Author Archives: jottingjoan

With fingers poised over the numbers on the keyboard, the pharmacist, as always, asked me, “what is your birthday?” I rattled off the numbers, stopped and looked at him, “And what are you going to do when I get into … Continue reading →

Some books, such as “The Long Walk for Water,” stay with me long after I return them to the shelf. Linda Sue Park wrote a fictionalized version about the real 1980s experiences of a Sudanese Lost Boy called Salva and … Continue reading →

My daughter Sharon Joy Schulte wrote the following. I thought it needed sharing. I went to the Social Security office today. I had a list of tasks to take care of on my phone while I waited. Into the room … Continue reading →

The Key word at our house these days is ‘golden,’ as in golden anniversary, golden years, Golden Corral, golden opportunity and the “Golden Rule.” We celebrated our Golden anniversary last year. Even thirty years ago, we never expected to celebrate … Continue reading →

A summer vacation trip as an 11-year-old inspired and influenced my husband. That summer his parents loaded their Buick Roadmaster with their five children to take a friend to visit a college in Tennessee. After the college visit, my husband’s … Continue reading →

To surprise his family, Jacob spends hours researching, plotting, manipulating figures, times, events and plans. He researches for coupons and discounts to stretch vacation dollars. He piles up gift cards from folks and arranges economical trips for the whole family.  … Continue reading →

As we left for a day in Little Rock, my mind did its usual salute to the house, “Good-bye house. I will miss you if you are gone when I return.” That annoying phobia has haunted me all my married … Continue reading →

Marriage is the best of all times, and the worst of all times. A recent anniversary reminded me of a story I once heard. A man gave flowers to his wife on their anniversary saying, “for the best years of … Continue reading →

With 50 plus years of traveling and restaurant dinners behind us, two meals we have eaten earn contrasting ratings. The first happened decades ago when our children were young. Usually I had sandwiches in the car. However, on Easter weekend, … Continue reading →