So, the thing is I am feeling a little guilty.  I know, I know, whats new? Im like the travel agent for guilt trips. Right now Im feeling a little guilty because I am so madly in love with my little Smiley Jane, who turns two-years-old today. I mean, REALLY crazy about her. I cant keep ... more >>

 Some time ago I received a gift from both of my children. It was spontaneous and had nothing to do with Fathers day. Yet, at the same time it had everything to do with Fathers day.  My son, Kai, - he was 17 at the time - was attending a private boarding high school in Colorado. While we ... more >>

Dorothy lost hers. I forgot mine. My wife broke hers. I speak of shoes, of course. So why are we all smiling? Dorothy is that sweet little girl who broke in that bustin' bronco of a tornado, landing in Oz and inheriting magic ruby slippers from a dead wicked witch. For most people, the story ends ... more >>

This week I celebrate another birthday, which brings me to that auspicious milestone where I am right between 52 and 54. A person only comes to this stage of life once, so I am going to make the most of it. This year I plan celebrating my 29th birthday. I figure it's my birthday, so I should be ... more >>

From the book: Christmas In Dairyland (True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm)
http://ruralroute2.com As we drove along the dirt road north of our farm one Sunday afternoon, the color of the sky reminded me of Mom's silver cream and sugar servers when they were tarnished and needed to be polished ... more >>

It was a warm, sunny October afternoon one day when I was a kid, and as I walked up the hill of our driveway after getting off the school bus at our Wisconsin dairy farm, I wondered how many more nice days we would have before winter came.I was still wondering about winter when I entered the ... more >>

On any given day at MCAS Cherry Point, the wind is alive with the roar of jet engines. It is the sound, as proudly proclaimed by the air station welcome sign, of freedom. The stories of those who have defended this freedom are many; Cherry Point boasts a long legacy of heroes in dress blues. Yet, ... more >>

The air was crisp that bright autumn day, not unlike the uniforms of the hundreds of Marines who had gathered to mark the passage of a sacred occasion. A sea of faces filled the outdoor stadium under the blue Carolina sky as Marines and their families were regaled with tales of their beloved Corps. ... more >>

 When David was nine and Laura was twelve, the battles started.  Prior to that, they got along great. Laura was always protective of her little brother, and he in turn, doted on her.  Perhaps it was about needing space, asserting independencewhatever the reason, it drove my husband ... more >>

 My name is Barbara and I am a proud Marine Corps wife. I am the granddaughter of a Korean War Veteran and the daughter of a military brat. Long before meeting my Marine Corps husband I had gypsy feet from my childhood spent with a father who, after growing up in the Navy, could never remain ... more >>