Flowers Can Wait, They’ll Be Here Tomorrow

by Kevin Burton    Now flowers come from seeds. But flower etymologies come from every linguistic corner under heaven, ubiquitous as the flowers themselves it seems.    On a beautiful Spring day, imagine an average couple driving the highways and byways of the heartland in a beautiful 2012 Toyota. And the wife might say, “Do …

This Family Gave Up Furniture, Kinda, Sorta,

by Kevin Burton    How essential is having furniture, really? Could you go without it?    David Gladish writes in dwell.com that he and his wife Kristy got rid of most of their furniture in 2023 and almost never miss any of it.    I lived for a short time in Shelton, Washington while working …

Have An Oreo Tomorrow, But Call Your Dentist

by Kevin Burton     You will perhaps see a contradiction here, but show some moderation, show some discipline. Open your mind as you open your mouth.     I’m letting you know a day ahead of time, I’ve got your back.    Tomorrow is National Oreo Cookie Day. I have written about Oreos before (“The 110th …

Cat Earns His Keep By Doing Nightly Chore

by Kevin Burton    Ronnie, Lakin, call your office.    A very on-task and talented cat has gone viral on TikTok, brought to my attention by Melissa Fleur-Afshar, writing for Newsweek.    “A woman’s surprise at discovering that her cat had been routinely pulling down her kitchen window blind every evening, despite thinking her boyfriend …

Six Defining Traits Of Long, Healthy Marriages

by Kells McPhillips Fortune Magazine    Everyone who says “I do” hopes for not just a marriage but a great marriage.     They hope for a marriage that, according to Christina Eller, LMHC, a psychotherapist specializing in treating couples, is based on “a solid friendship where you’re nurturing each other and where you have high …

Endearing Facts About “Calvin and Hobbes”

by interestingfacts.com    Calvin and Hobbes has captured the hearts and imaginations of readers worldwide since its debut in 1985. Created by Bill Watterson, the beloved comic strip follows the adventures of Calvin, a precocious and mischievous 6-year-old boy, and his sardonic stuffed tiger, Hobbes.     Together, they navigate the challenges of childhood and family life, …

Boy Goes Blind Because Of Junk-Food Diet

by Kevin Burton     An 8-year-old Malaysian boy found out the hard way, the importance of a healthy diet.    According to multiple reports, the boy went blind suddenly one day while sitting in school. The boy was said to have had a diet consisting of only chicken nuggets, sausages and cookies, iHeart reported.    …

Catsongs: Music And Cats, Memories And Love

by Kevin Burton    Had I had the mind to write this while she was still alive, my late sister Pat would have loved this series.     It has been more than five months since she died, and reading that “late sister Pat” line above is still jarring and surreal. This is visceral.    Nothing …

Lessons In Life, Death And A Glorious Hope

by Kevin Burton    In a nursing home there is life and there is death. Both are palpable, as ever before. But in all our salad days, we didn’t notice.    We were young, we were strong, energetic and smart. We were even hip, and sophisticated – well not quite sophisticated – but surely driving …

Be Thankful To God, Stop Complaining

by Kevin Burton    I caught myself in a lie last week. Christmas music, in a manner of speaking, revealed it to me.    Stay with me here.    I have heard people talk about when it was OK to begin playing Christmas music each year, after Thanksgiving, end of November, whatever. But I haven’t …