I am a devoted train spotter and counter on our many travels throughout the country, so it should come as no surprise that on my “to do list” is the desire to explore rail trails. The Ripper and I came across a good one last summer. The Katy Trail crosses the state of Missouri and is known as one of the crown jewels of the system. We noticed a sign for it while we were on our way back to Park City from the East Coast last summer, on Route 70, so we peeled off the highway and enjoyed reading the historic panels at the restored station but had no…

We all know it, this past year was the start of something big. Just like with 9/11, we all remember where we were last March when it all began, and I bet that most of us haven’t moved far from that spot, at least physically. Our stories, however, will travel as storytelling always does, from one generation to another, and from friend to friend. I know where my story begins but, I find myself wondering, what comes next? One thing is for sure, I had plenty of time to think about what matters most to me, as I looked longingly out windows, at screens, and went on for walks with…

My father was a clipper. He routinely read several newspapers, always connecting people in his life to what he read. My fellow Ripper and I could expect a pile of clippings next to our bed when we visited about things that he thought we would enjoy. Despite the trend to online news, I inherited his preference for print on paper and find myself tearing out articles to mail to others even when my fellow Ripper tells me that there is a much easier and faster way to share news. In preparation for a long winter of recommended evenings at home, and the promise of a time ahead that will be…