My Portfolio

There’s a dead bird in my freezer: a woodpecker, to be exact, Downy, female, just a slight young thing that thought my sliding glass door was something to fly through. She must have hit the glass full tilt. By the time I noticed her on my back steps she was on...

We’re going under the water now; I’ve got you.”  The words "I've got you" seemed a bit superfluous, the little girl was clinging to me, her swimming iunstructor, like a leech. She began protesting—loudly. “That’s good,” I commented. “But when you’re  underwater, you’ll need to close your mouth. You can cry as much...

I graduated from College in June of 1959.  I looked for a job teaching school and was turned down a few times.  one interview I had asked what I would do about the lock step in reading and I had had now idea what the term lock step even meant so...

I graduated from College in June of 1959.  I looked for a job teaching school and was turned down a few times.  one interview I had asked what I would do about the lock step in reading and I had had now idea what the term lock step even meant so...

On the road…again!Afghanistan to ZambiaChronicles of a Footloose ForesterBy Dick Pellek    Lobbying To Be Jury Foreman   An anarchist like the Footloose Forester does not like to take orders or give orders, so most times he stayed in the background and lived his life as a lone wolf who was...

When I started looking for ancestors I had no idea I would end up finding so much more.  It is my niche in the world, I decided, to find ancestors.  I get a feeling for what kind of family I am looking for and where they might go next.  Sometimes it...

On the road…. again! Afghanistan to Zambia Chronicles of a Footloose Forester By Dick Pellek   Reading The Fine Print   We all know that there is going to be fine print in contracts and agreements.  For the most part, the fine print protects the other party from unnecessary lawsuits, in...

My great grandfather George Albert Anderson was a pioneer of the transportation industry in Boston in the early 1900's.  He lived in Maine - born and died there - and always listed on the federal census for his hometown in Maine.  On the census report his occupation is given as Conductor...

With Denmark Green Card, popularly known as Danish Green Card, Denmark Immigration has made easy for foreign nationals to migrate to Denmark. It has been made easy by Denmark Immigration for immigrant enthusiasts to migrate to Denmark. This was made through Denmark Green Card. Features of this program are salient and...

Learning to Play   “You should come down and play Scrabble with me some evening when your kids are away,” she urged. “It’s easy. I’ll teach you.”   I had never been one to play with words. Read, yes, but I never did crosswords, jumbles, or any other puzzles that required...

Learning By Example Growing up I always had my Mom and Dad in my life. They were two pees in a pod. Was that pod perfect, no but it was all I knew. I learned how other parents treated their kids when I would spend time at my friends homes. I...

  On the road…again!Afghanistan to ZambiaChronicles of a Footloose ForesterBy Dick Pellek   Not A Notebook, Exactly…But It Does Note Something About The Past   As a way to share news with family and friends, some 25 years ago the Footloose Forester started sending out semi-annual Newsletters to them.  He kept...

When I was 5 years old, my family and I lived on Post, as they say in the Army, in Arlington, VA. This was my first memory of living on Post, as I was the youngest of 4 girls. I really loved having so many kids available whenever there was playtime...

While serving in the Navy, one of my assignments took me to Jedda, Saudi Arabia, near the Red Sea.  I was the detachment Aircraft Maintenance Officer and we were housed in a beautiful local hotel on one of the upper floors.  We would leave very early in the morning and drive...

On the road…again!Afghanistan to ZambiaChronicles of a Footloose ForesterBy Dick Pellek   Aroma Therapy   About a decade ago, the hip, the yuppies, and the avant-garde community came up with the commercially salable idea of aromatherapy.  Most big shopping malls in major cities now have at least one kiosk or boutique...

On the road…again!Afghanistan to ZambiaChronicles of a Footloose ForesterBy Dick Pellek   Ronny Taught Me How To Throw A Curve Ball   Ronny was the oldest of the children in the family.  He was the quiet type.  His actions spoke louder than his words.  Whereas there are some personality types who...

Ask anyone who in their family maintains the family tree and takes the pictures at reunions and celebrations. Without hesitation, "Oh, that's my niece" or "My sister does all that". These remarkable people are the heart of every family, StoryKeepers  who preserve and manage centuries of family history that can inspire...

Let me take you on a summer ride in the countryside. Imagine traveling down narrow roads that roll up and down green hills and snake along blind and winding turns. Picture passing cow pastures, corn and soybean fields, majestic horse farms and sweeping thickets of old, deciduous forest. Maybe you occasionally...

On the road …again!Afghanistan to ZambiaChronicles of a Footloose ForesterBy Dick Pellek A Short Botanical History Of Home We youngsters might have taken the trees for granted when we were very young, but as we grew older those trees around the house became keepsakes.  The old Pellek homestead on Church Street...

Our Sweethearts for February are Lynn and Maurine Stewart.  They were married on September 27, 1950, some 63+ years ago.  Lynn wsa born in Milburn, Utah and Maruine was born in Fountain Green, Utah.  Her family moved to Moroni when she was five.  Lynn is 85 years old and Maurine is...