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As you can see, our parents took really good care of us modern mid-century kids! They made sure we were warm by tormenting us with these turn of the century winter outfits. We do look happy! A few years later, we moved to town so that Dad could take a job with Farner and Bocken.…
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Traditionally, the most important time for family gatherings in the Neary household is on Christmas Eve, not on Christmas Day. This was begun by Dan’s father, Ray, while Dan was growing up. In our house, family arrives anytime after noon, and we have a casual lunch buffet, with Dan doing most of the preparation. The…
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This marvelous storefront photo is just the kind of thing I was thinking about, back on May 22, 2011, when I wrote this: There is a phenomonon of warmth and comfort that arises whenever I see lit up interiors viewed from the outside. The effect is even more inviting on a rainy, foggy, or snowy…
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Because I’ve recently enjoyed a slice of pecan pie, with whipped cream, I thought I would post this musing from November 22, 2014. Dan’s mother, Betty, would always whip the cream on the holidays when we visited, in a medium sized yellowware bowl. It was sturdy and nicely shaped. I loved how the whipped cream…
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This summer, it all began with a trip to the Maritime Museum in Arnold’s Park, Iowa. I saw this arched structure made from rocks. The sign said it was on loan from Clark Museum in Milford, Iowa. It did not say who made it, or when. It made me think of my Great Grandpa Goecke…
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Today, I’m reading a novel where the child asks his father what it’s like to get older. I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. I guess I was thinking about it back on June 9, 2010 also when I wrote this: Young mother, young father, young child. That was us in 1973. One year…
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There once was a farm that is now no more. Over and over, many farms are now no more. It must be that as we get older, things from the past become more valuable, like my childhood farm, near here. I pride myself on not being too nostalgic. The present is just so exciting! I…
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The other night, we were invited to a small get-together. There would be six of us in the hosts’ backyard. When I ran into the hostess at the grocery store the morning of this little party, she told me that whenever they have an outdoor party, the guests have to bring a “piece”. “A piece?…
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Where were you when the meteors zoomed by on August 12? I hope you got to peak at a few, or as I did, many! In the past couple of years, I had seen a few in the darkened sky over West Lake Okoboji and was extremely excited about those 3 or 4. On August…
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“The pop is gone.” says the last teenager to leave. The ice is low. The granola is gone. Two pans of Dan’s frozen Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas are gone. Bryan’s extra tender dry rubbed ribs are gone. One half cup of Ranch Beans, not to be thrown away, is stashed somewhere in the fridge behind…
On Writing, On Life 