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Ed Hungness: Dad heads for the couch
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Today is the one special day of the year that honors all men who have raised children.
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Ed Hungness: Seniority's many benefits
A few weeks ago, Kathy Gibbons wrote a humorous column about senior discounts and how she is not looking forward to qualifying for them. In short, she is still on the senior cusp and has not officially entered the world of old fogies. Well, I have and it's not so bad.
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Ed Hungness: Breath of fresh air
Wouldn't you like to have a dollar for every time you heard someone say, "Didn't winter seem much longer this year?" Funny thing is that I have uttered the same phrase multiple times.
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Ed Hungness: Those darn socks
Last week, my wife was busy doing laundry, which she claims is one of her favorite chores. She was holding my favorite pair of warm, heavyweight socks.
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Ed Hungness: Cash, check or charge?
For the most part, my friends tell me that I'm a fairly likeable fellow and even-tempered. But, at times, certain things just bother me and I may just seem more like one of those curmudgeon characters.
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Ed Hungness: Two things we can count on
This week, when I drive down our road, I might see lights burning late into the night in many of the homes I pass. If my hearing were better, I would probably pick up the sound of calculators and adding machines chugging away well into the wee hours. We are fast approaching that delightful time of the year when our income tax return is due.
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Ed Hungness: Second thoughts about syrup
Last year about this time, I wrote a column about the temptation to produce my own maple syrup. My wife quickly brought me to my senses with a dose of reality.
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Ed Hungness: Life on down the road
Last summer we said goodbye to some great friends. This got me to thinking about life and how we travel down different roads during our time here on Earth.
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Ed Hungness: Shopping trip puts me on a path to China
During the holidays, I ventured out to do something that I don't enjoy doing. I went shopping. I would rather go to the dentist than shop. I pity my poor wife having to put up with my groaning as I accompany her on our expeditions into Traverse City.
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Ed Hungness: Fringe benefits come without pay
Back when I was a young whippersnapper of 30 or 40 years of age, I didn't volunteer for much of anything. I was involved in some church activities, but I dreaded being asked to volunteer. I was too busy trying to make a living and hauling kids here and there to be very community minded. At least that was my excuse back then.
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Ed Hungness: Americans tote water everywhere
Have you ever noticed how many people you see with a bottle of water in their hand? Americans spend $16 billion per year on bottled water. We drink more bottled water now than milk, coffee or beer!
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Ed Hungness: Gather for a fireside chat
We had some friends drop by our cottage several weeks ago before we went to a Friday night fish fry. Before they arrived, we prepared a few snacks and got out the makings for a little liquid refreshment. It was freezing cold outside and a fire in the fireplace was a must.
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Ed Hungness: Helping hands ease hunger
Just prior to the holidays there was a sudden avalanche of media attention to the plight of the food pantries in the area. Most of the coverage revolved around the theme of bare shelves and the need for additional donations from the community. I have always thought it interesting how so much attention is devoted to the needy just prior to Thanksgiving and Christmas. One might think that people get hungry only in November and December.
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Ed Hungness: There's more to give than new gadgets
Technology has taken a giant leap in the past 50 years. Every day I am amazed at all of the new electronic devices that are being introduced. Much of it has left me in the dust as far as being able to comprehend it all. When I was young, Tinker Toys were high-tech and Lincoln Logs were on the cutting edge. These days, iPods and Nintendo Wii Systems have captured the hearts and minds of young and old alike.
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Fruitcake deserves so much more
Webster's Dictionary defines fruitcake as "a rich cake containing nuts, dried or candied fruits and spices." Something that gets as much attention as fruitcake deserves so much more.
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Remembering family feast, with thanks
Just about everyone has special memories of holidays from childhood. I feel blessed to have vivid memories of those good old days. My family enjoyed most of their Thanksgiving dinners at our old home in central Illinois. It was a day that we looked forward to with great anticipation.
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Ed Hungness: Having the gut(s) to split pile of wood
Last summer, I kept myself busy cutting up downed trees. Neighbors and friends had trees that came down during storms and they let me know that there was free firewood waiting for me if I wanted to haul it away. For the life of me, I don't know why I do it. After all, I can get several full face-cords of firewood delivered to my driveway for a reasonable sum. It's already cut to length and split just the way I want it. All I need to do is stack it up, throw a tarp over it and I'm done. Case closed. And we're ready for a crackling fire in the fireplace on a cold wintry night.
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Ed Hungness: Flatlander gets taste of the North
Some of you may or may not be familiar with the term "flatlander." Even my computer spell-check wonders what a flatlander is. Therefore, I must assume that it isn't in Webster. I learned the definition of a flatlander before we moved up here from Illinois. According to some of our Michigan friends, a flatlander is an outsider from downstate, or anywhere else, who comes to northern Michigan where the terrain is a little hilly.
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Ed Hungness: Changing seasons warm heart, hearth
Fall is one of my favorite times of the year -- and in northern Michigan, it's one of the most beautiful. The colors are something that people drive hundreds of miles to experience. Years ago, my wife and I were visiting Hawaii and we met a woman who ran an art store on Maui. She was born on Maui and had never been off the island.
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Ed Hungness: If the shoe fits, be a sport and just charge it
Recently, I went to the mall to look for a new pair of sneakers. I haven't bought many tennis shoes in the last few decades and was rather overwhelmed by the wall of shoes that greeted me.
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Ed Hungness: Reflections on a summer that is fleeting fast
How many times have you heard someone say, "Time flies when you are having fun?" How about, "As I get older, the time goes by so fast" or "Where have all the years gone?"
