One of my very best friends while growing up was Diana. She was a bit of a tomboy, more comfortable in jeans and a western shirt than on picture day when she had to wear a dress. Diana and I used to do all sorts of stuff together, from riding horses to running through the…

It was early morning, after my Senior Prom. I had driven my date, Jill Ziegler home and I decided to stop at Denny’s to have a cup of coffee. While I was there I ran into Bill Combs. He was doing the same thing as me. Bill, being Bill, invited me over to his mother’s…

One of the toughest ranch hands was also one of the best preachers I ever met. His name was Wilson and he could cuss, chew tobacco, spit, fight, drink whiskey and play cards with the best of them. But come Sunday morning after breakfast and while the other hands were doing the chores that normally…

My follow-up appointment at the VA was today. My blood-sugar level is actually well within the normal range, so it’s safe to say I don’t have diabetes. Phew! However there remains some concern about high blood pressure and an elevated cholesterol level. But since I have changed my diet, started walking a little more and…

Even though I had lost my license to drive a government vehicle, I was not prevented from working aboard an ambulance or taking the extra seat on a helicopter when there was a need for an extra set of medical hands. It was a bother to the Captain though, who was constantly on the lookout for…

In 2005, Mary, Kyle and I took a short weekend vacation to northern California. Down the road by about an hour from where we were staying is the original site of the first Russian settlement in California, known as Fort Ross. The fort, though reconstructed, is strong reminder about how tough explorers, fur traders, soldiers and…

Every time Mom and Dad turned around, Adam and I were in trouble. We were either pick a fight with one another, our sisters or some kid in the neighborhood. So when most kids were allowed to look after themselves, we were under the care of a babysitter. It was embarrassing and we were teased by…

It was a surprise the Del Norte High School boys track team had voted on and appointed me to complete. The surprise was an award for our head coach, Brian Ferguson. Called, “The Golden Jock Strap award,” it took me a few days to figure out how to shape and stiffen an actual jock-strap. I…

“This is your room,” the woman said to me as she turned the key and pushed open the door. It was a very elegant room.  The bed had a dark and high headboard. The covers were layered with quilts to help keep out the chill of the Humboldt County nights. The lace of the curtains…

It was a harsher sounding knock at the door than usual. And as usual all four of my dogs went crazy. Turns out it was our not-so-friendly mail carrier with a certified letter. I immediately thought, “Well, this can’t be good.” Once signed for, I opened it and found myself holding a subpoena for the…