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!
As Long As I Can Remember
(My mom and dad on Mom's 70th bday) I had the honor of speaking at the Sunrise Lions Club the other day, and after we got through the questions, someone mentioned a beloved former Lion named Al, who made it to 103 before he died this year. One of the members always picked him up in the morning to ensure he could attend the morning meetings. Another said she wore his vest to every meeting so he could still be there in spirit. A third member shared a story about how much Al loved his wife of 60 years, who, before she died, had been suffering from dementia and had moved into a nearby nursing facility. He would walk over to eat lunch with her, even though she didn’t recognize him or know he was her husband. One of his friends asked, “Al, why do you go every day? She doesn’t even know who you...
The Mediocre Gardener
I’m not sure what color my thumb is exactly. I know it’s not green. But when the pansies show up at the local garden center in early April, I have to buy at least one pot, even though I know I’m likely dooming them to a life of struggle. Luckily, they don’t do...
A Mighty Roar
It’s hard to close the door on 45 years of tradition, but the other night we voted with one final clang on the ceremonial brass bell to disband the Prescott Evening Lions Club. While I’ve enjoyed being president these last three years, I didn’t want to assume the role...
Specialty of the house
When I think of all the aunts, mothers, and grandmothers in my life, most of them had a signature dish or a meal they made that was a family favorite, held in such high esteem you were afraid to try to make it on your own because you knew your version of “Grandma...
Be prepared
“Most people that meet Trevor just think that he’s really shy,” his mom Stacy Guglielmotti told me. “He doesn’t always make eye contact. They don’t necessarily know he’s autistic, but they know he’s different.” April is Autism Acceptance month and the hashtag...
The time of your life
The other day I was giving a tour of our assisted living to a lady who is 100 years old. She brought her children along, who are visiting from out of town. She’s not quite ready to give up living on her own in her senior apartment but wanted to show her kids where she...
Soundtrack of our lives
Music can make you feel young again, but it can also remind you how old you’re getting. The other day, an old college roommate of mine sent a link to a music festival she’s going to this summer. She’s an English professor now, so part of her job is teaching study...
History in the making
It’s hard not to follow the news all day, every day, as this Russia-Ukraine war continues to grow. It is half a world away, yet every movement and bombing is broadcast across news sites and social media as it happens, like a horrible action movie coming to life, a...
Olympic dreams
The other night we were enjoying dinner at a local restaurant, and the Winter Olympics were on in the background. It was the four-man bobsled event, and I nudged my husband and pointed at the TV. “I think I would have been good at bobsledding,” I said. He laughed at...
Love is patient; love is kind
I have heard those six words and the verse that follows them from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 at almost every wedding I’ve attended. It was read at our wedding, and I’d bet it was read at my parents’ wedding too. It’s a good verse to start married life thinking about,...
Death and cupcakes
It’s hard to know what to expect when you sit in a room full of strangers to talk about death. It’s a topic that most of us don’t like to think about, even though we’re all going to get there someday. Which is one of the reasons a man named Jon Underwood started the...
Try it, you may like it
A dozen years ago, when people were publishing books about cooking every recipe in Julia Child’s cookbook or the life-changing results of writing a thank you note a day for a solid year, I decided it would be a great time to start a blog about learning something new....