Essays

Copyrights Woody Woodburn . . .WoodyWriter_Vertical

2024

Junky Skiing Santa Proves Priceless (12-20-24)

Ball Drive ‘Cannot Fail’ Thanks To Givers (12-13-24)

Toasting My Favorite Books This Year (12-6-24)

King Givers Get Ball Drive Rolling (11-29-24)

Following in Giant Footsteps (11-22-24)

Birthday Gift for “Holiday Ball Drive” (11-15-24)

Changing Diapers, Doing Laundry (11-8-24)

Golden Memories of Dodgers’ Golden Voice (11-1-24)

Trick-or-Treat Costs Arm and Leg (10-25-24)

Making Friendship A Fine Art (10-18-24)

Part 2: The Man Who Loves “Ulysses” (10-11-24)

Finding Beauty After Being Lost (10-4-24)

Part 1: A Most Unique Irish Bookshop (9-27-24)

Laughing Through Mourning Tears (9-13-24)

Short Walk to Long Remember (8-30-24)

The Bamboo Field Life Lesson (8-16-24)

Writing Streak’s Rhythm Slows by Half (8-2-24)

Stung in the Heart by a Yellowjacket (7-19-24)

Readers Recall Rite of Passage (7-12-24)

Big Day For A Little Girl (7-5-24)

Old Treasure Proves Quite a Bargain (6-28-24)

Antique Man in Antique Shop (6-21-24)

Old and Battered and Beautiful (6-14-24)

Bookend Phone Callas Speak Volumes (6-7-24)

The More Mess, The Merrier (5-31-24)

Famous Song Lyric Sings True (5-24-24)

Being Cashless Proves Priceless (5-17-24)

Willy Wonka’s Golden tattoo (5-10-24)

Serendipity Smiles at St. Andrews (5-3-24)

Angel’s Share and Titanic Tears (4-26-24)

Bacon and Eggs and a Side of Serendipity (4-19-24)

Encore Excerpt from “The Butterfly Tree” (4-12-24)

The Celebrated Jumping Princes of Tennis (4-5-24)

Excerpt from “The Butterfly Tree” (3-29-24)

“Butterfly Tree” and enchanted Table (3-22-24)

Monstrous Beauty at Loch Ness (3-15-24)

Travels Begin With a Wee Side Trip (3-8-24)

Hands of Time Stop, Tears Start (3-1-24)

Endings Prequel: Opening Sentences (2-23-24)

Sharing Collection of Book Last Lines (2-16-24)

Friendships Reign in the Rain (2-9-24)

Two Stories of Delivered Kindness (2-2-24)

Tears and Smiles Share the Same Date (1-26-24)

Two Love Stories Sweet as Jelly (1-19-24)

New Postage Stamp Priceless (to me) (1-12-24)

Tally of Kindness Merits an Update (1-5-24)

2023

Recognizing Firsts Easier Than Lasts (12-29-23)

Balls Roll In For Big Final Tally (12-22-23)

Some Far From Ordinary Books, 2023 (12-15-23)

Make The Fresh Spaghetti Sauce (12-8-23)

Givers Make Ball Drive A Success (12-1-23)

Dinnertime Nancy Drew Mystery (11-24-23)

Holiday Ball Drive Tips Off Again (11-17-23)

Spice of Life is Tastiest Ingredient (11-10-23)

More Fun than Barrel of Monkeys (11-3-23)

Murderous Tale in a Lovely Book (10-27-23)

Measuring Door is a Time Portal (10-20-23)

Cooking Up Some Kitchen Sink Soup (10-13-23)

Caught in a Catch-22 Situation (10-6-23)

Shower Brings to Mind Walden Pond (9-29-23)

Some Very, Very Short Stories (9-22-23)

Harold & Kumar Go To The Animal Shelter (9-15-23)

A Most Beautiful Last Wish (9-8-23)

Part 2: Easy Listening In Former Speakeasy (9-1-23)

Part 1: Small Audiences, Big Enchantment (8-25-23)

The Birds “play a song for me” (8-18-23)

Friend Turns Floodwaters Into Sunshine (8-11-23)

Legacy of Books and Writing (8-4-23)

X Marks The Spot of Paradise (7-28-23)

“Erick the Great” Needs a Little Aid (7-21-23)

Tiny Grads and Big Emotions (7-14-23)

Wearing Theater’s Two Masks (7-7-23)

