Well, the snow has finally arrived and most of us are already tired of it. For me it’s not so much the snow, but the cold weather I could do without. I actually enjoy the snow. Not only does it have its own beauty, but you can make things with it. Yes, I’m one of those dads that never stopped being a kid. If the snow is just wet enough, perfect for packing; I want to build a snowman or igloo even if the kids don’t. more

Most Tuesday mornings the sound that wakes me from my slumber is the rumble of a garbage truck noisily emptying the garbage cans in the neighborhood. more

Author’s note: In last week’s column, I made a major error. I mistakenly reported that the ADCO Building in the 900 block of W. Main Street had been destroyed in a recent fire. The actual buildings destroyed were at 419-421 W. Main Street. They housed a car collection, a tattoo parlor and was a residence. The loss of the cars and the business makes the loss more costly. This week’s column details the business in 419-421 W. Main Street. more

I first met Marley, a small white and tan doggie that resembles a retriever, a few years ago when her owner helped with our lawn. I thought she was sweet and well-mannered, a faithful and loyal dog. more

It’s just winter, people more

The house is a mess. We arrived home from visiting Emily over Christmas and her birthday, and of course, we brought back a ton of “stuff,” stuff that is now lying around. more

What I enjoy most about writing for the Sedalia Democrat over the years is telling the stories of the people in the area. That never gets old to me. more

Two pieces of Sedalia history were destroyed in the past few weeks. The response to these has to be different. more

Which musical composition has continued to be performed every year since its premier 283 years ago? My headline tells you the answer. It’s the “Messiah,” by George Frederic Handel. more

I write this in the quiet, on a dank, gray Christmas morning, made bright by the lights on a Christmas tree and by the thoughts of what is to come. Soon, everyone in the house will be awake, and we will begin cooking for the feast this afternoon. We began preparations last night, after the Christmas Eve church service and after a lovely get-together at the home of some of the church members who thoughtfully invited us to the festivities, but around midnight, we gave up the ghost. more

I get it. You’ve been force-fed Christmas songs for three months now. If you’re like me, you heard your first one of the season while scanning Halloween candy in the self-check aisle. I like Christmas music--but come on. Let me enjoy the fall holidays before I think about bells on bobtails or anywhere else. more

Christmas Eve is here, and it won't be long before many people start thinking about making a New Year's resolution. more

Earlier this week my kids beat me at poker. No money changed hands, other than colored plastic chips. But the bragging rights will last a while, at least until next December. Our college-aged kids taught us how to play Texas Hold ‘em this year. We ordered cheap pizza and listened to Kenny Rogers sing “The Gambler” while we played. more

Whenever I have told my grandchildren that my family did not have a television set when I was growing up, they look at me in disbelief. more

A poem by nineteenth century poet Emily Dickenson says, “Tell all the truth but tell it slant.” more

As we approach the end of the year, we typically display the best books of 2024 (according to Goodreads Choice Awards). They break down the top books for the year by genre, so no matter what kind of books you like to read, you can find the most popular titles. more

Damask tablecloths. Matching candles. Fine china. Perfect Christmas trees adorned with matching ornaments. Quiet classical music. Formal clothes and a formal dinner. Wine and cheese. more

I once saw a family photo zoomed in for an Instagram picture. The hashtag included live authentic, blessed, life is good, family first, and such sweet kids. Everything looked perfect; the family was nicely dressed, the tree looked beautiful behind them, and everyone was smiling. Outside of that perfect picture for Instagram, there was a child screaming and crying, a mess all over the place, and a curtain rod pulled down, among other issues. The picture did not match what was happening, and looks can be deceiving. Why do we feel we need to look perfect and try to impress other people? Why can we not just be who God created us to be? more

At the turn of the nineteenth to the twentieth century, Sedalia, the “Queen City of the Prairies,” thought highly of itself. more

If you want to get an older person talking, just ask them about their grandchildren. I have never met a grandparent who would not want to talk about their grandchildren. more