An email I received this week brought me words of wisdom on my birthday.

Immigration records reveal that Fraulein Lucille Danhauer arrived at Ellis Island from Hanover, Germany in the late 1850s. Young Lucie made her way to New York City where, with husband Wilheim, she started a family. Little did she know then that her first name would be honored and cherished through three subsequent generations -- by my mother, myself and my daughter.

As the John Denver song goes -- yes, it's good to be back home again!

Two Decades of Happy Memories.....

Max and Mr. Wonderful Share a Week to Remember....

The nasty war of words between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump sank deeper into the gutter last week with the photographic posting of Melania in the buff and Heidi looking rough. Since when are potential (or actual) First Ladies targets in a political campaign? Unfortunately, since the ink was drying on the United States Constitution.

Growing up, my keenest memory of Easter Sunday is not about jellybeans or hand-dyed egg hunts. Instead I still picture our family sitting in the back right pew of the Central Valley Methodist Church — four squirming siblings, aged 8 to 11, bookended by parents who tolerated no “hacking around.”

Men go food shopping with lists -- and good intentions!

“Everywhere immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American life.”

President John F. Kennedy

Several years ago I went to Alaska to witness the Iditarod.  It’s a tale worth retelling. The race always starts on the first Saturday in March, and for the following two weeks, it’s the only headline in our 49th state.