Students Create Own 7-Point Creeds (6-30-23)

Devilish and Sweet Typewriter Tales (6-23-23)

The Rest of the Story About ‘Bruno’ (6-16-23)

Li’l Sis With a Big Heart (6-9-23)

Goodbye Legacy of ‘Hello World’ Kid (6-2-23)

Hall-of-Fame Hat Trick For Derry (5-26-23)

Some Things I’ve Come To Know… (5-19-23)

Fondly Missing “Mom’s Kitchen” (5-12-23)

Unexpected Detour Down Memory Lane (5-5-23)

Sauntering and ‘Buddy Benches,’ too (4-28-23)

Part 3: Tears in Storyteller–and Listener (4-21-23)

Part 2: From Cold War to Warm Heart (4-14-23)

Shared Memory is Music to My Heart (4-7-23)

Another “Four-Dot” Day in America (3-31-23)

What is “A Hodgepodge Column”? (3-24-23)

Feel-Good Story Behind Great Story (3-17-23)

The Family Circus comes to town (3-10-23)

Part 2: Old Friends Are Time Machines (3-3-23)

Grown an Old Friend takes Time (2-24-23)

Knocked Out by “The Kudzu Queen” (2-17-23)

Valentine’s Day Is More Than Candy (2-10-23)

A Meal as Special as Murano Glass (2-3-23)

Bookend Meals to Fondly Remember (1-27-23)

Papa’s Bar Leads to Picasso’s Paintings (1-20-23)

In ‘Good Mood’ on French Riviera (1-13-23)

Little Girl With Big Name (1-6-23)

*

2022

Make Heart Go Aflutter in New Year (12-30-22)

Ball Givers Spread Tons Of Love (12-23-22)

Books That K.O.’d  Me In 2022 (12-16-22)

Turning The Pages In 2022 (12-9-22)

MVPs Scoring Big For ‘Ball Drive’ (12-2-22)

Faces As Memorable As Places (11-25-22)

Woody’s Ball Drive Kicks Off (11-18-22)

Moved To Tears In Pompeii (11-11-22)

Greece’s ‘Green Gold’ & Blue Word (11-4-22)

Olympia Sparks Imagination (10-28-22)

Lorenzo the Gondolier (10-21-22)

By Any Name, Venice Is Lovely (10-14-22)

Vacation Pics, Less Can Be More (10-7-22)

Rants and Raves on This and That (9-30-22)

Bookend Poems Autumn’s Arrival (9-23-22)

Special Books With Family Ties (9-16-22)

Intoxicated by Books, Old and New (9-9-22)

This Rom-Com Stands Test of Time (9-2-22)

Building Cathedrals Begins Anew (8-26-22)

Hitting The Mentor Jackpot (8-19-22)

Three Vignettes Worthy of Smiles (8-12-22)

Golden Memories of Golden Voice (8-5-22)

Fair Makes Us All Big-Eyed Kids (7-29-22)

Some Hair-Razing Experiences (7-22-22)

My Own “Charlotte’s Web” Tale (7-15-22)

Breaking My Own Column Rule (7-8-22)

Summertime Is Marbles Time (7-1-22)

Christmas in the Summertime (6-24-22)

E-Ticket Ride of Happiness (6-17-22)

A G.O.A.T. Tale of Two Goats (6-10-22)

Sunshine Amidst A Rainy Morning (6-3-22)

“Tigers” Rampage Unfettered (5-27-22)

A Wonderful Bird Is The Pelican (5-20-22)

Pier Bench Is My New Favorite (5-13-22)

Fishermen Catch My Attention (5-6-22)

A Waterfall Seen, A Fall Averted (4-29-22)

Lifeguarding Memories Rescued (4-22-22)

Sad Goodbye To Merry-Go-Round (4-15-22)

A Small Pleasure on The Big Island (4-8-22)

This “News” Expires At Midnight (4-1-22)

A Walk Long Remembered (3-25-22)

This Moving Day Needs No U-Haul (3-18-22)

Poetry, Memories and Laughs (3-12-22)

A Beautiful River of Runners (3-5-22)

Thanks, “Carisssa”, for Shout-out (2-26-22)

Lovely “Poem” Now Woodchips (2-19-22)

“Howaboutthat!” Super Bowl (2-12-22)

Ode To The Junk Drawer (2-5-22)

Readers Awash With Memories (1-29-22)

