When Karen and I bought our second house in Van Nuys, California, back in 1978, the neighborhood threw a block party. No, it wasn’t because we’d moved in. Our neighbors just wanted to hang out together. Wow! That surprised us. A similar party followed a few months later. The city gave us permission to [...]

Five lessons on aging with purpose: Part 2“Grow old with me, the best is yet to be.” - Robert Browning“Old age is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better.” - Ingrid BergmanSo many wise prescriptions out there on how to age gracefully.For nearly 20 percent [...]

On aging…Part 1 Growing old gracefully. No easy task, but manageable—dare I say it, even joyful. At least up to this point. I turned __ on July 4. One of my old mates from High School wished me a happy birthday with a couple of pics from way back. I’ve included them at the [...]

Looking for a good, clean movie with strong production values—one that teaches a little-known chapter of American history? Such movies are hard to come by these days. Well…add A Great Awakening to your watch list on Amazon. My pal Tom, with whom I share a deep love of American history, told me how it [...]

What did our Founding Fathers think? In my last three stacks, I’ve been asking for us to consider whether certain critical events in the Revolutionary War were facts, fictions, or miracles. I think it’s safe to say that the prevailing view among many of America’s Revolutionary leaders was that Providence had intervened on behalf of [...]

“…a sudden rise of the waters…” This July 4th, I’ll do as I always do on my birthday. Watch Mel Gibson’s movie, The Patriot. Somehow, I never tire of that film. Gibson shows us a scene loosely based on the Battle of Cowpens, Jan. 17, 1781, where the American militia faces the advancing forces [...]

A Revolution saved by what’s in a pair of boots. Say the name Benedict Arnold, and most people who know American history will respond—Traitor! But there’s a story behind this infamous double-cross—Arnold trading his allegiance to the cause for liberty for a commission in the British army. Changing sides, as it were. His decision, [...]

Around 2,200 British troops are marching over the Appalachian Mountains. Their mission—seize the French Fort Duquesne. It’s July 9, 1755, the French and Indian War. The British militia, with the likes of Colonel George Washington and a 20-year-old wagon driver named Daniel Boone in its ranks, are suddenly attacked by French soldiers and their native [...]

Hoping to gain more wisdom in my life, I’ve taken a deep dive into the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes in recent days. Ecclesiastes is defined as “the words of the Teacher”—someone wrestling out loud with what life really means. It was written by King Solomon— maybe—who’s regarded in Jewish and Christian tradition as the [...]