Many will remember the summer of 2020 for its terrible cacophony of pandemic and politics, reckoning and rage. But I am still struck by its silence, the eerie stillness of its streets, the sad spectacle of silent swimming pools and limp park swings, the mute stages and empty playing fields. That’s why, even more than [...]
If you ask me, the solstice comes too soon to summer. I want the longest day to come when fireflies dance and corn cobs sag on tall green stalks; when sandhill cranes call loudly over still lakes and sunflowers face proudly toward the sun. I'd like to feel just a hint of burn on my [...]
The Erb Park Pool opens today and I can't wait. I bought our pool passes months ago, on one of those sleety Midwest afternoons that makes you wonder if summer planned to skip us this year. She took her good, sweet time but summer finally made it and it was fun to watch her unpack [...]
Yesterday, I called my mom to make alternative plans for our evening swimming date. “What? We’ll be fine,” she said. I glanced back at my cell phone and confirmed that the temperature outside read 58 degrees. “It’s a little chilly, don’t you think?” I said. “Listen, I’m going for my morning swim. If it’s too [...]
City band concerts offer lucky attendees the rare opportunity to sit back, relax and experience life exactly as it sounded 10, 20, 30 even 100 years ago, for exactly the same cost. Free. Close your eyes, let your spirits start to soar and you'll live as you've never lived before. That was our experience, anyway, [...]