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!
Aging gracelessly
When we heard a scraping noise followed by a loud hissing sound as we backed down the driveway Sunday afternoon, I knew before Mike stopped the car that it was bad. I was hoping maybe the tire had hit one of the many sharp rocks that line the triangular wedge of land between our house and our next-door neighbors. Maybe one of the tires got ripped open. No such luck. We had knocked the cap off the gas meter and it was blowing full steam ahead, the rotten-egg smell of natural gas filling our noses and the cul-de-sac. For just a second, neither of us knew what to do, other than to shut the car off and get away from the area. As I shakily dialed 911, Mike assured me there was some kind of magical ball valve that kicks in when this type of thing happens, and slows the flow. Not this time. I...
Bottomless cup
The self-serve beverage station is one of my favorite food inventions of the modern era. I choose my restaurants based on the availability of endless cups of coffee without having to bug the staff for a warm-up. Some places will plop an insulated thermos of it on the...
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...
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...
A robot did my homework
I wrote a poem the other day. Well, actually, I didn’t write it, it was created by an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot called ChatGPT. I was curious because I’ve been hearing a lot about it in the news lately, so I signed up to give it a try. Some teachers are...
Rolling Along
The other day I got to ask a dozen seniors questions about their lives. I learned one woman had been a true “Rosie the Riveter” in her earlier days. Another man held a summer job at a dude ranch that ended up closing down and came back home having traded his...
Jumping into the New Year
The other day I was cleaning out a desk drawer in my office and found an envelope that said, “Kelly Resolutions 1999.” I opened it, hoping my 20th-century goals might have been a little more creative than “eat more vegetables and exercise more.” I was disappointed to...
Wish list
My purse is stuffed with Christmas lists from the residents at our assisted living. I am happy to report that folks in their later years still think candy and chocolate are good gift choices. The lists are short and mostly practical—slippers, scarves, hand lotion,...
Friendship lost and found
I got a text the other day from a Canadian friend I hadn’t talked to in a long time and hadn’t seen in person for thirteen years. Kimberly was going to be in Arizona for the weekend, joining her husband on a business trip, and wanted to know how far away I lived from...
I love a parade
It’s a helpless feeling when your car won’t start. It’s even worse when you’re waiting to roll through Prescott as Float No. 50 in the Veterans’ Day Parade, and there’s a Vietnam veteran sitting in the front seat next to you looking forward to being a part of it. “I...
Joy at any age
By the time you read this column, I will officially be considered a senior citizen by Goodwill and a host of other local establishments with discounts for the 55-plus crowd. I’m still mulling over how I feel about achieving this status, even though I enjoy saving...
Adventures in gardening
Every morning when I head out the door to work, I look at our front yard garden. It’s been a hard battle, getting flowers and plants into the ground much less making them grow. We live up in the pines, a little higher than downtown Prescott, which means it’s a few...