Opinion

What a lovely gift, I said to just myself. A weekend away for my daughter and her man and I will take care of their ranch. I will enjoy so much peace and quiet and even get time to work on my next book!...

If I were a cleverer wordsmith, I am sure I could come up with the right phrase, or adage, to convey how a bad thing can turn into a good thing; how a misstep may lead to a better path. It is possible I’ll...

What a month! There are so many things that have to be done during this month. Of course, if you live in Gonzales, you know this is the month that the whole town turns out to honor the men and women who gave their...

If any of you readers have paid attention over the past few years, you know I do not include a lot of family stuff; we all have family stories, so my use of space in a newspaper as a journal about my family seems...

I just got back from my monthly trip to Home Depot. I can’t go more often because I buy things that require me to stop and put up a picture or change an electric outlet, and sometimes I just don’t feel like taking the...

When I was a very young man, I rode around with my dad as he went from field to field down in Santa Maria. It was just about my favorite thing to do. My dad was the foreman of a company that grew flowers...

There’s something about being an author that is very addictive. Sometimes you can be midway through the tedious proofing of a manuscript — most writers’ least favorite thing — and already be working on the plot for the next book. Sometimes — as is the...

California’s Central Coast and the broader statewide economy stand at the brink of a technological transformation driven by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, and advanced air mobility (AAM) technologies, such as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. These innovations, once...

Did you know that gratitude is often a forgotten factor in the science of well-being? Studies have shown that grateful people experience less depression and stress, lower blood pressure, more energy and greater optimism. Some cycles, such as the cycle of violence, need to be...

“We’ll be moving to Montana,” she said matter of fact. “How exciting, darling!” I expressed and, yes, it would be exciting for them. For me too, as I would have a new place to visit. I recall so clearly, when I moved to the Central...