FAFSA

I thought my FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) days were over, but this winter I helped two high school seniors complete their applications. One of the kids is my nephew (Manyu’s brother’s son). The other is the daughter of a friend. Much has been...

Turning 70 at the End of the Month

In preparation for my annual Canadian fishing trip, I needed to organize my fishing gear. I went into my garage to inventory my current supply of lures and jigs, only to discover that my tackle box was gone. I hadn’t used it or seen it since last October, and now it...

Old People in the Grocery Store

The older I get, the less tolerant I am of old people. Any empathy generated by my own mental lapses is more than offset by a serious case of curmudgeonliness. I don’t like the way some old people drive. I don’t like the way some of them remain in political office...

James and Asian American X (Part Two)

I committed a blog-writing blunder two weeks ago. In a hurry to get my weekly blog out on time, I posted a “Part One” without having written a decent Part Two. Last week when I tried to flesh out the second part, I came to realize that a followup piece was...

Manyu’s First Week Back

After three months in Taiwan, Manyu is finally back in La Crosse. This does not mean we necessarily see each other much. Because of jet lag, my wife’s sleep patterns are like someone on third shift. She falls asleep after lunch and gets up about the time I go to...
Steven Simpson