Canyon De Chelly (pronounced Canyon Deshay) is a National Monument - part of the National Park Service. But the land is still Navajo. Within the Canon, and the Canyon walls, are the ruins of ancient civilization - both Anasazi, and Navajo.

“Dine’” which is Navajo for “The People” seemed appropriate for the working title of my newest book project, on the Navajo People. This post talks about a Navajo family to turned to ranching in 1978. But more specifically, they raise bulls for the rodeo. In recent years Freddie has begun turning the business over to his two daughters.

This post is the result of a piece that I had read, online, that sparked a grave concern - a concern that is not attached to any political affiliation…

I have noticed, probably for my entire lifetime - but, for the purpose of this writing, I would say: for quite some time;.[What] I have noticed is an aspect of our collective dialog that hints of a racism.

This morning, as I sat in my well-worn leather recliner, with the Calico cat laying across my left arm, and my right had writing thoughts in my journal - all of this part of my morning ritual when I am not on the road, I came to a stopping point. I sat for a few moments longer;

Unbeknownst to me, before working in Grafton, West Virginia, was that there was an actual place where Mother’s Day began. This is the story of that beginning, and the history that preceded it…

This morning, as I drove from Pittsburgh back to Grafton, West Virginia, I decided to get off the Interstate and explore the town of “Prosperity.” For decades the name has intrigued me - like so many other names of towns across America, with names that make a statement …

Just after I moved to Nashville, I became aware of the Waffle House restaurants. At first I considered them as a typical “greasy spoon”, but quickly came to realize that they are much more…