Kelly Learns
A compilation of my columns from the Sunday issues of the Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona.
I’ve been writing an every-other Sunday column for the Daily Courier in Prescott, AZ since late 2020, thanks to the kind encouragement of long-time columnist Ron Barnes, who spent over 30 years contributing his wisdom not only to the newspaper but to many other people and organizations in the Prescott area. He put in some good words to the publisher and editor for me when he decided to retire from column writing. It’s one of those gifts you never knew you wanted and then realize how grateful you are to have it.
The Daily Courier has exclusive rights to my column for 60 days after publication, which is why you might be reading a Christmas column in February. I love writing but seem to need a project and deadline to do it. Hopefully this blog will inspire me to write more. Thanks for stopping by to check out my site!
The Great Ice Storm of ’98
I was happy to see the snow coming down last Sunday as I let the dogs out. They bolted down the porch stairs, ripping around the backyard like furry maniacs, kicking up frozen plumes behind them before skidding back up the porch stairs at full speed and staring at me through the glass to let them back in. I toweled them off, the room filling with the smell of wet, happy dogs. I knew the snow would stick around only for a few days, so I made the most of it, entertaining Mike and Facebook friends with a quick snow angel on the porch. The driveway is my least favorite part of the winter, though, with slick tracks forming on the pavement from our cars moving in and out of the garage. Several years ago, I earned my first set of stitches after taking a tumble on an icy patch with a bag full of...
A spare resolution
For the past few years, my friend Terri and I have written “Go bowling at Antelope Lanes” as one of our New Year’s resolutions. She is the official keeper of our resolutions from the previous years. When we get together on New Year’s Eve to make fresh ones, we unseal...
Return to sender
When I was a kid, there was nothing I loved more on a hot, sticky Midwest summer day than lying on the living room couch in the air conditioning, reading a book, changing position only when my elbows and back got too stiff from propping me up or my arms fell asleep...
Tree of Remembrance
The blue and yellow strips of paper chains are starting to grow around the Christmas tree in our Marley House chapel. The yellow strips have names carefully written on them: Grandma, Uncle John, Russ, Dorothy, Missy, Kate, Dad. On the blue strips are memories of these...
Memories on the table
The grocery store is filled with reminders we are firmly in the holiday season. Yams soaked in heavy syrup are cozying up next to the marshmallow bags, herbed stuffing has moved next to the turkey gravy and brining kits. Canned cranberries, cream of mushroom soup and...
In the cards
For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of talking to a group of Ms. Haynes’ eighth-graders at Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy about senior and assisted living in this community, sharing a few stories about what it is and why some people end up living...
Living history
I dropped the small, white box into the mailbox at the post office and drove off, wondering what we would find out in a few weeks. After six decades of not knowing anything about his family history, Mike decided to do a DNA test. He was adopted from a French-Catholic...
Gift of time
I discovered at 6:30 a.m. on the day of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s that despite having read up online on all the steps to make percolator coffee, I had forgotten one critical element – the cups to pour it into. Luckily, we live in a town where early store hours are a...
Spinning back the years
We had a parking lot sale last week as a fundraiser for our Lions Club. As we sorted through all the donations, figuring out the best way to showcase the unique collection of donated treasures, I got distracted by four storage boxes filled with vinyl records and...
Kitchen table wisdom
My dad complimented me on my Sunday column last week about Prescott’s growth and I gave him a strange look. That wasn’t me, I said, and after a few minutes of back and forth, he fished it out of the recycling bin and handed his copy to me. He was right, and so was I....
An uphill climb
It’s hard to start over. I think we’ve all been there, where something we took for granted sneaks out the back door in a worn pair of running shoes when you aren’t paying attention. Something about the last few years made me forget I used to think working out was fun,...
Walk in their shoes
After 67 years, you would expect to build many good memories together, including stories about your life your kids still laugh about and share. Bob was a dentist and Peggy ran a health food store. Their son Mark remembers having carob cake instead of chocolate at his...