Sailboat Pic Sets Memories Afloat (1-22-22)

Music to a Beach Boy’s Ears (1-15-22)

Cold Day Warmed By Friendship (1-8-22)

New Year’s Resolutions for 2022 (1-1-21)

2021

Gift Balls Set New Giving Record (12-25-21)

A Stack of Books to “Yes, Read!” (12-18-21)

Gift of Giving Balls Bounces Back (12-11-21)

Holiday Balls Roll And Bounce In (12-4-21)

“Holiday Ball Drive” Kicks Off (11-27-21)

Childhood Thanksgiving Tale (11-20-21)

Hole Leads To Whole New Beauty (11-13-21)

Turning Fall Clock Way, Way Back (11-6-21)

Yay For Trick-or-Treaters Return (10-30-21)

2 Tales: Impatience & Patience (10-23-21)

Sunshine All Wrong On Sad Day (10-16-21)

Readers’ Ali Memories, Postscript (10-9-21)

Part 2: “Little Man” & “Greatest” (10-2-21)

Recalling A “Greatest” Memory (9-25-21)

Mourning On A Gloomy Morning (9-18-21)

9/11: Yesterday, A Lifetime Ago (9-11-21)

Poor Proposal, Rich Marriage (9-4-21)

Readers Share Nature Memories (8-28-21)

This Column Might Be Overrated (8-21-21)

Two Stories As Sweet As Cider (8-14-21)

Mining Gold In Yard’s Wildness (8-7-21)

“Let Me Be Brave In The Attempt” (7-31-21)

Long List of Short Love Stories (7-24-21)

Grief Shared, Gratitude Amplified (7-17-21)

Faithful Vow To Remember Thee (7-10-21)

Bikes Wonderfully Everywhere (7-3-21)

Father’s Day Takes A Special Turn (6-26-21)

Commencement Address for 2021 (6-19-21)

Bamboo Field and Sink of Dishes (6-12-21)

Notes, Quotes, T-Shirts and Smiles (6-5-21)

Story From Enchanted Keyboard (5-29-21)

In The Cards: “You Are Amazing!” (5-22-21)

Two Readers Put Tears In Writer (5-15-21)

Complaint Department Is Closed (5-8-21)

A Farewell To A True Inspiration (5-1-21)

A Few Of My COVID-19 Butterflies (4-24-21)

Gold Coast Inspired Earth Day (4-17-21)

TLC From Gardening Readers (4-10-21)

Can A Poison Thumb Turn Green? (4-3-21)

Imagining A COVID Victory Day (3-27-21)

Things I (& Others) Can’t Stand (3-20-21)

Paperboys Deliver Old Memories (3-13-21)

Horseshoes & Thrown Newspapers (3-6-21)

Column Brought To You By…  (2-27-21)

Jewell-Like Visits Are Missed (2-20-21)

Empathy Lesson Remains Wise (2-13-21)

Forecast: 92% Chance of Love (2-6-21)

Kindness By And For Two Vets (1-30-21)

A Book, A Tree, A Tree, A Book (1-23-21)

Old Wisdom For Young Year (1-16-21)

A Magical Blizzard of Leaves (1-9-21)

Final Tally of Ball Drive Is . . .  (1-2-21)

2020

Two Tales of Christmas Spirit (12-26-20)

Flood of Book Recommendations (12-19-20)

Holiday Generosity Bounces In (12-12-20)

2020 Newsletter: What A Year! (12-5-20)

Complaint Department Is Open (11-28-20)

Holiday Ball Drive Kicks Off (11-21-20)

Pencils, Pens, and Rocket Science (11-14-20)

Sweet Treat Follows Halloween (11-7-20)

Quoth Raven: Vote Ever More (10-31-20)

Three Winks From The Universe (10-24-20)

80th Birthday is a Superspreader (10-17-20)

Making Friendship A Fine Art (10-10-20)

Ticking Off a List of Complaints (10-3-20)

Pandemic Can’t Derail Paris Trip (9-26-20)

Every Town Has Own “Moonlight” (9-19-20)

Local Doc Lays Down Stethoscope (9-12-20)

Bryan Bros: Kings of the Castle (9-5-20)

Friend’s Pic Worth 1,000 Smiles (8-29-20)

The Mail Carrier, Mule, and Gum (8-22-20)

Potpourri of Memes and Quotes (8-15-20)

Words Add Up To Tin Anniversary (8-8-20)

