A Revival Afoot

My friend Danna Larson is a native of rural Iowa. A few years ago, she started a website called “Rural Revival” and her website was one of the first outlets to carry my weekly essays.

BIG BEND BY KAYAK, BIKE OR HIKING BOOTS

When Charlie Angell’s father died, he left ten acres of land and a modest house that eventually ended up being owned by Charlie. The property was fifteen miles west of Presidio. Charlie had a construction business in Florida at the time, but he took some time off to go see what he had acquired.

Two wooden sticks formed my world.

I’ve been a percussionist since I was eight years old. For those who are unfamiliar with the term ... I’m a drummer. A man named Levi Rock handed me a pair of Ludwig 3S laminated drumsticks. Although I didn’t know it at the time, the trajectory of my life was set. He then said, “Hey Bill ...

CHECK YOUR MIRRORS

Well, here’s the deal. I have spent the past two days deep in interview mode with my 95-year-old uncle. Exhausted but excited. Consequently, I fell asleep on this Monday evening, woke up after midnight, and realized I had not written my column.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life. ― Theodore Roosevelt

WRITER'S CORNER

Restless night Sleep won't come Something heavy weighing on your heat and mind Pray and ask God to reveal it to you God is the answer to our everyday troubles

2 CENTS WORTH

Let me tell you Joe and I will have web feet time we get home, it has rained every day since we have been here. They have planted the corn between showers and I told Joe it's coming and growing so fast you can just see it leaping out of the ground.

Faces & Places

“Children’s books are a fascinating blend of simplicity and life lessons. They’re like security blankets — all warm and fuzzy on the outside, but deeply symbolic on the inside. They can be funny, touching, deep, dark, poignant, or charming, but in the end, they’re just the books we love.

The Trouble With Toughness

May is Mental Health Awareness Month in America, so I would be remiss not to devote one of this week’s essays to my recurring thoughts on mental health in rural America. In this space, I have previously mentioned my friend Shannon Ferrell.

THE PIE LADY OF FLYNN

When Kelly Storey was growing up in Houston her mother taught her to make pies. Now Kelly has a pie shop in Flynn, a small community near Centerville. “I do six different kinds of chess pies and 4 different kinds of meringue pies,” says Kelly.