Exploring the Third Season of Life

Notes from Vanaprastha

Reflections on Faith, Nature, and Writing

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Decisions, Decisions

Decisions, Decisions

It was mid-January here at Vanaprastha when I watched the video. The temperature was moderate for a winter day. But the extended forecast called for snow, and comfort food was on my mind. “Hi, I’m Nica Waters, and welcome to Tasty Thursday.” That day, Nica showed...

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| Aug 1, 2016 | 0

Weeding

Weeding

At dawn this morning, before the heat of the day, I headed into the meadow in front of our house here at Vanaprastha. I wrote about the challenges of this meadow and ‘native plants’ in a post last spring. Ten days ago, the landscapers completed the installation....

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| Jul 25, 2016 | 2

Character

Character

Parents, teachers, and students gathered in the high school auditorium that Wednesday afternoon, May 14, 1969, for the annual National Honor Society induction ceremony. I’d been inducted as a junior the year before but otherwise didn’t have a clue why I was asked...

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| Jul 18, 2016 | 6

Point of View

Point of View

A wealthy landlord, Ximen Nao, is shot and killed by one of his fellow villagers as part of land reform after the Communist takeover in China. Ximen Nao sees himself as an honest, hard-working man, a good son, devoted father, a loving spouse to his wife and two...

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| Jul 11, 2016 | 2

Ditches

Ditches

One morning last week, Keith and I loaded the bed of the truck with a shovel, rakes, bush cutter, gloves, leaf blower, and ear-covers. We headed down the mountain road to pick up where we left off the previous week. The road is our lifeline so we clean ditches...

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| Jul 4, 2016 | 2

Perfect

Perfect

Have you ever had a 'perfect' waiter or waitress? “Mixed green salad? Perfect!” “Grilled salmon with capers? Perfect!” “Crème Brulee? Perfect!” Yeah, I know, ‘perfect’ is all about buttering up the customer for a larger tip.   I used to love being perfect. My...

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| Jun 27, 2016 | 2

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