A toast to a brilliant man lost to Alzheimer’s and a life lesson from bowling.
Author Archives: Kat Stroppel
PNW mom and comms pro ... ditching perfection, celebrating life, finding joy in the journey and reminding myself daily to let it be.
The Dude abides
What Alzheimer’s and bowling taught me about living life to the fullest.
Reba’s legacy
My mother-in-law, Reba, was a pear-shaped Italian-American woman who was short on legs and long on patience. She wielded a wooden spoon with the skill of Rachel Ray, one of her favorite TV chefs, or an old-fashioned school matron depending on who was hungry or who needed a quick redirect.
A love letter for our 25th
I was 17 when we met. A small-town girl in the thick of the Heartland who was sick of the patriarchy, although I didn’t even know that word existed in 1988. David would be 18 and graduate from high school in a few months. And he was unlike any boy or man I’d ever met:Continue reading “A love letter for our 25th”
Senior year milestone: Photos
First senior-year milestone – senior photos. He loves campus, so Oregon State was the perfect spot on this October day.
All in a day’s work. Or is it?
I love working from home. I have a nice view of the trees outside my picture window, I can make my own lunch in my own kitchen. I can brew my coffee and sip it from my favorite mug. I don’t have to get up early, shower, dress, nag my 13-year-old to get dressed andContinue reading “All in a day’s work. Or is it?”
Paul Fitzsimmons | 1935-2007
Paul Fitzsimmons, a local farmer and father of three who spend his life dedicated to his land, his family and friends, died Saturday, July 21, 2007, at his home in Macon. Known for his love of the land, from which he made not only his living but also his life, Paul farmed and raised cattleContinue reading “Paul Fitzsimmons | 1935-2007”
16
You are awesome and you are loved, and although the world is sometimes dark and scary, you light it up for everyone who knows you. Happy 16!
Worries weighing you down? Adjust your load – and your mindset.
We all have things that weigh on our hearts. We can’t lay them all down; we need to adjust how we carry them.
Our Story of epilepsy
One family’s story of epilepsy diagnosis and surgery and lessons learned.
learning to fly 