“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Mahatma Gandhi
“Rocketman” If you are an Elton John fan, and I am, you have to like this movie. How much fans like it may vary. It had plenty of John’s music and more than enough of his outrageous costumes, however, I left the two-hour movie feeling a bit unfulfilled. Part of my disappointment was in the […]
The last post was about the menace of rats. https://crookedcreek.live/2019/06/12/rats/ Rats in the city, rats in the house or on the farm can be real pests, but as with most things in life, there is a flip side. Rats Make Affectionate Pets! My granddaughter, Kate, and her husband, Tom, live in a flat […]
I love all animals and, with the exception of spiders, all living creatures. They all have their places on this planet we share. I realize that some readers feel differently and I do understand, especially when it comes to destructive rodents. My birdfeeders are used by squirrels and chipmunks and I love sharing with them, but […]
Years ago I was invited to my Aunt Jane’s ninetieth birthday. The celebration was taking place in her hometown which I had not visited in many years. When I asked a relative for directions to the venue I received something like this: “Before you get to Lawrenceburg turn left. There used to be a REA […]
The Bald Eagle Did you know these facts about the national symbol of the United States. It is against the law to possess even one feather of a Bald Eagle. Bald Eagles build the biggest nests of any bird in the world. One nest in the state of Florida was documented as weighing over two […]
Eid al-Fitr blessings to all who are celebrating!
“The Sunflower – On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness” by Simon Wiesenthal Mr. Wiesenthal, a Jew, was a prisoner in concentration camps during WWII. He was treated inhumanely and saw this family killed or starved to death. One day a dying SS soldier who had murdered Jewish families asked him for forgiveness. It seems […]
Trees Reach for the Heavens It seems that trees are abundant. There are so many kinds and sizes and they change predictably season by season. It would be easy to take them for granted and I probably did at one time. During the early 1990s, I had an experience that changed that. I now look […]
“Decades Behind Bars – A 20 Year Conversation with Men in America’s Prisons” by Gaye D. Holman This book is written by a professor of Sociology who spent decades teaching college-level courses to prisoners in Kentucky. She also teaches a “Corrections” course at Bellarmine College through the Veritas program. This is where I met Holman, […]
New Mexico, one of the “Four Corners” states, is a great place to visit. The climate varies from alpine mountains in the north to arid desert in the south. Santa Fe, the capital is full of history, like stepping back in time, while Albuquerque the largest city is very metropolitan. When we traveled the state […]
“All The Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr This book has it all. It is filled with science and technology, mystery and poetry. It is a story of survival and love. “All the Light We Cannot See” won a Pulitzer Prize in 2015 and the author has received other awards too numerous to list. […]
Kids Are Listening Never doubt that kids are listening to what adults are saying. They may appear to be in their own little worlds, but they hear us. An example of this (based upon contemporaneous notes) goes way back to 1993 when I was visiting the cemetery at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church with my daughter […]
Today Crooked Creek has 300 followers! Other bloggers have many more, in the thousands even, but this is a sweet milestone for me. Thank you readers and followers for your interest and your encouragement. It has kept me going when there were times I wondered if I would continue. Thank you! Sue
Kids and Grandmothers and Flowers The other flower that I distinctly remember from time spent with Mammy https://crookedcreek.live/2019/05/12/kids/ was the peony. The peony is a large bush with lush blossoms in shades of red or pink or pure white. They bloom in May and were always ready for Memorial Day, known as “Decoration Day” […]
Mystery Blogger Nomination I am so honored to have been nominated for the Mystery Blogger Award! Thank you to Sharvi who nominated me. Please check out her blog “Tips from Sharvi.” It will make your life easier. https://tipsfromsharvi.com/about/ Here are my answers to Sharvi’s questions to me: 1. What motivates you to blog? Exchanging thoughts […]
Kids and Grandmothers When I was a little kid my maternal grandmother, “Mammy,” spent a lot of time with me. Not only did I learn practical lessons about life from her, I subconsciously learned what it was like to be a loving and giving person. While I haven’t always followed her example, I know she […]
Each season has its attraction, but spring has to be the best as it attests to a future filled with beauty. I Love Spring! “Love is a springtime plant that perfumes everything with its hope, even the ruins to which it clings.” Gustave Flaubert Read more at:
Ramadan Mubarek (happy, blessed) Sunday, May 5, 2019, marked the beginning Ramadan. In Islam, this is a month-long sacred time when we commemorate Allah, the Arabic name for God, giving the first verses of the Quran, the Muslim scripture, to the Prophet Muhammad in the year 610 A.D. This annual observance is regarded as one […]
Murder I ask you to think about this terrible word, one that strikes fear in most of us. Can you imagine living near a murderer? What about having a person convicted of murder as a friend or family member? Should those who have committed murder ever get out of prison? Should they even be allowed […]
