by Mark Patterson Legendary tight-rope walker Karl Wallenda, who took that deadly fall in 1978, once said: “Life is on the wire. Everything else is just waiting.” Had the then- septuagenarian been born a few decades later, he probably would have performed while wielding both…
……Mark your calendars for Nov. 18. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. the Department of Environmental Protection will talk to residents about the presence of “Forever Chemicals” in Chester’s water. Also known as PFA, the chemical is found in non-stick cookware like Teflon and other…
By Mark Patterson Calmly, I sized up the adversary before me. Several protective layers surrounded the targeted internals. Hoping for a quick, bloodless victory, I grasped my foe just above the neck and twisted. To no effect. More determined, I tightened grip on torso and,…
…….I do not like today. The “fall behind” with the clocks has always played havoc with “where am I and what time is it?” I know where I am for sure, but as a very scheduled person, I have to make hard decisions. I eat…
By Mark Patterson I don’t believe in happy endings, frisbee-shaped crafts speeding here from other galaxies, some fat reindeer jockey who gives a flip about my Christmas, nor that ever-popular protector in the sky-the one who moved heaven and earth (literally) just for the sake…
by Mark Patterson We stopped at one child, and that ranks, hands down, as the biggest regret of my life. I fervently hope that his mother suffers none of the torturous, self-inflicted guilt that faithfully visits me, usually late at night, when personal demons-the ones…
…….Last week’s column unleashed pretty vitriolic comments about my thinking on Freedom of the Press as it related to Jimmy Kimmel’s removal from late night television. I expected negative comments, but I expected those comments to be aimed at my words and the content of…
By Mark Patterson Visit any old-school barbershop and on handy display you’ll see an 1890’s looking fellow decked out in formal bow tie, form-fitting waistcoat, white riding trousers, and a (very tall) top hat. By all appearances the consummate man about town, “Clubman” clearly has…
Finding Joy in the Small MomentsBy Jeffrey & Mary Anne Woofter with assistance from Chat GPT One of the lessons Mary Anne and I have learned on this journey with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s is that life has a way of shrinking down. The big adventures,…