I craved BBQ ribs! And, you know how that goes. Once you get an idea or desire stuck in your head it remains there until satisfied. It should be no surprise to those who know me that my hankering’s typically involve food. On this occasion, satisfaction was only five minutes away. In middle Georgia, where I spend my winters, there’s a BBQ restaurant that serves two of my favorite foods—ribs and brisket. Knowing it would be futile to try to ignore my urge for sticky, BBQ, fall-off-bone pork...

Please forgive my self-indulgence but I feel compelled to share these thoughts with you. Since November 2025 I seem to be in a cycle of challenges! I know I’m not the only one. Most everyone I know has been dealing with them. Water seems to be a main theme…too much of it in places it shouldn’t be. And, of course, the brutal cold, snow, and winds color the days dreary. I’ve had my moments, but for the most part I’ve been able to accept the challenges and meet them head on. I’ve put myself in...

Next week marks the eighth year of the death of my husband, Al. It seems like yesterday, yet feels like a lifetime. My grief doesn’t confine itself to a day, month, or year, but there are certain days when it demands center stage. In my case it starts with the month of January. Not just January 20 th , the day he passed, but from the first day of the month until his last. It seems the dreaded turning of the calendar from 6 to 7, or 7 to 8 years must be digested slowly. During that time, it’s...