We’re all “aging.” From our neighbor turning 10 to friends turning 80, if you manage to stay alive, aging happens. For a time, that process means gaining abilities. Then, slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, the gains stabilize. Eventually, they become losses. When 55-year-old Susan moved back to the Valley, and Ron made his Valley debut […]
travel
Posted inOpinion
My little holiday miracle
Get a rental car, don’t get a rental car, yes, get one. Who will be in which car, who is picking up whom from trains or the nursing home, who can go to the store again? We were traveling to a relative’s house for Thanksgiving, in two cars packed with boxes and food, a wheelchair, […]
Posted inColumns
Another note from Brazil
Upon arriving in Brazil, I was enraptured by the flora and fauna of the Atlantic Forest. Nova Friburgo, my exchange city, sits in the Serra dos Órgãos mountain range; it’s surrounded by lush hills and is distinctly colder than the rest of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Though I moved from one mountain town […]
Posted inOpinion
Professional dishwashing: Perfect for today’s teens
The headline in an upvalley newspaper caught my eye. It said, “Students, now’s the time to secure a summer job.” Great idea, and here is a great summer job for teens: washing dishes in local restaurants. Dishwashing is a quickly learned skill that can follow teens for a lifetime if they need a job fast. […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
The Crystal Mill: How to get there, how to shoot it
An entomologist for the Colorado State Forest Service is predicting a good leaf-changing season this year. “They (aspen) look better than they’ve looked in a long time,” the entomologist told the Denver Post. As usual, the peak leaf-peeking time is late September to early October. With that information in mind, it might be time to […]
Posted inColumns, Opinion, Uncategorized
Ps & Qs: Cead mile failte
I told my sister that NASA was planning to fire a missile at an asteroid coming close to Earth — not because there was any danger of the asteroid hitting Earth, just to test our math (and, I suspect, to appease a bit of the Bruce Willisness in all Americans.) I worried that my upcoming […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
Hopping along the Valley trail
There’s a new chaperone in town who’s willing to go the extra mile, or two, before arriving safely at a final destination. Martin Calkins started The Valley Hopper shuttle service, in part, to get to know neighbors and out-of-towners. Calkins’ website, www.thevalleyhopper.com, offers a plethora of options for tourists and locals in need of transportation […]
Posted inNews, Opinion, Uncategorized
Try some destination photography in Monument Valley
There’s good news and bad news if you’re mulling over a quick trip west to Monument Valley. The bad news: The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park composes the bulk of Monument Valley but, as of June 1, is closed until further notice due to COVID, according to the tribe’s website. The good news: One of […]