Our American Heartbeat: Why ‘East of Eden’ Still Sings Folks, there are some stories that just settle deep into your bones, aren’t there? They whisper lessons you didn’t even know you needed, echoing through the years. For me, and for countless Americans, John Steinbeck’s masterpiece, East of Eden, is one of those stories. It’s traditions/why-barbecue-is-more-than-just-food-in-america/”>More […]
The Cryptic Code of the Founders Hello there, friend. Pull up a comfortable chair, pour yourself a warm cup of coffee, and let us talk about a piece of history that likely sits right inside your pocket. We live in a fast country. We are always rushing to work, hurrying to get the kids to […]
The Neon Sanctuary of the Open Road Have you ever pushed open the heavy glass door of a roadside diner at two in the morning? It is a profoundly welcoming experience. You step out of the cold, dark night and are greeted by a wave of comforting heat. The little bell above the door chimes. […]
Well, hello there, friend. Pull up a chair and let us talk for a little while. If you grew up in this beautiful country of ours, spending your summers camping under the vast starry skies or hiking through the cool, quiet woods, you likely know a certain familiar catchphrase by heart: “Only you can prevent […]
Saving America’s Living Icon Have you ever stepped out onto your back porch on a crisp, clear morning, looked up into the vast blue sky, and seen it? There is nothing quite like that unmistakable silhouette of broad, powerful wings catching a warm updraft, circling higher and higher above the tree line. There is a […]
When we think about the birth of our national anthem, our minds naturally drift to a ship bobbing in the dark, cold waters just off the coast of Maryland. We picture a young American lawyer named Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) straining his eyes through the dawn mist. He was searching for a sign of hope. […]
Springtime in America brings a certain magic to our neighborhoods. There is a crispness in the air, the dogwood trees are blooming, and the scent of freshly cut grass signals the end of the school year. As the weather warms up in May, you can walk down almost any suburban street and witness a familiar, […]
The Hook: A Blizzard on the Great Lakes The icy wind howled like a runaway freight train across the black waters of Lake Michigan on November 23, 1912. Freezing spray coated the rigging of the schooner Rouse Simmons in thick layers of heavy ice. At the helm stood Herman Schuenemann (1865-1912). He squinted his tired […]
The Simple Feast That Held Us Together Before smart screens dominated our evening hours and busy schedules dictated our every waking moment, the American Sunday Dinner was a weekly anchor. It was the one afternoon where the stove stayed warm all day long. The heavy ceramic plates were brought out from the high cupboards, and […]
The Blue-Ribbon Pride of Rural America Welcome, friends. Gather around the porch and let us talk about a tradition that beats at the very heart of our great nation. Long before theme parks existed, the American County Fair was the undisputed highlight of the summer. It was the sacred arena where rural families brought their […]