On a rare, warm, dry day this spring, I ventured out onto the Shiawassee River in my kayak to take in the fresh air, the sunshine, you know – Mother Nature in all her glory.
One of my fondest memories is a hot air balloon ride I took on a calm, summer evening a few years ago. The first time I took to the skies, I was more than a little nervous. I have a fear of heights and wasn’t sure how I would react once the balloon was high in the sky. I mean, there are so many unanswered questions: Where will it go? Where will it land? What if I want to bail out? But it was a beautiful, balmy day at Seven Lakes Park in Holly – perfect conditions for a balloon ride, according to the captain who assured me there was absolutely nothing to worry about.
I love a good Awareness Month. There is a month for everything.
Since the first observance in the State of Washington on June 19, 1910 (it wasn’t made official in the U.S. until 1972), Father’s Day has honored dads in various ways. Here in the U.S., we spend the day with Dad fishing, enjoying barbecues and ball games, and giving him special gifts. America is not the only country to honor the family patriarch, however. Father’s Day is celebrated around the world with many unique traditions. Here is a sample:
A comeback for Aretha Franklin? The singing great from Detroit died in August 2018, but the movie about her that she did not want you to see is new in theaters – including one in Flint.
When it comes to stock market volatility, risk seems to start very slowly and then happen all at once. I’m sure you’ve heard friends talk about their investment accounts “taking the stairs up and the elevator down.” The decline we saw in the S&P 500 index* from October 1 – December 24, 2018 was fast and furious. The market was able to wipe out almost two years-worth of gains when it fell approximately 20% from peak to trough in just over nine weeks. If you’ve been investing over the past 20 years, you’ve been able to see two of the largest declines in stock market history. This leaves investors questioning, “when will the next big crash come?”
The “College Admissions Scandal,” which broke in March 2019, galvanized the nation’s interest. The scandal involved parents paying illegal bribes to gain admission for their children to prestigious universities. The fact that some well-known celebrities were arrested in the FBI investigation, code-named “Operation Varsity Blues,” attracted widespread attention. What has attracted less attention is that the scandal offers evidence that college rankings are grossly overrated in importance.
Moon Dimple, my back-home pal, recently called me. When I answered, he asked, “How’s it goin,’ sexy?”
What comes to mind when hearing or reading the words “afternoon tea?” Is it crisp, white tablecloths and delicate, bone china dishes, scones and jams and pinkies sticking out just so? Is it something more casual, perhaps? Just cups of hot brew with a little cream, shared at a table to help keep your eyes open mid-day? Or maybe it’s fancier still, with tiny triangles of cucumber sandwiches and Coronation Chicken, trifles of Battenberg cakes and macaroons all set upon three tiers of perfectly assembled wonder.