If Life ‘Fair’, It’d Be Smiling Time (8-1-20)

One City Can Become Any City (7-25-20)

Doubleheader of Baseball Tales (7-18-20)

Retired teacher Still Gives Lessons (7-11-20)

Balloons Filled with Wisdom, Love (7-4-20)

Acts of Kindness Are Real Gift (6-27-20)

The Little Fellow takes the lead (6-20-20)

Final Goodbye To Role-Model (6-13-20)

Black Lives Matter — In All Ways (6-6-20)

To Travel Hopefully Is On Hold (5-30-20)

Life Lesson Inside A Glass Jar (5-23-20)

Sweet Thank You For Heroes (5-16-20)

Special Delivery For Mother’s Day (5-9-20)

High Moments During Low Times (5-2-20)

Worst Day Leads to “Best Week” (4-25-20)

Mrs. Figs’ “Storytime” is Magical (4-18-20)

Readers Share “Warm” Memories (4-11-20)

Linked Hands In A Wheat Field (4-4-20)

Boots Filled With Warm Memory (3-28-20)

Being Good Neighbors Vital Now (3-21-20)

For Today, No More Mr. Nice Guy (3-14-20)

Appreciation For A Great Teacher (3-7-20)

Cookie Kindness & “PJ Sunsets” (2-29-20)

George Washington Fills In (2-22-20)

It’s Girl Scouts Cookie Time! (2-15-20)

Beauty of Sunsets and Perspective (2-8-20)

Imagining Kobe’s Lost Tomorrows (2-1-20)

Hemingway’s “Last Red Cent” (1-25-20)

Hemingway Home Is Cats’ Meow (1-18-20)

Psychedelic Snowfall in Key West (1-11-20)

Kindness Makes Ball Big Success (1-4-20)

2019

“Good-Sized” Reading List 2019 (12-28-19)

On Page, In Person, In Full Blume (12-21-19)

Junky Skiing Santa Is Priceless (12-14-19)

Some Holiday Ball Drive Heroes (12-7-19)

Mister Rogers and Mr. Wooden (11-30-19)

Rubicon Theatre is Shining Pearl (11-23-19)

Holiday Sports Ball Drive Tips Off (11-16-19)

By The Way, “I Like Your Hat” (11-9-19)

Tale of two trees, lower case (11-2-19)

Out-of-the-Box Costumes (10-26-19)

A Smile, A Wink, And A Hug (10-19-19)

National Book Month In One Day (10-12-19)

Trying To Be Like My Grandpa (10-5-19)

Autumn Comes Knocking (9-28-19)

This, That, Baseball and Batman (9-21-19)

Friendship Is A Time Machine (9-14-19)

Memories Tragically Go Unmade (9-7-19)

Amber Rubarth and Dallas: Part 2 (8-31-19)

Serendipity Smiles, Amber Sings (8-24-19)

Run Turns Into Schoolyard Recess (8-17-19)

Help For “Sobsmacked” Writer (8-10-19)

For Sale: Talking Dog (8-3-19)

A High-5 For Sports And Learning (7-27-19)

Apollo 11 Pitched “Perfect Game” (7-20-19)

Inspiring Memes Speak Volumes (7-13-19)

Steinbeck’s (Like) Typewriter (7-6-19)

Two New Kites, One Old Memory (6-29-19)

Masterpiece Friends Elevate Us (6-22-19)

Dadvice For Father’s Day (6-15-19)

Words of Wisdom for New Grads (6-8-19)

“Today Is The Only Day” (6-1-19)

Orange In My Rainbow Is For Joey (5-25-19)

Great Effort Spreading ‘Goodness’ (5-18-19)

What is a Woman? Book Illustrates (5-11-19)

Part 2: Twain and Muir’s Meeting (5-4-19)

If Ever Twain And Muir Had Met (4-27-19)

Friend in Deed is Friend Indeed (4-20-19)

Friends of Library, Friends To All (4-13-19)

Memories, No Autographs: Part 4 (4-6-19)

Dancing with ‘Daddy’ Ruth: Part 3 (3-30-19)

‘Daddy’ Ruth Tales: Part 2 (3-23-19)

‘Daddy’ Ruth: Sultan of Sweetness (3-16-19)

He Types Out A memorable Story (3-9-19)

Hooray, Read Across America Day! (3-2-19)

Readers Look Backwards at Pups (2-23-19)

