My Saturday was reserved for errands, including a trip to the barber shop. I'm not that picky abouthaircuts, but I am choosy about barbers with social skills. I frequent the Advance shop. There's not much in the thriving metropolis of Advance, Indiana, but this isan old-fashioned barbershop. It has a fifties feel. My Barber’s good at making small talk; he’d say that's part of the job. As he was trimmin’ away on what little I have, I struck up conversation by saying I write a column. Ron’sa good listener, or he’ll contribute to the mix with a sheepish grin or laugh, at times, but instead he askedif I ever got “Writer's Block.” “I'm never at a loss for words!” I bragged. He went on to ask...

Spring means the birth of new beginnings, but it also signals a dawning of mowing the lawn. For many, home improvement ideas begin to dance around in our heads - I for one. My wife and I live in an older home and we had a concrete pad in front of the side door for as long as I could recall. The thought occurred to me it would be nice to have a roof with support columns over that. Having a contractor background, I calculated the material needed and began to build it with the blessings of my spouse. All went well until the day came to apply the shingles. It was a Saturday, a warm one, and as I placed the finishing touches on the day's work I stepped back to acquire my work. I should have...

Tired of winter, the cold? Feelin’ all Scrooged inside? Well, here’s a prescription for what ails ya - A Random Act of Kindness defined. With so many responsibilities and pressures tugging at us, it’s hard to think of much else than self. “Oh, we’re just human!” Some might say. It must be instinctive, for even kids wanna horde. Of course there could be something said for adult toys too. We could learn a lot from some folks, and I’ve learned a great deal from a certain gal. Mom, you’ve taught me well. Giving isn’t so much an act with you as it’s a lifestyle that many could learn from. You live to give! I remember her asking me to print some self-adhesive labels that said the following:...

The passing of a relative made the thought of inward examination all too evident - funerals have a way of doing that. The words, "What if?" were a constant pry upon my mind for days. "How old will I be when I go?" A probe of, "What will it be like when the end comes?" spun around in my head for a time. A short non-scientific survey conducted by self, in part out of curiosity, found that most people aren't comfortable with talking about death. That would probably give creed to the notion that most Live For The Moment. I watched and learned a great deal about life as visitors stood in that seemingly endless line of those wanting to pay their last respects to my departed loved one. From the...