Boys in the Woods

 

Towering like royalty above the prairie thicket stood a mysterious grove of aged cottonwoods. The area was rumored to hold some kind of curse resulting from spells once cast by nomadic gypsies. Rumor also had it that a nasty old witch toting a black powder shotgun loaded with rock salt kept a nightly vigil over the surrounding area. 

Blurred Vision

Photo credit: avrene via Foter.com / CC BY

Life was hard for a fat kid. Nobody ever looked at you and said,

“Now there’s a great ball player.”

No, a fat kid always had to prove himself. It was like hanging a sign around your neck that read “Don’t pick me for anything except a pie eating contest.”  The only thing that made it worse was having to wear glasses.

Bed&Booooo

At the close of a grueling 2001 tax season, Jan’s brain cells desperately needed a breather.  We decided to escape to Galena Illinois—an area known for its scenic hills, valleys, and bluffs. At one time it was home to more mansions per capita than any other city in America.

A Jake Tale

I was recently asked to tell a story about my son—this is one of my favorites:

Jake and I had been wading the Kankakee River for smallmouth bass one afternoon, late in September. We had a great time together fishing and exploring the river we both treasured. Twilight was approaching and we decided to call it a day.