What Is A Good Job? Part 1

Last week, I kicked off a series of essays about job creation. Specifically, I want to talk about creating “good jobs” in our rural communities. What is a “good job,” anyway? If I asked you to describe the essential qualities, what would they be?

ADVENTURE STORIES AT A BIRTHDAY PARTY

My grandson Jackson and his wife Erika came in from Chicago for my birthday. So did my son BZ who lives in Oakland, California. We all met in Dallas where my son Kevin lives with his wife Jill and their son Caleb. The night of my birthday we sat around the diner table and told adventure stories.

Dying in public

I’m asked lately why I’m still writing. My answer is, “it’s what I do. I’m a writer.” For me, not writing is like not breathing. Something occurs to me, and my mind and heart conspire to create the words that come out on paper. It’s just what I do and it’s who I am.

CHECK YOUR MIRRORS

The Games of the XXXII Olympiad begin July 23 in Tokyo. While watching the U.S. Olympic trials recently, my family’s excitement about the upcoming sports event has spread over to the youngest generation, most of whom were not around during the 2016 Summer Games.

2 CENTS WORTH

Good morning to all of you, it's a great morning in Aspermont, Texas, a little cooler this morning thank goodness but that's okay we are all okay.

Faces & Places

“There is, incidentally, no way of talking about cats that enables one to come off as a sane person.” ~Dan Greenberg It was first light which meant breakfast for the calves. My husband and I kept hearing something making a kitten sound but ruled it out because we didn’t have any cats.

Good Jobs

A few months ago, I wrote an essay called “A Post-Pandemic Rural Mindset.

RUNNING FOOT RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY

Mary Kaplan lives at Sunrise Beech near Kingsland. She has an unusual addiction: she runs foot races. She has run at least a 5K in every state, winning first place every time. She has run in every Texas county, all 254 of them.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention." ― JIM ROHN

I'm still here!

I’m sitting here surrounded by love. Noah is on my left and Caleb on my right, sitting on the sofa. The doorbell just rang and Noah leaps to his feet … pizza! If circumstances were different, it would be a typical Friday night, but tonight everyone is feeling a bit subdued.