Introduction: The Shift From Big-Box Stores Back to Community Hubs Picture a typical Saturday morning thirty years ago. The situation was familiar to almost every American family. We would pile into the station wagon and drive miles down the interstate to a massive, windowless big box store. We bought our tomatoes in hard plastic clamshells. […]
Watching the Sunrise on the American Experiment I have sat on this same front porch for more decades than I care to count. I have watched autumn leaves fall, winter snows melt, and spring blossoms return to my quiet neighborhood. I have seen families move in and out. I have watched children grow up, move […]
A Warm Welcome to New York Harbor Hello, friends. I have lived in this beautiful country my entire life. From the rocky shores of Maine to the sunlit beaches of California, I have seen a lot of breathtaking sights. But there is one sight that always makes my heart skip a beat. It is the […]
The Magic of the Golden Gate Welcome, neighbor. Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. We live in a truly magnificent country. From the rolling hills of the Appalachians to the vast open plains of the Midwest, America is filled with wonders that can make your heart skip a beat. But today, I want […]
A Conversation on the Porch Hello there, friend. Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. Pour a cup of coffee and let us talk about something very dear to my heart. It is something that sits deep in the bones of every person lucky enough to call this country home. We have a vast […]
The Simple Magic of a Warm Crust I have lived in this beautiful, sweeping country for my entire life. Over the decades, I have seen our nation grow and change in countless, wonderful ways. We have built towering cities of glass and steel and laid down endless ribbons of highway that connect our coasts. Yet, […]
Gather Around the Fire Hello there, friend. Pull up a chair, grab a warm mug of cider, and let us sit by the fire for a little while. I have been blessed to call this great country my home for my entire life. I have seen the changing of the seasons year after year, and […]
The Heartbeat of Our Great Nation Hello there, neighbor. If you have a moment, I want to sit down and talk with you about something truly special. It is something that has defined my entire life here in our beautiful country. I am talking about ethnic neighborhoods. These are the colorful, bustling blocks where the […]
A View From the Front Porch Hello, neighbor. Pull up a chair and sit with me for a minute. If you spend enough time watching the world go by from a front porch anywhere in this vast country, you start to notice something beautiful. You see the true face of America. It is not just […]
Welcome to the Journey Hello there, friend. Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. It is a beautiful day to talk about the history of our great nation. I have lived in this wonderful country my entire life. I have seen our cities grow, our towns prosper, and our people overcome incredible odds. But […]