A Lovable Backward-Barking Dog (2-16-19)

Rants and Raves About This, That (2-9-19)

A Date With Coincidence And Fate (2-2-19)

A Floating On Air Love Story (1-26-19)

This, That and Some Other Stuff (1-19-19)

Preschool Offers Antidote To Hate (1-12-18)

“Second Scoreboard” Finished First (1-5-19)

2018

Kind Givers Lift Ball Drive (12-29-18)

Life Wonderfully Imitating Art (12-22-18)

Turning the Page on a Novel Year (12-15-18)

Holiday Generosity Bounces In (12-8-18)

Thomas Fire Lesson a Year Later (12-1-18)

Rants and Raves on This and That (11-24-18)

Early X-mas for 2018 Ball Drive (11-17-18)

T.O. Becomes Anytown USA (11-10-18)

A “Multiplier” Without Math Skills (11-3-18)

Fireside Tales in the Twain Home (10-27-18)

Lobster Couple’s Love Shines (10-20-18)

Fishing Village’s Solemn History (10-13-18)

Old Lighthouses Offer New Thrills (10-6-18)

Time Melts in Rain in Quebec City (9-29-18)

Discovering a Dickensian Dessert (9-22-18)

Part III: More Typewriter Notes (9-15-18)

Bookworm Part II: Typed Notes (9-8-18)

Bookworm Readers Turn to Typing (9-1-18)

Today’s Column is a “Safe Space” (8-25-18)

Mentoring: Take Baton, Pass It On (8-18-18)

Using Darkness For Illumination (8-11-18)

Writing Life Stories “On the Road” (8-4-18)

Return Letter From Mister Rogers (7-28-18)

A Boy’s Letter to Mister Rodgers (7-21-18)

Sharing From The Email In-Box (7-14-18)

Lowlights From High in the Sky (7-7-18)

Wishing Sunshine’s Clouds Away (6-30-18)

Nobody Asked Me, But … (6-23-18)

Father’s Day Story Packs A Punch (6-16-18)

Travels Reach a “Joyous” Dead End (6-9-18)

Penciling in a Thrill on Road Trip (6-2-18)

A Trip to Patience and Fortitude (5-26-18)

Lined Up Like Abandoned Books (5-19-18)

Healer’s Own Healing Takes Time (5-12-18)

An “Uncommon Type” Love Story (5-5-18)

Old Type Way to Slow Down (4-28-18)

Part 2: Typing Free Verse For Tips (4-21-18)

Poet For Hire, Name Your Price (4-14-18)

Rose Rises From Thomas’ Ashes (4-7-18)

“March For Our Lives” Monsoon (3-31-18)

“Picking Up Orange Peels” Part 2 (3-24-18)

Plea For Greatest Generation 2.0 (3-17-18)

“Plogging” Craze is Beautiful (3-10-18)

This, That and Some Poetry, Too (3-3-18)

By Day’s End, Nearly Perfect (2-24-18)

“Only in America” is Shameful (2-17-18)

Westerns Author Rides to Rescue (2-10-18)

Overrated (& Underrated) Opinions (2-3-18)

This, That, and Other iConfessions (1-27-18)

Facing a Tragedy, the “805” Unites (1-20-18)

Some Books That Knocked Me Out (1-13-18)

Email Inbox is Filled With Smiles (1-6-18)

2017

Words From Wise (and Me, Too) (12-30-17)

Generosity Rolls in Despite Fire (12-23-17)

Fire Casts a Glow on True Heroes (12-16-17)

Grace, Hope in Time of Calamity (12-9-17)

My Readers Chime In (12-2-17)

Friendships & Holiday Ball Drive (11-25-17)

Whispers Amid the Noise (11-18-17)

Wowed in Person and in Marble (11-11-17)

“First Lady of the World” Inspires (11-4-17)

Moving Field Trip to FDR Library (10-28-17)

Silver Lining Before the Clouds (10-21-17)

Readers Shoot Back Pro and Con (10-14-17)

Boston Massacre Misnamed Today (10-7-17)

Thoughts on This, That, the Other (9-30-17)

Teacher Shakes Up Her Kids’ Day  (9-23-17)

A Few Words On A Lot of  Words (9-16-17)

Mom’s Day Gift is Free Library (9-9-17)

Little Library, Big Impression (9-2-17)

Always Make Time For Playing (8-26-17)

Magic in Being Mentee or Mentor (8-19-17)

