned irregular verbs. Sometimes, I simply
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By Glenn Dromgoole My friend Jay Moore’s entertaining and informative new book, Abilene’s War With Whiskey and Other Hometown Commotions, deals with the colorful and contentious history of the wet vs. dry forces here. And it brought back to mind my lone minor involvement in a wet-dry election, way back when. It was in the ‘50s. I was 10 or
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By Jim Nichols Writer and Christian thinker Henri Nouwen has said succinctly: “There are no times or places without choices.” Most of the choices we make are of low consequence—a choice to get up today, a choice to stay home or go somewhere, a choice where to sit in the room, a choice to read this or not. But even
Read moreBy Danny Minton “I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” (American Quaker Missionary, Etienne de Grellet 1772-1855) Next week, I add another number to
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By Loretta Fulton “Horizon Dawning” not only was the title but also the tone of the United Women in Faith conference held Friday and Saturday in Abilene. United Women in Faith is the name of the women’s organization of the United Methodist Church, although membership is open to women of other denominations. They met Friday and Saturday, Nov. 8-9, in Abilene
Read moreBy Danny Minton The commercials have ceased, the conceding phone calls have been made, the losing celebration parties have been canceled, winning speeches have been made, and transition talks have begun. Another presidential election has come and gone. The first election I remember in detail was the Kennedy campaign in 1960. I remember negative comments and concerns being thrown around
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Carl Sandburg–his poetry collections winning three Pulitzer Prizes–warmed the hearts of Americans with his beautiful description of how tides roll in, “on little cat feet.” He would be hard-pressed to similarly describe crowd’s arrivals at our house each year on October 31. They’re in all shapes, sizes, ages and all manner of dress–but, unlike
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Spirit Of Abilene 