Listening in Silence

March 5, 2017April 25, 2020 ~ Kana Smith ~ 4 Comments

I've just been pondering what defines a ghost town. On paper, you'd probably consider Placerville Idaho in that category---it's down to thirty or so households from its 1860s gold-rush heyday of more than three thousand... Visitors can enjoy the sight of an old general store, saloon, and other mining-era buildings that now operate as summer-hour museums. … Continue reading Listening in Silence

Put it on a T-shirt: Klutz Edition

January 17, 2017January 17, 2017 ~ Kana Smith ~ 6 Comments

I'm not just a procrastinator; I'm also a total klutz. Some years back,my coworkers actually gave me a t-shirt that said "I do all my own stunts" after I fell UP an escalator at a professional conference. Yup, and that's me Sober... That awkward moment when you try to do something dignified and fall over... … Continue reading Put it on a T-shirt: Klutz Edition

Toothbrush Talk

January 12, 2017January 12, 2017 ~ Kana Smith ~ 2 Comments

Marital communication is one of those things that grows stronger with time and practice, and Jon & I have been at it for not quite a year... Still, one of our stranger strengths is evident at toothbrushing-time.... Our electric toothbrushes run for two timed minutes, during which time we can't speak without spraying toothpaste-lather, but we manage … Continue reading Toothbrush Talk

RV Wintering

January 1, 2017January 1, 2017 ~ Kana Smith ~ 4 Comments

I'm still learning things about RV living---the right things to do, the right words to use... Like the difference between "winterizing" an RV (getting it ready for winter storage when you're not using it) and actually WINTERING in an RV. Cliffs Notes version: Everything changes with the weather! We've had snow for weeks, and now … Continue reading RV Wintering

Death of a Salesman(‘s Commission)

December 19, 2016December 28, 2016 ~ Kana Smith ~ 12 Comments

We all know---don't we?---the demographic that comprises full-time RV-ers... They sport hearing aids and golf pants and live in Arizona or Florida half the year. Once again, it's time to challenge my assumptions. When Jon and I moved into this RV park in February, I was surprised to find two-thirds of the sites occupied by … Continue reading Death of a Salesman(‘s Commission)

A Sermon, A Spell

May 27, 2012May 27, 2012 ~ Kana Smith ~ 15 Comments

"She's not really mine to give away anymore," the bride's father said to me this afternoon, as we waited in the back yard for her to complete her transformation from jeans-and-flannel to white lace. "But I'd like to." Adding the note to my scribbled-in Baker's Wedding Handbook, I assured him with a grin that he … Continue reading A Sermon, A Spell

Past, President, Future

May 10, 2012 ~ Kana Smith ~ 17 Comments

Last week a time-warp descended on the State Park beside our house. Overlaid on the invisible borders of the frisbee-golf course, an army encampment of Civil War soldiers and camp followers sprang up, authentic in every detail (except, perhaps, for the general lack of dirt and grime). This group of history hobbyists pitches camp here … Continue reading Past, President, Future