Post 41/2020 Saturday 19 December . . . I've been thinking about garages, of all things. About the place where one parks a vehicle, bicycle, lawnmower, tools. The building that evolved from a stable, from indeed the once stately carriage or coach house for horses and carriages of old. Then came the automobile and soon …
Author: John Bender
Hi, my name is John Bender, retired and loving it. I'm writing to help interested people cross bridges to and from the past. Stories from the past can shed light on life in the present and illuminate the future. We've got a lot of living to do. Let's do it!
Stay-Go-Be-Do #8
Post 40/2020 Saturday 12 December . . . O Holy Night, a French Christmas carol (1847), resounds through the ages: "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, / For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn." What? Where? Really? In 2020? Hope alive for a weary world right now? It's a message Christians take …
Stay-Go-Be-Do #7
Post 39/Saturday 5 December . . . A fresh-cut Fraser fir graces our home. According to the tag, "Christmas trees bring new life to our environment. During its growing years this tree has cleaned the air, provided oxygen, secured the soil against erosion, made a home for wildlife and beautified the land. For every tree …
Stay-Go-Be-Do #6
Post 38/2020 Saturday 28 November . . . Tired of photos of leaves, trees, fields and forests? Ha, ha. I've another batch to make you yawn. Ha, ha. Or wake you up. Ha, ha. A relative often ended his sentences with, "Ha, ha, by golly!" Oh, Clayton, I remember your gregarious and infectious mannerisms well. …
Stay-Go-Be-Do #5
Post 37/2020 Sunday 22 November My cup is full and running over today. We joined worship with The United Benefice of Carbis Bay and Lelant (Cornwall, United Kingdom) via Zoom (6am here, 11am there). It was Christ the King Sunday, reflecting on God's intent to bind up the injured and strengthen the poor. To the …
Stay-Go-Be-Do #4
Post 36/2020 Thursday 12 November (Featured image: These brilliantly colored leaves were on display 10 days ago.) As of today, most trees have shucked their coats, leaving a ground cover to swish through on paths in the woods. Fallen leaves also present a rakish challenge to people who want a pristine lawn. I've been there. …
Stay-Go-Be-Do #3
Post 35/2020 Sunday 1 November What makes me laugh on Zoom is to have the moderator tell someone, "Unmute yourself." I've had some good laughs with participants, without belittling anyone, who miscues on this electronic form of communication. I grimace, though, at those in the public sphere I'd love to see muted. Be that as …
Stay-Go-Be-Do #2
Post 34/2020 Monday 26 October My October surprise last week was not really a surprise. It was a continuation of discovering wonder in the out-of-doors. For the first time we walked around Waterford Wetlands, an area maintained for community use by Waterford Mennonite Church, south of town. (Featured image: Sandhill cranes at Boot Lake Nature …
Stay-Go-Be-Do #1
Post 33/2020 Monday 19 October Many people know that these public health measures carry solid force: Avoid crowded settings, keep social distance, do small gatherings outdoors, wash your hands for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer, and wear a mask. (Featured image) Pumpkin tower at the main intersection in Wakarusa, not to be confused with …
Bubble and Squeak #6
Post 32/2020 Saturday 10 October It's time to refresh. Time to rename "Bubble and Squeak." Time to cook up a new headline. Time to keep a sharp heads up on the pandemic bubble. Inevitably, we see signs of pandemic fatigue surfacing in many parts of the USA and the world. People are itching to find …
It's About Now 