Every Life is Worth Remembering

*Trigger warning: death, funerals, loss My uncle passed away this week. He was my dad’s oldest brother. They were just 15 months apart and two peas in a pod. My grandma used to tell stories about all the ways they managed to get into trouble together.

Badgers and Rattlesnakes – One of Nature's Rivalries

After Cindy and I had been married a year, I went to work during the summer for her father. He had a farm here in the valley and a ranch in Custer County. He took me north and showed me around; where all the windmills were, the roads, gates, and buildings, etc.

How We Determine Intelligence – Human and Non-Human

What do we mean by “intelligence?” I’ve known any number of people in my life who struggled in school, couldn’t read, and were worse spellers than I am.

When Irritation Becomes a Mirror

I was once told that the things that irritate us about other people often reflect something unresolved within ourselves. At first, I resisted that idea. Surely the problem belonged to them, not me. But over time, life kept placing mirrors in front of me.

Octopi – Nature's Surprisingly Intelligent Water Inhabitants

Have you seen the movie “Remarkably Bright Creatures”? If you haven’t, I won’t ruin it for you, but it is a story about an octopus named Marcellus and a cleaning lady named Tova. The octopus is a giant Pacific octopus, which is the largest kind of octopus in the world.

Where Common Ground is Found

“In everyone there is something of his fellow man…. Hence, ‘love your neighbor’–for he is really you yourself.” –Rabbi Moses Cordovero This well-known commandment from the Bible is often understood to mean we should love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves.

Gender v Sex – It's Not What You Think

The term “gender” has been in the news a lot, with the question of just how many genders are there? Gender is not sex. Here is a quote from the National Institute of Health on the difference between gender and sex. “Sex is a biological fact, gender is a social and cultural construction.

Stuffed to the Brim with the Things I Love

Have you ever had a week so stuffed to the brim that it felt like you didn’t even have time to breathe?I live a full life on a regular basis. Always have.

Reflections on The Perplexity of Life

I’ve talked about my cats before and sadly we had to have our 17-year old cat euthanized. Our 18-year old Tom is the only animal that we’ve ever had that has even come close to living 17 years, so you can say she had a good long life, but still, it was sad.

The Version of Me Only I Can See

When I met her, I assumed we stood about the same height. In my mind, I never towered over her.Yet over the years, I’ve come to see the truth of a three-foot difference, exaggerated even more when I wear heels.Self-concept is a peculiar thing.