wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

The studio where I go to yoga is just down the street from Woodland Cemetery, Dayton's most significant historic burial ground. It is the final resting place for many of the Who's Who of Dayton. The highest point in Dayton is also at Woodland and its skyline view is visible from this peaceful spot. 

The tall building on the right is the former Winters Bank Tower, named after the Winters family, early Dayton pioneers who founded Winters Bank in the 19th century. Jonathan Winters' (the actor and comedian) great-grandfather was the founder of Winters Bank. Todd worked in that building. The tall building to the left of the Winters Bank Building is the former Mead Building and I worked in that building. Mead Paper, which eventually became the Mead Corporation, was founded in 1846 in Dayton by Colonel Daniel Mead. His grandson transformed it into a massive pulp and paper empire.

The Wright Brothers are buried at Woodland in the family plot. The cemetery staff periodically collects the money left at Wilbur and Orville’s graves. These collected funds are pooled and used for the general upkeep and beautification of the cemetery grounds or put toward burial costs for indigent veterans.

Van Buren Middle School where my children attended 6th, 7th, and 8th grades and where I taught, closed its doors for the last time at the end of this school year. The building will be razed in November and a new middle school will be built at the high school campus. Last Wednesday was a final walk through for anyone who wanted a last look. My son and I went for a walk down Memory Lane.

In the early 2000s the school had a "Buy a Brick" fundraiser. The bricks were then placed in the sidewalk at the front of the school. Before the last visit, the powers-that-be had a mason dig them out and we picked them up during the open house. My oldest started school there in 1996 and my youngest finished the line of Householder kids in 2005.

A tidbit from the farm...Happiness is contagious and the simplest gesture can make the world of difference. There's always room for a little more kindness in the world 😊

happy tuesday!

You've heard of Sunday Funday?

Well here's Choose-Day Tuesday!

Make it a great day.

(PS...this goes for all the days of the week)

 

monday's mulling: little bumps in life

Last Thursday, I was heading to the farm for my morning shift. I had left the house five minutes later than usual, and what a difference those five minutes made. Traffic was heavier, especially where the road narrows to one lane in each direction about a quarter mile before the farm.

A few cars ahead of me was a driver causing a frustrating chain reaction: slow down, stop; slow down, stop. Then the car directly in front of me slammed on its brakes. I did the same.

BAM. (Dammit).

The driver behind me didn't.

We pulled off into the grass. I got out of my car and a young man stepped out of his. "Are you OK? Are you OK?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

He was clearly distraught, first because of the collision and second, he was in the middle of an Uber Eats delivery.

We exchanged phone numbers. His hand was shaking as he wrote and he told me he would send his insurance information as soon as possible. I trusted him. He seemed genuinely shaken and at the time I didn't feel it was necessary to call the police.

After about fifteen minutes we got back in our cars and continued on to our jobs.

I arrived at work five minutes late and told my co-worker what had happened.

The first thing she asked was, "Did you call the police?"

"No."

She gave me a look.

A little while later my boss arrived. I told her about the morning mishap.

"Did you call the police?"

"No."

She gave me a look, too.

That's when I started to worry. What if he won’t send the insurance information? What if the phone number was fake? What if the name he gave me wasn't real? He had seemed sincere.

Still, I believed he had given me genuine information. I chose to trust that he was a good person.

Two hours later my phone chimed. He had sent his insurance information. Shortly afterward his insurance company called. “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.”

Today I'm taking my car in to have the damage assessed. It's an older vehicle so I'm hoping replacement parts won't be too difficult to find.

But I suppose the moral of this story is that there are still good people in the world and every now and then a stranger may literally bump into you and remind you of that. 

farewell to spring, hello to summer

Yesterday was a busy yet fulfilling day. I spent time working at the farm, caught up on some journaling, and enjoyed dinner with my son. We shared a lovely al fresco meal on the restaurant's patio, enjoying both the food and each other's company. My cocktail, aptly named Cherish the Day, perfectly captured the spirit of the entire day.

After returning home and finishing a few chores, I stepped into the family room to close the blinds and caught the final moments of the sunset. A waxing crescent moon hung in the evening sky while Jupiter shone brightly above the treetops. It was a serene and beautiful scene, a perfect farewell to the last day of spring and a lovely segue to the first day of summer.

the river fountains are back

The river fountains are back for the summer! They made their debut on Memorial Day, and I can't believe it took me this long to make it downtown to see them. As always, they did not disappoint. The first whoosh started across the river and one by one the fountains sprayed their water into the river for their 10 minute show. This is my favorite summertime sight in downtown Dayton.

 

the friday feed: spicy sauvy b

I don’t follow platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, Snapchat, or YouTube Shorts, so I’m usually out of the loop when it comes to trends and viral content. As the younger generations say, “OK, Boomer.”

Last weekend, after Owen’s birthday party, after the sweet grandchildren had been fed, bathed, and tucked into bed, the parents and grandparents had a chance to relax after the whirlwind of kid commotion. Andrew, Patrick, and Todd each poured a glass of Scotch to toast Owen turning four years old. Jennifer and I opted for a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

Then Jen asked Andrew, “Do we have any frozen jalapeños?”

What an odd request.

According to social media, and confirmed by my son and daughter-in-law, Sauvignon Blanc with frozen jalapeño slices is one of this summer’s trendy drinks. Hello, Spicy Sauvy B.

Well, alrighty then. I’m always willing to try something once. I was pleasantly surprised, but I also wanted to know why it worked.

Research time.

One of Sauvignon Blanc’s defining characteristics is its herbaceous flavor profile. Think freshly cut grass, along with notes of green pepper, basil, and tarragon. The frozen jalapeños don’t introduce a completely new flavor profile as much as they enhance the qualities already present in the wine.

The initial peppery aroma was strong and overshadowed the wine’s grapefruity notes. With the first sip, the jalapeño flavor was noticeable but subtle. A few sips later, a slight warmth appeared, and surprisingly, it worked. The longer the jalapeños sat in the wine, the spicier it became, but it never crossed the line into being too hot to enjoy.

Verdict: I’d drink it again, occasionally. One glass was enjoyable, but if I were reaching for a second, I’d go back to Sauvignon Blanc without the jalapeños.

fifa world cup soccer

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup kicked off on June 11, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico serving as co-hosts of the tournament's first-ever three-nation edition.

Like the Olympic Games, the World Cup brings people together through a shared global experience that transcends cultural and political boundaries. Captivating billions of viewers worldwide, it extends far beyond sport, serving as a powerful platform for international diplomacy, cultural exchange, and human connection.

The tournament unites the world in countless ways. It fosters national pride, giving millions an opportunity to celebrate and express their identities. Fans wear their jerseys, sing their national anthems, and wave their flags with pride. Just as importantly, the World Cup creates moments of collective experience, whether people are packed into a stadium, gathered around a television, or watching from a town square halfway across the globe.

Football has a unique ability to connect people long before they share a language, culture, or common history. Through a simple game, strangers become supporters, communities come together, and differences give way to a sense of shared humanity.

The World Cup’s greatest contributions are not measured on a scoreboard. They are found in the connections it creates, the common ground it reveals, and the lasting sense of unity it inspires.

When we were in Cleveland last weekend the US Men's Team had its first match against Paraguay. After a long day of birthday party preparation, my sons, dressed in their USA jerseys, headed to a bar to watch the game which ended in a 4-1 victory for the US. The bar was packed cheering for the home team and when my boys returned home, their joy with the victory brought back so many memories of the years we spent on the sidelines and in the stands watching them play soccer.