Losing the Leader of Our Band (8-12-17)

Sharing Some Masterful Wisdom (8-5-17)

Portraits of a Brave Role Model (7-29-17)

Thiscolumnalmostlookedlikethis (7-22-17)

Bird and Book Lovers Chime In (7-15-17)

Feathers Ruffled by Pair of Birds (7-8-17)

Fired Up Over Book Controversy (7-1-17)

Overflow of Feel-Good Emails (6-24-17)

Father and Son Role Reversal (6-17-17)

Irreverent Thoughts & Serious Too (6-10-17)

Finding Golden Beauty in Daily Life (6-3-17)

Talent Show shows Bravery, Magic (5-27-17)

‘Wright’ Perspective on Air Travel (5-20-17)

Local Radio Host Walks His Talk (5-13-17)

Readers Share Small Gratitudes (5-6-17)

Hitting the Books and Backboards (4-29-17)

TEDx Talker to Write Home About (4-22-17)

Grateful Standing in a Long Line  (4-15-17)

School Kids’ Should Not Be Hungry (4-8-17)

These News Stories Expire April 1 (4-1-17)

Little Steps Add Up to Big Things (3-25-17)

Odds Favor Listening Over Talking (3-18-17)

Scouts Bring Out a Cookie Monster (3-11-17)

Act II: Southern Hospitality (3-4-17)

Act I: Serendipitous Literary Walk (2-25-17)

Permission Slip for Some Magic (2-18-17)

This and That From the Mailbag (2-11-17)

Tip of the Hat to Pursuing Dreams (2-4-17)

Just the Alternative Facts, Ma’am (1-28-17)

Add Circus to Memory Lane (1-21-17)

A Homework Assignment of Notes (1-14-17)

Friend in Deed to Those in Need (1-7-17)

2016

Leave a Ghost Light on for 2016 (12-31-16)

Last-Minute Gift List for Santa (12-24-16)

Ball Drive is Rolling Along (12-17-16)

Another Year in the “Books” (12-10-16)

Thanksgiving Story in 3 Acts (12-3-16)

My 2 Cents on This and That (11-26-16)

“Woody’s Holiday Ball Drive” (11-19-16)

Peak and Valley at Mount Vernon (11-12-16)

Goose Bumps on the Potomac (11-5-16)

History Lesson at Monticello (10-29-16)

Poe Visit on a Midday Dreary (10-22-16)

Long Column of Short Stories (10-15-16)

Jester is Inspiring, not Comedic (10-8-16)

Very Hot Run Has Cool Ending (10-1-16)

Father of the Bride, Part II (9-24-16)

“Hello, this is Vin Scully . . .” (9-17-16)

Pocketful of “Selfie” Notes (9-10-16)

Words From Father of the Bride (9-3-16)

“Old Glory” Treated Ingloriously (8-27-16)

Keyboard Races For Rio Gold (8-20-16)

Guest Column by Murray (8-13-16)

Lyrical Time at County Fair (8-6-16)

7 Toenails in 50 Shades of Gray (7-30-16)

Thoughts on This and That (7-23-16)

Trying to Walk in Another’s Skin (7-16-16)

DIY is Easier Spelled Than Done (7-9-16)

Time Machine on Two Wheels (7-2-16)

This, That, and Streakin’ Woody (6-25-16)

Alcatraz Escape Buoys Spirits (6-18-16)

Ali and the “Little Man” (6-11-16)

B-Day Gift is Unbridled Success (6-4-16)

Unstoppable Educational Journey (5-28-16)

Dislike This Writer? You’re Fired! (5-21-16)

“Get To” Thinking Tops “Have To” (5-14-16)

Delivering a Mother’s Day message (5-7-16)

Readers Chime In (4-30-16)

Libraries: Cathedrals of Curiosity (4-23-16)

Antidote for Bad News (4-16-16)

Nobody Asked Me, But. . . (4-9-16)

Wading in with Pizza Theory (4-2-16)

Hip-Hop Hamilton and Wooden (3-26-16)

My Farming Roots Run Deep (3-19-16)

Part 2: Alvin’s Marathon Challenge (3-12-16)

Part 1: Alvin The Miracle Man (3-5-16)

Strawberries Sweet in All Seasons (2-27-16)

Wedding Love Story With a Twist (2-20-16)

“Old Glory,” Old Laundry (2-13-16)

