Upside down world: “If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn’t. And contrary-wise; what it is wouldn’t be, and what it wouldn’t be, it would. You see?” — Alice, of “Alice’s...
On words: If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers. – Doug Larson, newspaper editor and columnist Over the July 4 holiday, with many grandchildren about, it wasn’t uncommon to hear the bedtime parental...
Homestead: The home and adjoining land occupied by a family; the ancestral home. – Merriam Webster Dictionary Side by side for 100 years, they weathered whatever South Dakota dished out. Because of their advanced age and for hitting the century mark together, it...
Drought: A period of dryness especially when prolonged; specifically, one that causes extensive damage to crops or prevents their successful growth. – Merriam Webster Dictionary The sound startled me. It was late afternoon, and I was catching up on some bookwork...
Summer reading: “One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by.” – Jeannette Walls, “The Glass Castle” Looking very un-cowboylike in his 10-gallon hat, the president seemed both delighted and horrified when the bulldogger wrestled a steer...
Turnpike: (1) A road, such as an expressway, for the use of which tolls are collected. (2) A main road, especially a paved highway. – Merriam Webster Dictionary Yet another study says larger vehicles are safer on the highway. If true, then I need to make a trip...
Meander: To proceed by or take a winding or indirect course: The stream meandered through the valley. – Dictionary.com How appropriate that the description for public water in South Dakota includes “meandering” in the legal definition. For decades, the dispute...
South Dakota Hall of Fame: Established in 1974 to recognize and honor those individuals Championing a Culture of Excellence for all of South Dakota. It was called a “liar’s tax” and for good reason. People — not you, of course — but perhaps your...
Memorial Day: The last Monday in May that is a national holiday in the U.S. honoring members of the armed forces who died in wars. — Merriam Webster Dictionary A tall, metal arch with lighted brick pillars on each side guides visitors down the walkway to...
Progress: A movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage: the progress of a student toward a degree. – Dictionary.com About 8,000 South Dakota public high school seniors are walking across the graduation stage this month to applause, whistles and cheers....
