Category: John Spevak

Every so often columnists need to write “feel good” columns so their readers feel good about life. Today I’m writing a column, dear reader, that should make you feel good about your life—at least in comparison to mine lately....

I am fortunate that my readers continue to connect with this columnist, so here are some more comments and questions from them. Dear John, I loved your column on “the simple life.” I laughed so hard, and it was so true of me...

I am strongly attracted to “the simple life.” That has been true since I was in high school and read an author who praised the simple life in his book “Walden.” The author, Henry David Thoreau, ...

According to the results of a recent poll by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation, Americans are losing faith in the value of a college education. Overall, according to that poll as reported by the Associated Press, only 36 percent...

Today’s column is a plea to all owners of dogs, especially big dogs, not to let their dogs run loose—knowingly or unknowingly — especially in residential neighborhoods. Longtime readers of this column may remember my writing...

In a recent column I wrote about Christopher Kerr, a doctor who is the director of a hospice in Buffalo, NY, and the book he wrote about end-of-life dreams. I focused in that column on the hope and meaning he gives to people at...

Readers of this column may remember that I planned to participate in One Small Step, an offshoot of StoryCorps. I would be having a conversation with a stranger from the Central Valley who was quite different from me but might...

The other day I had a conversation with college professors who teach English to community college students (as I taught English at the Los Banos college campus many years ago). I came away from that conversation thanking my...

Regular readers of this writer may remember several columns over the years in which I have praised walking. I still value walking, though I don’t walk as much, due to some arthritis in my hip. I’ve come across a new approach to...

Sometimes you can’t believe everything you hear or see. That includes a  notice that your flight has been delayed. Recently I learned that the hard way. Just because an airport terminal screen says a flight is delayed,...