Rapunzel and “Grief Hair” Gift (2-6-16)

Getting Things Off My Chest (1-30-16)

Kindness Times One Million (1-23-16)

Lost & Found, A Dog Story (1-16-16)

This, That and Final Ball Drive Tally (1-9-16)

May Your Heart Go Aflutter in 2016 (1-2-16)

2015

Reader’s Request Denied (12-26-15)

Top-Shelf Books From 2015 (12-19-15)

Some Inspirational Ball-Givers (12-12-15)

Some Bah-Humbug Thoughts (12-5-2015)

Deck the Halls with Sports Balls (11-21-15)

Thank a Teacher (11-14-15)

Thoughts on This and That (11-7-15)

Reflecting at twin 9/11 Pools (10-24-15)

Side-Trip Adventure Brings Smile (10-17-15)

“I went to the woods” at Walden (10-10-15)

Pilgrimage to “Authors Ridge” (10-3-15)

Visiting America’s Rock of Ages (9-26-15)

Readers Offer Gun Issue Support (9-17-15)

One Day, Two Beach Stories (9-12-15)

Fame, Fortune, Fickleness Quiz (9-5-15)

Shooter Kills (Fill In No.) Again (8-29-15)

Back-to-School Good Samaritan (8-22-15)

Embracing Challenges, Kid-Style (8-17-15)

Some thoughts, Fair and foul (8-8-15)

These emails are Tree-mendous (8-1-15)

Truly ‘Special’ Competitors (7-25-15)

ArtWalk Will Bowl You Over (7-18-15)

This, That and the Other (7-11-15)

Sky Doesn’t Fall: #LoveWins (7-4-15)

Champagne for the Heart (6-27-15)

Dads Forge Memories (6-20-15)

Getting Help On Our Life Journeys (6-13-15)

Celebrating Legendary Laszlo (6-6-15)

A Few Things I Now Know (5-30-15)

Grads, Create Your Masterpiece (5-23-15)

Messy Hanging Offense (5-16-15)

Offering My 2 Cents (5-9-15)

Stan Smith, Part II (5-2-15)

Venting Some Anger (4-25-15)

Beauty in Imperfection (4-18-15)

A Stranger Becomes A Friend (4-11-15)

There’s Good News This Morning (4-4-15)

A Stew of Random Thoughts (3-28-15)

Ojai to Wimbledon, Smith shined (3-21-15)

True Tale of the Sweet Meatloaf (3-14-15)

Hung Up On Saving a Sweet Dime (3-7-15)

Homeless Deserve Compassion (2-21-15)

Lovely Season of Love Stories (2-14-15)

Pendulum Mood Swings (2-7-15)

Pooh Bear and Heartbreak (1-31-15)

Friendship Trumps Time, Space (1-24-15)

A Newsroom Without Salty-ness? (1-17-15)

Off The Court He’s Still Magic (1-10-15)

This and That and Ball Tally (1-03-15)

2014

Make 2015 a Daily Masterpiece (12-27-14)

Decking Halls With Sports Balls (12-20-14)

“My Best Friend’s Funeral” plus (12-13-14)

Raindrops, Please Keep Fallin’ (12-6-14)

Holiday Ball Drive Needs Assists (11-29-14)

If We Can Put a Probe on a Comet (11-22-14)

Tomb of Unknown Soldier (11-15-14)

Irish Leftovers (11-8-14)

Drunk Driving Scarier Than Ebola (11-1-14)

Halloween Outfits I’d Like to See (10-25-14)

Returning “Home” to Ireland (10-18-14)

Irish Takeaway: Splendid People (10-11-14)

Path Less Traveled in Ireland (10-4-14)

Kissing The Blarney Stone (9-27-14)

“Bold” Move Going Cell Phoneless (9-20-14)

Hollywood Tale Ends With Alibi (9-13-14)

Tavis Smiley’s “Death of a King” (9-6-14)

Mike, Bob, Imogen, Mo’ne & more (8-30-14)

New Fast Friends Out of the Blue (8-23-14)

Cosby, Carlin, “Crazy Guy” & Mork (8-16-14)

An Unknown Hero Among Heroes (8-9-14)

Mood Swings Like a Pendulum (8-2-14)

“Daddy” Ruth was Sultan of Sweet (7-26-14)

Another Happiest Place on Earth (7-19-14)

Lessons From Louie Zamperini (7-12-14)

Portrait of Divine Forgiveness (7-5-14)

