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!
Curse of the Auto-Renew
The other day I noticed a hefty charge for a popular virus scanner on our bank statement. I didn’t remember using the product, much less buying it for more than I would ever agree to pay. I visited their website to find the customer service number and logged in with my email address to see if I had an account. Sure enough, I was a subscriber. Clicking on my account history showed a subscription package for 2023 for significantly less than they had just charged me. It took me some head-scratching to realize I hadn’t been scammed by a virus scanner (which might be ironic) but instead, a simple victim of auto-renew. I thought back to the summer of 2023, which seems like a long time ago, and remembered I had bought a tiny Chromebook for my trip to Ireland. It came with a 30-day trial for the...
Before I die
Depending on where you are in life right now, it might feel like there are endless days ahead of you. Or perhaps you are slightly more seasoned, like I am, with mailings from AARP and Medicare creeping into my inbox and mailbox on a regular basis. Whatever your age,...
Be the match
You wouldn’t expect a vacation request to your supervisor to be life-changing, but for one local couple, it might mean they can finally take their two kids on a vacation without having to get back the next day for a dialysis session. I popped in at a local assisted...
Resolve to be hopeful
Time has a funny way of moving fast and slow at the same time. Just a year ago I wrote about getting my first dose of the Moderna vaccine and feeling guilty for being at the front of the line because I worked in health care. Getting help for myself while others around...
Sharing a cup of joy
“I have 50 Christmas mugs filled with hot chocolate and an inspirational verse tucked inside. A lady named Yvonne said you might be able to find a home for them.” I love getting these kinds of phone calls, especially since a coworker and I had just been brainstorming...
Ghosts of Christmas past
I pulled a box of Christmas decorations out of the basement last week and found a bunch of old holiday cards at the bottom from years past. They were photo cards on heavy paper, with rounded corners and shiny foil lettering exclaiming “Merry & Bright” or “Peace...
Knowing what matters most
The hardest things to talk about are the most important. We all hope to live to a ripe old age, but not everyone get there. November is always my month to ponder life, not only because my mom and I both have birthdays, but because she died just after her 74th birthday...
The stories they tell
The stories come in small pieces, coaxed out gently when I ask a new resident when and where they served in the military. “How did you pick the Air Force?” I ask, careful not to tread too quickly into uncomfortable territory. He says he knew he would be drafted into...
Rules of the road
I’m married to a guy who is not a big fan of flying. I can count on one hand the number of times he’s been in an airplane. If we want to go somewhere together, we hop in the car. Driving has always been a big part of our life. When you fall in love with a Canadian who...
Talking to strangers
“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this,” she says before continuing to tell me more stories about her 99-year-old dad over the phone. We talk about the farm he grew up on in the Midwest and what he did for work after World War 2, how he remarried...
Skeletons in September
Last week, I stopped into a local home improvement store looking for some mums to brighten up the frazzled summer planters on our front porch. As I walked towards the garden center, I noticed the clearance patio furniture was mingling with ghoulish zombies and...
Fair weather friends
You’re either a fair person or you’re not. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday than strolling through poultry and rabbit exhibits, feeding miniature goats at the petting zoo, cheering on a tiny cowboy try to ride an oversized sheep without falling off,...