Recidivism Can people change? Experience shows that people can and do change and that formal education is one of the most effective means. In 2011, in KY 1,151 inmates attained their GED in prison while in 2015 that total was down to 126. The difference? As the number of inmates goes up so do costs […]
United States There are over 2,000,000 people incarcerated in the US. This country has 5% of the earth’s population but 25% of those incarcerated. At least 2,500 children under the age of eighteen are in prison for life without the possibility of parole. Kentucky Kentucky is seventh in the US for the number of people […]
Elie Wiesel Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) authored 57 books. He was a Nobel Peace Prize winner and recipient of numerous other awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. After his time in concentration camps, he received asylum in France where he completed his education. His career included being a journalist and later a professor […]
What we need to know about Heart Attacks in Women Heart attacks are the number one killer of women (as well as men) Heart attack symptoms can be more subtle in women Women are not men, there are physical reasons such as pregnancy and menopause that account for some variable symptoms in women Heart attacks […]
Doug Weaver is my longtime friend who is a professor of Baptist studies in the department of religion at Baylor University. He is the current president of the Baptist History and Heritage Society and past-president of the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion. In spite of the fact that I am a recovering Southern […]
Stroke Stroke, also known as a cerebral vascular accident (CVA), is the fifth leading case of death and a major cause of disability. Kinds There are two types of stroke, hemorrhagic and ischemic. Hemorrhagic is caused by bleeding (a blood vessel rupture) within the brain. The more common, ischemic, makes up 87% of all strokes […]
Signs of Stroke F A S T The word to remember when concerned about a stroke is FAST because time is crucial in reaching and instituting care. FAST will also help you to look for the signs of stroke. Is the Face drooping? Is there Arm weakness? Is there difficulty with Speech? If yes, to […]
earth with bare hands i sink my fingers into the earth and lift it from the ground i need to feel it… damp and crumbly as it sucks the moisture from my skin i want to smell it… thick and organic as its rich aroma streams into my nostrils i touch it to my tongue… […]
In 2000 my husband and I took a cruise to Central and South America. We visited Belize, Costa Rico, Panama, Columbia, and Venezuela. Each country was very unique and interesting but Venezuela stands out in my mind. I will never forget the first glimpse of the city of Caracas as the ship pulled into port. […]
Today I look at the flowering trees and think of you. When we enjoyed them last spring we had no reason to think it would be our last dogwood season together. Now you lie in the cold ground with woods of redbud all around, but cannot see, or smell, or move to raise your eyes […]
During this time of year, the woodlands change almost by the day. As more trees give birth to leaves the view changes. Some things so obvious during the winter months are now obscure. Spring brings the same beauty each year yet it is forever new. Today there were wildflowers not seen just a couple of […]
Yesterday, I was on duty as a docent volunteer at the Parklands’ Visitor Center. It was a beautiful day in the 70s with lots of sunshine. That made it a great day for the school children who were spending time at Beckley Park. Two schools brought their students and it was fun seeing them exploring […]
one feather less like a footprint left in the sand i hold your feather in my hand . . . an image begins to form in my mind from this solitary feather you’ve left behind i close my eyes i imagine you soaring on currents of air and if dreams could live, i’d join you […]
Retreat In May 2016 I felt the need to “get away” to somewhere peaceful and tranquil and I found that place in New Harmony, IN. It wasn’t so much getting away from anything, because my home with two lazy cats is pretty quiet and happy. It was more going TO someplace different. The quaint little […]
Pope Lick Park It’s so good to be walking in the park after what seems like a long winter. With each walk, I notice the subtle springtime changes. Buds turn to leaves or flowers, birds are chirping happily, and the peepers are peeping loudly. Below are some of the wildflowers, blooming bulbs and weeds that […]
The Harmonists During the mid-eighteenth century, there was a place in Delaware known as Murdering Town. The folks who lived there were from Germany and believed strongly in the separation of church and state. They developed into a pacifist society migrating to Pennsylvania where they built the town of Harmony, which sounds like a far […]
A few years ago I started taking used clothing to a homeless shelter in Indiana. It wasn’t a big deal, just sharing some things that no longer fit. I mentioned this in passing to a couple of neighbors and friends and was surprised when several offered some things for me to take on my next […]
Also known as “All Fool’s Day” April Fool’s Day is corny and can be irritating I suppose but I’ve always loved it due to memories of my maternal grandfather, Pappy. https://crookedcreek.live/2016/12/11/gee-ky/ The origin of this day for pranks and hoaxes is not entirely clear but it has been around for a very long time. According to […]
Did I “get you?” Crooked Creek is not going away, although you may wish it would at times! Thank you Readers, for letting me play a prank on you for one of my favorite days. Graphics by Pixabay
Crooked Creek’s last post; I have decided to discontinue this blog. Graphic by Pixabay
