Lonny Cain

You could turn this into a party game: “You have 60 seconds to list what you would take in your basement during a tornado warning.”

It had to be years ago when I first heard someone refer to a vacation as an escape. It was clever and pushed the right buttons. I mean, yeah, taking time off is kind of an escape.

“We are the last generation of American children who will ever know what true boredom felt like. And that seemingly small detail may be one of the most significant losses in human history.”

We are surrounded by storytellers. All ages. Different agendas. We need to think hard about the story being told, especially stories that trigger us.

I think it’s pretty universal that people are cautious about trusting other people. So is mistrust a human nature thing? Is it instinct? Well, maybe. But perhaps mistrust is something we are taught at an early age.

The old adage, “You snooze, you lose,” still stands as wise advice, whether you’re talking about the last cookie in the jar or that job opening you’ve always dreamed about.

I was given this job in July 1948. You’d think I would understand the basic duties by now, right? This living life thing should be easy.

I do not have a sense of living through distinct eras. Most of it is a rapid, constant flipping of the calendar, month after month and year after year.

My surgeon expects my leg to recover after some physical therapy, yet to come. He did some scraping to give the nerve more room to heal and do its job.

I kept thinking about that moment when new life, soon to be crawling and climbing, meets a life that is shuffling down a slope in time.

Recently I had a curtain-opening experience after reading a poem that left me kind of excited. About breaking more rules with the English language.

I do love words, which is why I was fascinated by Anne Fadiman’s attraction to what she calls “four-dollar” words. However, I have spent too much time in the newspaper biz to share Fadiman’s word addiction.

Louie was about my age when he flew from his home in Caracas, Venezuela, to visit his cousins. They lived in the neighborhood and were part of the gang of friends who hung out together on weekends and summers.

Time becomes more precious, golden, invaluable, even sacred ... when you’re waiting.

Studs Terkel’s candid reflections capture a universal longing for dignity, pride and the need for every working person to leave something tangible behind.