Kelly Learns
A compilation of my columns from the Sunday issues of the Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona.
I’ve been writing an every-other Sunday column for the Daily Courier in Prescott, AZ since late 2020, thanks to the kind encouragement of long-time columnist Ron Barnes, who spent over 30 years contributing his wisdom not only to the newspaper but to many other people and organizations in the Prescott area. He put in some good words to the publisher and editor for me when he decided to retire from column writing. It’s one of those gifts you never knew you wanted and then realize how grateful you are to have it.
The Daily Courier has exclusive rights to my column for 60 days after publication, which is why you might be reading a Christmas column in February. I love writing but seem to need a project and deadline to do it. Hopefully this blog will inspire me to write more. Thanks for stopping by to check out my site!
No regrets
I was planning to write a light-hearted column this week, something about hot fall weather and having to dig my sandals back out and repaint my toenails. Or maybe a piece about our ongoing battle with a mysterious garden creature at war with the potted plants. But it’s been a heavy, sad week and try as I might, I couldn’t get into the spirit of it. It’s hard to watch the news or read the paper without feeling anxious about the days and weeks ahead. I am sure I am not alone. But it was the email I got at work early Wednesday morning, sharing a beloved coworker had died the night before that made last week especially tough. I read the email twice and still didn’t believe it when I walked past their empty desk later that morning. The news spread slowly as staff members caught up on emails...
Dirt room
I’m not sure what percentage of homes in Prescott have a dirt room, but when I ask people if they have one, I usually get a blank look. I don’t mean a mud room where you take off your wet shoes and mucky boots before entering the house, I mean an actual room with dirt...
Dog days of summer
I was researching summer trivia for an event I was leading when I discovered this fun factoid: Americans eat 150 million hot dogs on the Fourth of July. I started thinking about that number and looked up the U.S. population in 2024. It’s 342 million, which means on...
Kindercritters
I am beginning to suspect that many folks who grew up in Prescott had Penny Nicholas as their Kindergarten or first-grade teacher. If I’m doing the math right, kids born in 1963 all the way up through 2010 have graced her classroom and maybe even posed for a photo...
Voices from the past
My cell phone sent me an alert that I was almost at my voicemail limit the other day. This doesn’t surprise me because I have a hard time erasing the funny or touching messages I get from friends and family. For me, this started back in the days of answering machines....
Across the generations
This week I had a chance to talk with a class of eighth-graders about the people who live in assisted living and how once upon a time these folks were 14-year-olds too. I asked them to raise their hand if they thought they might live to at least 90, and was impressed...
Just like riding a bike
Our garage has a collection of underused sporting gear hanging from hooks on the wall. Sleeping bags and a tent from the camping trip that happened exactly twice in our 26 years together. A collapsible hula-hoop from my brief stint in a community ed class. (I’ll bet...
Colors of spring
The other day I bought an Easter egg dye kit, which looked remarkably similar to the one I remember using as a kid many years ago. It seemed like a pretty good deal for two bucks. The eggs, on the other hand, are now a precious commodity so I opened the container to...
Skin deep
I got an unexpected phone call on the way home from work today. It was the dermatologist’s office and I figured they’d say “all good, see you next year.” A spot on my back that hadn’t caused concern last year had decided to stretch itself out enough to warrant a quick...
The simplest gift to give
At my age, I don’t know many people who don’t wear glasses, at least for reading, except for my husband, who likes to pretend he doesn’t need them so he leaves them in the car. This requires me to do dramatic readings of the dinner menu when we go out to eat or he can...
A place to call home
“I’m young enough that I could still live in my car if I have to,” she says on the phone, “but many of the other people in this apartment building are pretty old and are doing worse than I am.” We talk for a bit and she tells me some of the things she’s done in her...
Love shines through
The other day, my niece mentioned it was her 11-month anniversary of dating her boyfriend. They were out celebrating the big day with dinner and a movie. I am happy for them and I hope the number of months they celebrate together continues to grow. I remember the...