A guest who shares her poetry with us from time to time, Sylvia, is my niece and my friend. I love her work and this is one of her poems that touches me anew each time I read it. Thank you, Syl, for sharing with us. A single drop of water In the grand […]
If you live in this area (KY, IN, TN) you are probably familiar with Bernheim Forest. https://bernheim.org If not you should be. Bernheim is a wonderful place to be free in nature. There are areas cultivated and manicured but many acres of natural forest as well. It has been a favorite place for our family […]
Over the past five posts, we have reviewed some ways to achieve longevity. I have had some fun with the topic of “Staying Alive.” It seemed fitting that since I discuss death so frequently I owed you these tips on survival. Some of the content has been tongue-in-cheek, but that doesn’t mean the advice isn’t […]
We read books, love our pets and have a female doctor to keep us out of the hospital, so what else do we need to do to stay alive? Prepare for Disaster! Disaster Noun – a sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life A disaster […]
Now that you have a puppy on your lap as you read your book and have regular checkups with your female doctor what else can you do to stay alive? Next: Stay Out of the Hospital! There was a time when the term “hospital clean” meant sterile and spotless. Today, unfortunately, the meaning could be […]
Now we all have a puppy and female doctors . . . . . Next: Read Obviously, you are reading at the moment, but this blog post is too short to meet the recommendation for “Staying Alive.” Research shows that reading a book for one-half hour each day has a significant survival advantage. Other reading counts […]
OK! Now everyone has a puppy, right? Next: Get a Female Doctor No kidding, a study of 1.5 million hospital records proves this is a good method of “Staying Alive.” Harvard researchers reviewed and analyzed these Medicare records in 2016 and found that patients cared for by female doctors were, (A.) More likely to survive […]
Life Expectancy Life expectancy is a tricky term. Statistics vary greatly in the way they are gathered and calculated, e.g., whether they include infant mortality and what country is being studied. As the chart below demonstrates women have a longer life expectancy than men, but we will not discuss the possible reasons for that here. […]
A Test of Stress She (we’ll call her “Barb”) dressed in her exercise clothes and walking shoes and set out early for the hospital; so early that the rush hour drivers were still at home flossing and spraying. As she pulled into the parking lot Barb had her choice of primo spots, but hardly appreciated […]
Georgia donned her latex gloves even though she had no idea why they were required and she set out to collect the terrycloth bibs. As she picked up each one and placed it in the big plastic bag she wondered once again at the waste and mess of the food. In spite of the special […]
A Poem by Mattie Stepanek – May 1999 A New Hope I need a hope … a new hope. A hope that reaches for the stars, and That does not end in violence or war. A hope that makes peace on our earth, and That does not create evil in the world. A hope that […]
“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” Hal Borland
“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak A few years ago someone told me about a movie entitled “The Book Thief” (released 2013). At the time I pictured a professional thief stealing valuable books from museums and universities. This Christmas I was given the book by the same name (published 2005). I was so surprised to learn […]
Depression Alone even with others, Lonely without a reason, Tears to be withheld, Fears of nothing and everything, Imagination of things untold, Predictions that may come true. Color? Every shade of blue. by Sue Baugh Mattingly Graphic by Pixabay
Phillip When I was in the first grade my little brother, a toddler, died on the way to the hospital. He had been ill his entire little life. https://crookedcreek.live/2016/09/27/little-blue-bird/ Daddy That loss brought about many changes in our family. The most profound change was in my father. Fortunately, perhaps, I do not remember details about […]
Impact Depression affects about 121 million people worldwide (World Health Organization) and 14.8 million in the U.S. making it the leading cause of disability (National Institutes of Mental Health). According to the WHO, depression ranks number four on the list of diseases and is predicted to be number two by next year. There has been […]
There are only about 1,500 grizzly bears left in the lower 48 states. Approximately 600 of those are in the area of Yellowstone Park. In spite of serious population decline, in 2017 grizzly bears (also called the North American brown bear) were stripped from the Endangered Species Act protections. That meant that the Grizzlies in […]
Book Review If you love comedian Trevor Noah you will like his autobiography. Noah, host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, was born in 1984 in Johannesburg. In his book, “Born A Crime” he tells what it was like to grow up in South Africa during and immediately following Apartheid. It was particularly difficult […]
Another Year – Post #216 Just to catch up from last year’s post https://crookedcreek.live/2018/02/08/thanks/ Crooked Creek now has 263 followers. One year ago it was only 120. We welcome each and every new follower and say, “Thanks” once again to all readers. It is also significant (to me at least) that I am preparing infusion number 302 […]
This is follow-up to my post “Facebook” on July 30 last year. https://crookedcreek.live/2018/07/30/facebook/ Per The Daily Mail one-third of Facebook users from 16-34 have deleted their accounts. The main reason does not seem to be Facebook’s exploitation of 50 million users profiles but because it is “no longer cool.” Good for them regardless of the […]
When I was a small child we had no telephone. Later, after moving from rural Crooked Creek, we did have a rotary dial phone. It was a party line with seven other families, which could be interesting at times. My Grandfather was Post Master of Gee, KY and letters were the way that most people […]
The Half Has Never Been Told Slavery And The Making Of American Capitalism by Edward E. Baptist This is not a book to be undertaken lightly. It is a hard read, or at least it was for me. It covers not only slavery, which I thought I knew a lot about but war, politics, economics […]
There are times when I just feel that I cannot keep up. No, I’m not talking technology, I manage in that way. It’s other little things that let me know I’m out of touch. Like a recent text from my granddaughter, Elizabeth. What does this look like to you? If you answered bacon on someone’s […]
This past November, 35 new women were elected to the U.S. House of Representatives bringing the total now serving to over 100. There has been abundant news coverage of this group’s number and their wide diversity in ethnicity, age, and sexual orientation. Twenty-three percent of both the House and Senate being female is a first. […]
This Winter Day Why can’t you decide? First, you let a few white flakes float down then you drop an anemic sprinkle on the ground. I decide this cloudy day I can abide then the sun peeks out from behind the trees. Winter Day you are such a tease. At least there is no ice […]
Death I’ve been told that I think about death a lot. This is true; for as long as I can remember I have been interested in the subject. Some have said that I think about death too much. I do not agree. I think of it just the right amount, because I am not afraid of […]
Do We Need Pollinators? Pollinators, mainly bees, but also butterflies and other insects are necessary for our food supply. These pollinators are responsible for the sexual reproduction of plants by cross-pollination and also provide genetic diversity. Serious pollinator decline has been a worldwide problem since toward the end of the last century. Pollinator Toxins This […]
Deathbed Playlist In November 2016 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/opinion/sunday/my-deathbed-playlist-and-yours.html published an opinion piece about the kind of music one would want to hear while dying. I have a list that I’d like at my funeral, but I had never given any thought to what I’d want to hear while dying. As I read the desires of […]
Deceased Artists Isn’t it ironic that we miss music most after the death of a star musician? So many that we have lost over the past couple of years come to mind, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, Prince, Tom Petty, Glen Campbell, and Chuck Berry. The day that Franklin died, I began to play her old CDs […]
Hi Readers, My name is Elliott Mattingly. You may have heard of me, I’m pretty famous or is it “infamous” that I hear so often? https://crookedcreek.live/2018/01/13/cats My Human (a.k.a. Sue) likes to make fun of my butt. I resent it and I do not know how to get even with her. If I could talk […]
Unique Voices There are musicians with very unique voices and they are among my favorites. I listen to these three daily on my Pandora stations. Whispers Leonard Cohen (1934-1916), Canadian, whispers into the microphone as though he is engaging in an intimate moment. His voice haunts and follows. You can hear his top 20 hits […]
Poem by Sylvia Mattingly – January 10, 2016 a first kiss of snow with a first kiss of snow on a january day perhaps winter at last has something to say after patiently biding its time to alight it has covered the earth with a blanket of white it is not as though winter […]
Memories of Music Other than church hymns, my earliest memories of music are of Elvis, Little Richard, and Fats Domino. There were others, such as the Everly Brothers (I really liked “Wake Up Little Susie”) that I enjoyed, but mainly I remember these three from my early years. I, like every girl of that era, […]
I always have a wish list for Christmas which includes books. This past Christmas I received four. I just finished the second. “Under Fire” April Ryan is a White House correspondent for the American Urban Radio Network. She is also a political analyst on CNN. Ryan has spent two decades in this correspondent position under […]
Rant #1 HIPAA – To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of (HIPAA), Public Law 104-191, included Administrative Simplification provisions that required HHS to adopt national standards for electronic health care transactions and code sets, unique health identifiers, and security. At the same time, […]
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope that 2019 is the best year ever for you, my dear readers, and for all those you love! “An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” Bill Vaughan Theme graphic by Pixabay
The Un-lived Year – Author Unknown Midnight strikes, and the old year’s gone. We close the tablets we’ve written on. And torn ‘twixt hope and doubt and fear, we open the book of the Un-lived year! An Un-lived year! Ah, stained with tears are the well-thumbed volumes of other years! Soiled by blunders and black […]
My Mother I’ve introduced Minnie to you before. If you missed those posts, I’d suggest you use the Search feature on the Home Page to search for “Minnie.” She is a person I’d like you to know more about and her stories are worth your time. Over twenty years ago Minnie, my Mom died and […]
Happy Holidays For my family, it’s almost Christmas. Your special celebration may be different. Regardless, I wish Happy Holidays to you and yours! https://crookedcreek.live/2017/12/24/december/ May you have peace and joy.
Carol of the Brown King by Langston Hughes Of the three Wise Men Who came to the King, One was a brown man, So they sing. Of the three Wise Men Who followed the Star, One was a brown king From afar. They brought fine gifts Of spices and gold In jewel boxes […]
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon and Yoko Ono So this is Christmas And what have you done Another year over And a new one just begun And so this is Christmas I hope you have fun The near and the dear one The old and the young A very Merry Christmas […]
Letter to Michelle Rochon from John F. Kennedy – October 28, 1961 The White House Dear Michelle: I was glad to get your letter about trying to stop the Russians from bombing the North Pole and risking the life of Santa Claus. I share your concern about the atmospheric testing of the Soviet Union, […]
The Green Book First, an explanation for the title; unless you are familiar with “The Green Book” the movie title can be a bit off-putting. The movie is not about the book, but about the fact that the book was necessary during the 1962 setting of the movie. Once I had seen the movie by […]
We Will All Grieve By adulthood, most people have experienced loss that triggers grief. If you have yet to lose a person or something that means the world to you, then you are probably very young and certainly very lucky. Facing loss of another or one’s own approaching death will bring on an overabundance of […]
From “Remember Me” by David Harkins, Copyright 1981 You can shed tears that he is gone or you can smile because he has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that he’ll come back or you can open your eyes and see all he’s left. Your heart can be empty because you can’t see […]
Most people struggle with confronting a friend or a loved one who is grieving. Attending a funeral or visitation is usually a dreaded event and often our biggest concern is what to say. Most of us know that a grieving person needs rest, food and other practical gifts such as child or pet care. What […]
Stages of Grief In 1969 Elizabeth Kubler-Ross published the book “On Death and Dying” outlining what came to be known as the Five Stages of Grief. Few understood that Kubler-Ross was describing what she had observed in her patients who were dying. It was about personal grief from one’s own approaching death but could be […]
Poem by Sylvia Mattingly Untitled This the night before Christmas and my house is a mess. Full of presents and Christmas fluff and dust, more or less. My socks are flung over the chair back with care in hopes that through pity, I’ll get a new pair. I’m eventually nested all snug in my […]
Home Sweet Home It is a pretty sure thing that most, if not all, who read this have a place to call home. It may not be considered “sweet” but is probably warm, private and comfortable. Do we fail to appreciate our homes? Probably. I know I do at times. Once in a while though, […]
“Light the Festive Candles” by Aileen Lucia Fisher Light the first of eight tonight— the farthest candle to the right. Light the first and second, too, when tomorrow’s day is through. Then light three, and then light four— every dusk one candle more Till all eight burn bright and high, honoring a day gone by […]
December Prayer By Mattie Stepanek, December 1999 No matter who you are, Say a prayer this season. No matter what your faith, Say a prayer this season. No matter how you celebrate, Say a prayer this season. There are so many ways To celebrate faiths, There are so many faiths To celebrate life. No matter […]
Cell Phone My iPhone is seldom beyond my reach and I’m pretty sure you can say the same about your cell. It is like a personal secretary in your pocket. I’m not sure which feature I appreciate more, but I do know it’s not the phone part. Phone calls are necessary, but I can’t say […]
Origin of Merry Xmas There was a time when I thought writing, “Merry Xmas” was just lazy. Some folks feel it is worse than lazy because to them it leaves Christ out of Christmas. Actually nothing could be further from the truth. The New Testament was written in Greek and the Greek word for Christ […]
Being Thankful Thanksgiving is an American holiday and while it has historical beginnings it really has become a feast day. For those who do not live here let me say it’s about turkey & dressing, sweet potatoes, cranberries, and pumpkin pies. Of course, we are thankful, too, for family, health, friends and all those things […]
Happy Thanksgiving Dear Readers! And, Thank You to my son-in-law, Floyd, for this turkey which I enjoy each year! “We should all get together and make a country in which everybody can eat turkey whenever he pleases.” Harry S. Truman Theme graphic in title by Pixabay
Rock & Roll Hard as a Rock Rock On! Dumb as a Rock Rock, Paper, Scissors As you can tell I have rocks on my mind. I’m sure some who know me might say I also have “rocks for brains.” And, today that might be appropriate. When I went to Great Britain recently, […]
My Sister Really, I never had a sister in the biological sense, but I came close. My cousin Pat was born six weeks before me and I never let her forget that she was the older. Her Mom, Lucy, was my Mom’s sister and they were very close. Pat and I were sisters in every […]
Hearing Loss When a person has problems seeing or walking it is obvious and most people make allowances for the person who has such disabilities. When a person is hearing impaired it is less obvious. Often the person with a hearing deficit seems to not be paying attention or to be ignoring the conversation. Prevalence […]
Have You Heard? One of the brightest ideas for a new business has to be the “cat cafes” that have sprung up in many cities. Some are coffee joints. Others serve light food menus. The thing they all have in common is cats! These businesses are in partnership with feline adoption agencies. Cats and kittens […]
Guest Poet “Ode to Time Change” by Pat Bush, November 4, 2018 My body says, “Wake up! You’re late”! The lids get heavy, the clock says wait! It’s not 9:30 but half past eight! Am I early or am I late? Sleep deprived or do I feel great? Oh, how I hate this dance we […]
The Last Rose of Summer In 2013 my husband planted a rosebush that he knew I’d like. Yellow is my favorite color and these beautiful yellow roses are a reminder of his love. With each one that has bloomed over the past month, I’ve wondered if it’s the last for the season, but they just […]
Elections Elections are a big deal. Much can change due to voting and every citizen of a democracy should utilize this right at each opportunity. But, no matter how an election turns out, whether your party comes out ahead or loses, our responsibility does not end with a vote. So, do not be discouraged after […]
One Day Early Due to forecasts of heavy rains, Halloween celebrations in many local neighborhoods moved up a day to take advantage of the beautiful fall evening. It was great fun and I’ve shared photos below. The Trick or Treaters were so creative! “On Halloween, the parents sent their kids out looking like me.” Rodney […]
U.S. Election Day No matter your political party, no matter your personal beliefs, if you are an American citizen I urge you to vote on November 6. This election is called a “mid-term” and some seem to think that makes it less important. Presidential elections may be more exciting but the so-called mid-terms are just […]
What do these people have in common? Aside from being charged with horrid crimes last week, what do they have in common? They are not people of color. They are not immigrants. They are not Muslims. No, they are angry white men. Rather than fearing the “other” perhaps it […]
This is what I want to believe today . . . “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.” Anne Frank
In Remembrance Yesterday these eleven people left their homes to attend a religious ceremony at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburg, PA. Today they lie in a Medical Examiner’s office on a slab. Joyce Fineberg, 75, of Oakland, City of Pittsburgh Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross Township Rose Mallinger, 97, of Squirrel Hill, […]
Thoughts and Prayers are not enough. Thoughts and prayers come after the fact, after the loss. We as Americans, as citizens of the world must do more. We must be proactive. How? Love and respect others, including those who are not exactly like us. We are all human beings, we worship the same supreme being […]
At Long Last By Mattie Stepanek, October 1998 Half-empty trees Scritch at Ghouly gray skies, Laughing black crow Haunts a sound To the wise, Orange-toothed Pumpkins smirk Jagged tooth grins, Message is clear: Halloween now begins!
What are you going to be for Halloween? Have you heard this question yet this year? I think it’s funny that we don’t talk about what we will wear, so much as what we will “be.” To me, this means we really take our roles seriously and enjoy being someone, or something, different for a […]
Today is October 22 and the flowers in my courtyard don’t seem to know it’s supposed to be Autumn. After several heavy frosts things are growing like it’s June!
Wales’ Best-Preserved Abbey Tintern Abbey was founded in 1131 by Walter Fitz Richard of Clare, an Anglo-Norman lord. This community of buildings where monks once lived and worshiped had one of the most advanced drainage systems of its time, however, there was only one room where there was a fire for the residents to warm […]
Urban Legend If you are a regular follower of Crooked Creek, you may recall my mentioning the Goatman a few times. As Halloween approaches, I want to give you a full introduction to the half-man and half-goat. This creature, known as a satyr has frightened generations in this southeastern Jefferson County community. He resides near […]
Chepstow Castle In beautiful Wales, there are many well-preserved castles. This Medieval one was built a year after the Battle of Hastings. For nearly 1,000 years Chepstow Castle has sat atop a cliff overlooking the Wye River below. I felt almost a reverence as I walked onto the grounds and looked up at the stone […]
Inspiring Story Over this past weekend, I read a book recommended to me by a fellow blogger, Christine Goodnough. You might want to check out her blog. https://christinegoodnough.com We’ve never met, but I enjoy the posts of this prolific writer in Canada. The book, written by Beth Day, was published in 1955 and is entitled “The […]
Wonder of Wonders Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England is approximately 4,500 years old. That in itself creates a sense of wonder. As I walked among these huge stacked stones recently I wondered what life was like in 3000 to 2200 BC. And, before the circle of stones was built there were hundreds of burial mounds in […]
Dianne Mattingly Bynum at five years of age. As told to her Mom years later. Bedtime was a mixture of feeling both happiness and dread. After our prayers, Mom or Dad and at times both, would tuck us in and give us a hug and kiss. That felt so good. Then we heard those words […]
The Unexpected Before my trip to the UK last week I was cautioned to take an umbrella, raincoat and boots. I took the umbrella, but it was not needed. What a delightful week of sunny blue skies and cool breezes. I’ll write more later, but just had to say now what a great time I […]
Pappy’s Hat My Grandfather’s hat was always at the ready. It was as though he was not decent, or a gentleman, without it. When dressed for church he would put it on his head as he left the house. That was his Sunday hat. When inside, whether at his little house or in his big […]
autumn summer fades into autumn as it slowly drifts away past fields of purple ironweed and the smell of fresh mown hay where cattails rise from soggy ground and sunflowers nod their heads and cottonwoods resign themselves as their leaves begin to shed so as the winds begin to change and autumn shuffles in summer […]
Friends Most of us, if not all, have friends. There are many kinds of friends and we need all kinds. Some we party with, with others we may share our deepest secrets. There are those who call and check on us if they have not heard from us in a while. Some help us fix […]
Blessed with Pats One day my daughter said to me, “Mom you have so many friends named Pat!” And I realized she was right. I truly do have a lot of friends both present and past named Pat and each has been a blessing. My first Pat was a cousin born six weeks before me […]
Several years ago I worked for a Fortune 500 company that had a binder for everything. I must have caught “binderitis” during my eighteen years there. I have binders all over the house. About seventy are filled with family photos and mementos and they are stored everywhere, some visible, many hidden. I feel sorry for […]
Do You Remember? Way back when . . . Milk was delivered to your door before daylight in a glass recyclable bottle? Books of matches were free and had advertising written on them? You went to the “show” (movie) and sat in the balcony? Telephone poles had insulators like these? Most women were married […]
I’ve often been accused of thinking and talking too much about death. I do contemplate the subject and read and talk about it quite a bit, but I want to declare that I am not morbid. Death is inevitable for each of us, so why not acknowledge that and get on with laughing, loving and […]
A poem written by John Pavolitz On the Day I Die On the day I die a lot will happen. A lot will change. The world will be busy. On the day I die, all the important appointments I made will be left unattended. The many plans I had yet to complete will remain forever undone. The calendar that ruled so many of […]
CPR Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can be life-saving especially when performed in a hospital with all the talent, knowledge and equipment that is available. It has become routine for patients to be asked on admission to the hospital some form of the following question: “Do you want emergency measures to be performed if your heart stops?” […]
CPR Everyone knows what CPR means. It means saving a life with certain breathing techniques and chest compressions when one’s heart has stopped beating. Right? Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation literally means heart lung revival. That puts it in a slightly different light but still sounds promising. We’ve all seen it work over and over again on […]
“You Have Cow Eyes” Have you ever been told you have cow eyes? It’s supposed to be a compliment. Cow eyes are big and dark and kind of dreamy looking. That’s one reason to give up beef or at least to not get up close and friendly before a steak dinner. Well, I once knew […]
A Good Read Would you like an entertaining, easy-reading book? If you have an interest in medicine and if you love the Smokey Mountains, you’ll definitely enjoy “Medicine Men” by Carolyn Jourdan. Ms. Jourdan is a sophisticated Wall Street Journal bestselling author, who apparently never forgot her mountain roots. Her father was an “extreme Appalachian” […]
On my neighborhood walks even though it’s the dog days of August, I see secret signs of autumn to come. Goldenrods, their yellow flags announcing six weeks ’till frost remain unfurled even though I see their heads peeking out from their hiding spots. The burning bushes green all summer long now showing signs of smoldering […]