Warmth Not Limited To Weather (6-28-14)

Beach Bucket List For Summer (6-21-14)

A Story For Father’s Day (6-14-14)

Maya Angelou remembered (6-7-14)

Isla Vista could be Anytown USA (5-31-14)

Grads Can Learn From Artisans (5-24-14)

Young Philanthropist on the Run (5-17-14)

Hallmark Thoughts For Moms (5-10-14)

Friend’s Advice Is Golden (5-3-14)

Relax, Future is in Great Hands (4-26-14)

Readers Share Heart, Laughs (4-19-14)

Teaching Fraternity Loses “Artist” (4-12-14)

Some New Mount Rushmores (4-5-14)

Getting Lost in the Art of Travel (3-29-13)

A Tip: Be A Little Generous (3-22-13)

Mr. Nice Guy? He Just Clocked Out (3-15-14)

Zen and the Art of Appreciation (3-8-14)

Wooden & Tavis: 2 Special Hoosiers (3-1-14)

1 Sour Story and 2 Sweet Tales (2-22-14)

A “Jewell” of a Friendship (2-15-14)

This Club is a Real Page-Turner (2-8-14)

Super Bowl “Tin Man” (2-1-14)

No More Mr. Nice Guy Today (1-25-14)

Let Service Ring on MLK Day (1-18-14)

Board Game Fun Has Risk! (1-11-14)

Looking Into 2014 Crystal Ball (1-4-14)

2013

Odds & Ends, Ball Drive Update (12-28-13)

Last-Minute List for Santa (12-21-13)

Visiting Santa in a Nick of Time (12-14-13)

So Many Books, So Little Time (12-7-13)

Deck The Halls With Sports Balls (11-30-13)

Serving To Help Others (11-23-13)

A Grandma’s Wisdom (11-16-13)

John McDougal knows books (11-9-13)

Teachers at End of Their Ropes (11-2-13)

Zoey’s Will Be Dearly Missed (10-26-13)

Shining Example Amid Darkness (10-19-13)

Wooden Made Friendship an Art (10-12-13)

Trophies Don’t Tarnish Kids (10-5-13)

Different Slant On Autographs (9-28-13)

Thoughts On This & That (9-21-13)

Pops’ Out-Smashes Nadal (9-14-13)

Serving Up Random Kindness (9-7-13)

Back to School with Batman (8-31-13)

The Music of Friendship (8-24-13)

Celebrity Shopping (8-17-13)

Celebrating Summer (8-10-13)

Artistic Look at Homelessness (8-3-13)

Glory Days in Rear-View Mirror (7-27-13)

Overrated and Underrated (7-20-13)

Honoring 19 Fallen Firefighters (7-13-13)

Streaking Forward, Looking Back  (7-6-13)

Old Shoebox Captures Time (6-29-13)

Murphy’s (& Woody’s) Law (6-22-13)

Dads and Sons and Daughters, too (6-15-13)

Readers Share Tree Memories (6-8-13)

Peers Share Grand Grad Wisdom (6-1-13)

Legacy Left in Artwork (5-25-13)

Facebook Rides to Boy’s Rescue (5-18-13)

For Whom The Cancer Bell Tolls (5-11-13)

From Lovely “Poem” to Wood Chips (5-4-13)

Reasons to Make Old Chief Smile (4-27-13)

Boston Was City of Two Tales (4-20-13)

Books, Balls and Baby Names (4-13-13)

There’s Something About This Mary (4-6-13)

Hardship Proves to be a Gift (3-30-13)

Wilder’s “Our Town” is our town (3-23-13)

Listen Trip Down Memory Lane (3-16-13)

Two Different Piano Tunes (3-9-13)

The Complaint Department is Open (3-2-13)

A Kind Word Can Lift Spirits (2-23-13)

This Penny Glitters Like Gold (2-9-13)

Savoring Those Special Moments (2-2-13)

Life-Altering Crash, 10 Years Later (1-26-13)

“California Gold” and Golden Acts (1-19-13)

A Vote For Fab Four of Forehands  (1-12-13)

A “Frank” Account of Inspiration (1-5-13)

2012

Sandy Hook Tragedy Magnifies Hugs (12-22-12)

Empty Chair Can Hijack The Holidays (11-16-12)

Superstorm Sandy: America the Wheat Field (11-5-12)

Voting For Textbooks and Teachers (10-26-12)

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