Lyfting Me Up

About a week ago the meteorologists who occupy our various news stations, began the “Get ready its coming”—hype. Every day the drumroll for the possibility of something very normal happening inflates every news broadcast. I have a suspicion that what raises their ratings, is raising our anxiety over “when will it come, how much will… Continue reading

I have a confession to make. Today as I was making my usual Saturday morning drive to downtown Denver for a weekly meeting, I went channel surfing on Sirius. That is nothing egregious, however, my eye was caught by “Holiday Traditions” and I went for the bait. Mind you, I am the guy who goes… Continue reading

I am remembering a Pumphrey family ritual that took place the last week of October. The whole family would head out to the farming area east of Pueblo. It was time to pick out our family pumpkin, which would be transformed into a Jack-o’-lantern on our dining room table. This ritual was sort of a… Continue reading

I just spent three days at the YMCA Camp of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. To be there during the “Rut” in a place where Elk are more abundant that chipmunks, provides continuous entertainment. The picture I am sharing with you comes from a moment I had with the largest bull I have ever… Continue reading

Two days ago I became a “Great—Grandpa” for the first time. Now I always knew that I was great, this just confirmed it. I will say, of all my roles that I have lived out, being a grandpa is my all time favorite. Mateo’s oldest kid, Michaela and her husband Craig, welcomed Zealan Mateo Roybal,… Continue reading

The aging process sucks. I will reach for a word and somehow it is misplaced. If I wait a few moments, often my unconscious mind will dig through my synapses and find the name I had on the tip of my tongue. Most recently I was trying to remember the famous old Alabama football coach.… Continue reading

I was in the 8th grade when my mom came home from her Friday self-care day. She got her hair fixed every Friday at Crews-Beggs, which was the classic four story department store in downtown Pueblo. If you have ever watched the movie ‘Christmas Story’, the setting for the visit to Santa is its twin.… Continue reading

I admit I am a Baby-boomer Face-Booker. My participation in that world has provided me numerous connections and reconnects. Simply, the pluses far outweigh the minuses. Tomorrow when this blog posts, I will share it on Facebook. Every Sunday one of my first loyal readers has been my long time friend, Denny Shirm. This last… Continue reading

So last week I shared stories from my life in second grade. It opened the memory box of times with Miss. Hale. The story I am sharing falls in the category of a confession. I don’t think, when I did my 4th and 5th steps with my AA sponsor, that this ever made my list.… Continue reading

The first day of school was always a time of great excitement sprinkled with a bit of low—grade fear. There was the pride of having a new “Big Chief” tablet and perhaps some new jeans and tennis shoes, and the smell of the class room and meeting a new teacher and classmates. It was my… Continue reading