Dripping Phone You can always say you jumped into the pool with your smartphone in your pocket, but we know that is not only not smart, it is also not likely. What is far more likely is that you dropped your phone in the toilet! It happened to a friend recently when we were together […]
Memories To those who do not live in this area, you cannot possibly know what you are missing by not ever having eaten a warm Krispy Kreme doughnut. Our family used to begin vacations with boxes of these glazed delights. The teens and kids would wear the Krispy Kreme hat as the ceremony took place. […]
Lazy Part of Summer patches of queen anne’s lace dance across fields of fescue during the lazy part of summer, their lacey white umbels bobbling on spindly stems as they catch the dry august breeze stands of purple iron weed compliment sunflowers of yellow in the palm of summer’s hand, unyielding on rigid stalks as […]
Update Several more readers have weighed in on the Quiz of August 2. Surprisingly these additional answers skewed the results in two ways. First some readers do favor serious topics and eschew longer posts. Also, some of the last respondents follow other blogs. This will be the last update on the quiz. Thank you to […]
A Tough Subject racism | ˈrāˌsizəm | noun prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior: a program to combat racism. • the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially […]
Reader Feedback Thank you to the readers who responded to the quiz of August 2. Of the few I’ve heard from, the results are that there are no strong opinions regarding the seriousness or length of posts. Readers were not particular about scheduling. A positive for me, is that all readers agreed that photos and […]
Two Years! Crooked Creek, the blog, began two years ago this month. Giving birth to this site was traumatic in so many ways but the biggest pain was the technology. Writing became easier along the way and the aggravation of the WordPress platform less challenging to deal with. You readers and followers (190 to date) […]
On my neighborhood walks even though it’s the dog days of August, I see secret signs of autumn to come. Goldenrods, their yellow flags announcing six weeks ’till frost remain unfurled even though I see their heads peeking out from their hiding spots. The burning bushes green all summer long now showing signs of smoldering […]
Goodbye Facebook Several friends have asked me why I deleted my Facebook account a few months ago. They miss my comments and photos. They miss me. I do not doubt this because I miss them also. I miss their updates and photos and I miss being in contact. But we see Facebook through the lens […]
Good News On July 9 Starbucks announced that it is phasing out plastic straws by 2020. They have already begun in some cities to use specially designed lids that eliminate the need for straws. They will roll out this design over the next two years while also offering paper straws. These alternatives, paper and other […]
The Parklands How lucky we are who live near the Parklands. Whether one is a biker, a runner or like me just a walker, there is a trail for you. Nature is abundant and stunning. Here are a few scenes my walk today. “Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the […]
Wedding 1927 In 1927 Samuel Baugh (1899-1982), my Uncle Sam married Thelma Kissel (1913-1975). They were married for forty-eight years and had no children. In 2009 I obtained Aunt Thelma’s wedding gown and kept it hanging in a closet with her rosary. I didn’t know what I would eventually do with the gown but knew […]
Maybe it’s my recent milestone birthday, but I keep looking back. Please walk with me as I recall some things of years past. Do You Remember When? Gas stations were Service Stations? The attendant checked your oil and cleaned your windshield as well as pumping your gas. I remember my Dad driving into the station […]
Google Who has not looked up medical terms, test results and diagnoses Online? I do it often even when I know or think I know what something means. It never hurts to review and become better enlightened, right? Today I wondered about a BUN value on my Metabolic Panel. I knew it meant Blood Urea […]
Book Review Recently I read the true story of young women who lost their health and their lives due to exposure to radium on their jobs. Several aspects of this tragedy stand out in my mind, but especially the fact that girls were hired as young as thirteen to work six days a week. Throughout […]
Recently I was in Lenscrafters looking into new glasses. The young man working with me was very attentive and professional. After completing my business I started to leave the store when an employee who I had not noticed loudly proclaimed “Meema!” He was looking at me, but surely not talking to me. I was wrong. […]
A rare lower humidity day brings a cute youngster out to play at Pope Lick Park. It was curious, but not a risk taker. This was as close as I came. A surprise on the walkway was this baby frog. It was definitely a day for juveniles. She/he was the perfect subject for photo […]
So much has been written about the subject of death since Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s seminal work was published in 1969. Kubler-Ross was a Swiss psychiatrist who worked with the terminally ill at the University of Chicago. She wrote “On Death and Dying” which presented the “five stages of death,” more accurately the five stages of grief. Thus […]
Straws Again https://crookedcreek.live/2018/07/02/waste/ After writing Wasting Planet Earth posted earlier today, I read a comprehensive article in the Courier Journal (7/1/18) about plastic straws. The movement to eliminate these devices is picking up steam. There was even a report on broadcast news last night about the subject (NBC). In the CJ I learned that […]
Do We Need It? Plastic Straws Plastic drinking straws are taken for granted, but they should not be. The United States uses and disposes of over 500 million of these devices per day. Straws are unnecessary, but if one does not agree with that, how about this? “Plastic” straws are unnecessary. Paper straws are less […]
