Category Archives: Youth

American Education

Posted on June 6, 2023 by swabby429

“The key to education is the experience of beauty.”–Friedrich Schiller I didn’t understand the appeal of algebra to mathematicians until I experienced an epiphany one afternoon. During my youth, mathematics courses were the bane of my existence. In my early … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversy, cultural highlights, Politics, Youth | Tagged , | 5 Comments

From The Prairie

Posted on June 3, 2023 by swabby429

I met Scott while we waited in line to pay for our purchases at Goodwill. He pointed to my “SF” baseball cap then mentioned that he follows the Giants, too. We soon became engaged in conversation about the San Francisco … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemplation, Hometown, Meanderings, Youth | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

On Brother’s Day 2023

Posted on May 24, 2023 by swabby429

As of early January, Mark has been gone for eleven years. He died on the operating table to repair an aeortic anuerysm after seven-hours in surgery. Although more than a decade has elapsed, this still feels like it happened more … Continue reading →

Posted in cultural highlights, Friendship, Hometown, Meanderings, Youth | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

On Mother’s Day 2023

Posted on May 14, 2023 by swabby429

It’s been 34 years since I last celebrated Mother’s Day with my biological mother. Yet, I still feel the tug on my heartstrings whenever I see a photograph of her or a memory about her pops up out of nowhere. … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemplation, cultural highlights, Hometown, Meanderings, Youth | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Boldness

Posted on May 11, 2023 by swabby429

“Don’t be scared of what should be scared of you.” My maternal grandfather first told me this when I encountered a large garden spider while I accompanied him on his farming chores. I was probably nine or ten years old … Continue reading →

Posted in Hometown, Meanderings, philosophy, Youth | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Two Teachers

Posted on May 9, 2023 by swabby429

The subject of teaching has been in the current news lately, in a troubling way. Schools have come under increasing pressure to censor knowledge. Some schools, especially those in Florida, have bowed under iron-fisted laws. Teachers are walking on eggshells … Continue reading →

Posted in Contemplation, cultural highlights, Hometown, Meanderings, Youth | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Chickens

Posted on May 4, 2023 by swabby429

As the sky brightened yesterday morning, a rooster began to crow at a farm somewhere east of town. His sound was barely audible but unmistakeable. I hadn’t heard roosters crowing at dawn since last summer, so the “ur ur ur … Continue reading →

Posted in cultural highlights, Hometown, Meanderings, Youth | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments