My road to the Great American Eclipse began in Atlanta in 2023, when I met a salesman from American Paper Optics at a trade show. He gave me a stack of free eclipse glasses. "There's a big eclipse coming in 2024," he explained. "You should order eclipse glasses now." I ordered 2,000 pairs. About six months later, I ordered again... and again. Late last week we finally sold out. The final count: 19,000 pairs sold between all four stores. Knowing how much to order had been threading the … [Read more...] about Totality at Lake Ozonia
Starting a Church Library
Do you dream of having a church library? So did some people at my church, and today we have one! We've been loaning out books since 2022. This morning was my turn to be the "library lady". Perhaps you will be inspired to start a library of your own. Oasis Mennonite Fellowship in New Holland, PA, formed in 2015 and moved to our current location in 2020. The building we now occupy was once a sewing factory. During World War II, workers sewed parachutes for the war effort. When we sit in church, … [Read more...] about Starting a Church Library
Happy New Year!
The pork simmers in the slow cooker, and we have sauerkraut in the fridge— tonight we will feast. Pork and sauerkraut are traditional Pennsylvania German dishes for January 1. On Saturday, I bought the pork loin, a great 9-lb slab, on sale at Oregon Dairy Supermarket. At the crowded meat counter, I saw another shopper's cart loaded with pork, sauerkraut, and hot dogs. Another folk tradition, one I learned about only recently, is burning bayberry candles on New Year's Day for good luck in … [Read more...] about Happy New Year!
Delivering the Papers
It was a hand-me-down paper route for eighteen years, starting with my oldest brother and ending with the youngest. My parents viewed the job as a safe way to learn responsibility. When I got my turn at age 11, I was just happy to earn money for books and art supplies. With a new bike I had gotten for my birthday, I was ready to go. Back then, Lancaster Newspaper published a morning and afternoon edition, the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal and Lancaster New Era, respectively. My older … [Read more...] about Delivering the Papers
Summer/Fall Collage
Happy Autumn! Here's a collage of summer and fall highlights— my friend Arlene's wedding, a poetry reading in an off-the-grid farmhouse, and making balloon animals at the New Holland Fair. Bridesmaid Duty VI On July 29, a dear long-time friend, Arlene, got married! Her husband, Erny, celebrated the occasion by blowing the shofar horn he bought in Israel, the same horn he blew at a New Year Eve's party, at the start of 2020. I don't think he and Arlene had even met back then. Arlene … [Read more...] about Summer/Fall Collage