Tough Times Don’t Last – In Which I Finally Get My Teaching Certificate!
Remember the energy crisis of the 1970’s and its nasty fallout for the economy? How about the double-edged blade of “stagflation” around that time, and the tales of poor people eating dog food? Do you recall the chilling effect of Chrysler’s… Continue reading
Open This! Open This!
It’s a rare thing for me to write this little column on a short deadline, just in time for publication. I always like to allow at least a day after the first draft of anything I write, so I can look at with fresh eyes and edit out mistakes and… Continue reading
Thinking of You – Yes, You!
I thought of you today when I was bringing in the mail. When there was nothing remotely personal to be found in my mailbox, not one thing sent by someone who was actually trying to make a human connection with me, that’s when you crossed my mind…. Continue reading
Donkeys and Elephants Unite!
Here’s a column that first ran back in 2004. As we approach another hot-tempered election season like that one was, I thought it might be good to rerun this column. In the aftermath of Hurricane Francis, I had a wonderful surprise. Wandering… Continue reading
20 Years of Marriage, 13 Years of Our Town
Our daughter (a recent summa cum laude UCF grad – yay Amy!) and her boyfriend just celebrated a minor milestone: a three-month anniversary. Being a smart fellow, Steve marked the occasion with a little gift. As Amy happily told us about her… Continue reading
Powers Far Beyond Those of Mortal Brothers…
Poor Sam. The wallpaper in his bedroom was really too juvenile for him when we moved into this house six years ago, back when he was 12. We told him that it would go, just as soon as we finished stripping the walls in his sister’s room. But it… Continue reading
E-mail: My Online Lifeline
Whenever I happen to mention to my folks that I’m trying to come up with a column for Our Town, my mom always tosses out a couple of ideas. Unfortunately, I usually toss them right back. It’s not that they aren’t good; it’s just that I find… Continue reading
Mr. Sunshine Goes to the E.R. Part 2
(See Part 1, below) By Mark Lipten, May 2008 Last month, my wife wrote about my recent visit to the emergency room. In case you’ve forgotten or didn’t read last month’s column, here’s what happened: I laughed so hard at a joke my son… Continue reading