Author Archives: John Stampen

Halfway to a Hundred…Place your bets!

“Whew. Made it. Been climbing a long time. The view sure looks pretty nice from up here though.” “What’s that you say? “It’s all downhill from here.”” (Wiping sweat of my brow) “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” … Continue reading

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In-Between Days

This might be the strangest age yet. Too old to be young. Too young to be old. Somewhere in the middle, but likely closer to the end than the beginning. Kids moving on, but not unassisted. Parents mostly independent but … Continue reading

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Moving On

Our Mercury Zephyr station wagon was loaded up and waiting. My Dad put the car in reverse and backed slowly out of the driveway onto Columbus Drive using his side mirrors to see since boxes and luggage obstructed his rear … Continue reading

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Small Town Living

Living as an adult in the town you grew up in can be interesting.  Running into people with knowledge of some of your highlights and lowlights you feel a bit like the Wizard of Oz after Toto pulls the curtain … Continue reading

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Confessions from a back of the pack athlete

Over the years I have entered a lot of “races”. I put the word races in quotes because while other people compete for position or time, my “race” is to make it to the finish line before the event organizers … Continue reading

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A Sense of Place

“There it was, there it is, the place where during the best time of our lives friendship had its home and happiness its headquarters.” — Wallace Stegner (Crossing to Safety) For many of us the mere mention of a particular … Continue reading

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A Moment in Time When Everything Changes

“That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause … Continue reading

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Living on the Edge

“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can’t see from the center.” – Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. It is easy to … Continue reading

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It’s Complicated

When people ask me why I cross-country ski, which to date nobody actually has, my ready answer is “It’s complicated”. The complications start with my Dad who spent a few magical winters of his youth living in Norway after WWII. … Continue reading

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Life Goes On

“100 years from now? All new people.” – Anne Lamont The above quote is a useful and humorous reminder that we are all here for just a little while and contrary to how things may seem at times we are … Continue reading

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