A Memory Stone

A Memory Stone

It rests in my herb garden, a memory stone, reminding me of where it came from and the reason it is here. It’s a reminder of a time past–a slower, quieter time when life was different from the way life is now. It brings memories of the strong, good people who owned the farm where […]

That’s America to Me

That’s America to Me

My grandparents once owned a store and lived in a house across the road. The house and store are gone now, but the memories of it still survive. I remember being in it as a child and it seemed awfully big, dark, and exciting. The candy counter and the bright-colored sweets with the scales my […]

What Do You Think About Freedom?

What Do You Think About Freedom?

Freedom! Millions have died to obtain it or keep it. Without it, what do we have? I’m just asking. Do we have security from fear of retaliation? Do we have the warm feeling of belonging? Do we have a feeling of superiority? From what do we want to be free? And what is worth giving […]

The Ride Was Bumpy, But Fun

The Ride Was Bumpy, But Fun

Maybe it’s because a virus has caused so much turmoil everywhere, especially in schools, or maybe it’s because I’m growing older and tend to look back sometimes, but, lately I’ve been thinking about a little one-room school my brother and I attended in northern Oklahoma– wheat, alfalfa, and cattle country. The school’s name was Valley […]

A Tribute to Dad

Today is Father’s Day, a day to celebrate all the dads out there. Happy Father’s Day to my son, Matt Manos, who is a super father. Just ask his children. I think of my father every day but on this day, there is a particular vacancy, because DadĀ isn’t here and I can’t hear him sing […]

Moseying Along

Moseying Along

This morning, my thoughts are just moseying here and there, and going a far piece back into memory. Not sure what moseying means? Well, I’ve heard it all my life. It’s an old term that means to amble or to walk at a slow pace. That word, moseying, got me started thinking about other words […]