On this day, next to the ancient fireplace where generations of Missourians warmed their feet, the Tuesday Club’s gift to the old mansion drew every admiring eye. Over many decades, the needlepoint art that stretched across the old wooden … Read More
Speech at Governor’s Mansion
I never thought I’d utter these words, as I turned to Cheryl: “What do I wear to a tea?” She dressed me, and offered one command: “Don’t slouch.” At the event I stood before five dozen attendees in the Governor’s … Read More
The Genius of Clemson
Samuel Longhorn Clemson said it: “Our long national championship is over.” Well, it was a football fan, mistaking the ghost of Mark Twain, and replacing his real name with a footballized name, lamenting mighty Clemson’s defeat, and misquoting our most … Read More
Sharp Young Minds
Just spoke to Grant Elementary geography classes, and was reminded that, even on my best day, I’ll never be as sharp as a roomful of fourth graders. We had a blast talking parklands, prairie chickens and preservation.
A Tsunami with Joplin Winds
Scary spectre: “Stronger than Wilma, Katrina, Rita, Andrew. And it could become the strongest hurricane ever on the planet to make landfall when it hits tonight somewhere south of Puerto Vallarta.” Near its path, half a million people live or … Read More
Born in the Shadow
The Earth cast a shadow across its moon the night my daughter’s boy was born. The shadow moon glowed red like a fox bathed in dusk. Children know the moon has a face, the face of a man who, during … Read More
63
Went ashore. Jumped on a ’63 Schwinn Continental and rode toward the sunset, at turns laughing or lamenting my first 63 years…came back with a bucket list for my next 63, if nothing goes awry…
World’s Greatest Dog
The world’s greatest dog? I had a while to think about it, sitting at Mizzou’s veterinary hospital. Our dog Baskin was ill with life-threatening symptoms that propelled us to this hospital. There we sat, among other needy dogs and their … Read More
Missouri Travel Crew Wins Emmy
John Robinson and his car have driven every mile of every road on the Missouri state highway map. He’s written two books about their adventures, and now a web series highlighting their discoveries has won an Emmy. Finding Wild Missouri … Read More