Grandkids surprise us with their words: “Grandparents are a lady and a man who have no children of their own. They like other peoples’ kids.” “They wear glasses and funny underwear.” “Grandmothers are usually fat but not too fat to tie up your shoelaces.” Last week our 4-year-old granddaughter said, “Mommy, I pray to God…

I grew up in the home of a bookstore manager. You couldn’t walk four steps without stubbing your toe on something from Charles Spurgeon, Mark Twain or William Aloysius Keane—better known as Bil Keane, the creator of Family Circus, the cartoon that appeared each day in our newspaper. I liked Jeffy best. He seemed to…

Whoever said, “May you live in interesting times” certainly got his wish. Thanks to the Coronavirus peace and comfort seem in shorter supply than toilet paper these days. As I write, Ramona and I are self-quarantined and getting along well, I’m happy to report. A minute ago I said, “Honey, you’ve always been there for…