Category Archives: Family

Oh Captain, My Captain … Kangaroo

February 24, 2021Columns, Family, funsusanmanzke

Most celebrities I will never get to meet. But in 1987, I met a television celebrity in Green Bay, Captain Kangaroo.

It was a breakfast for young children, but many parents came because they grew up watching Captain Kangaroo as I had.

This column is about seeing a visiting celebrity.

Of course, Captain Kangaroo is gone from regular TV but the shows and clips can be found on youtube.

Captain Kangaroo is behind friend Michael, Russel is in blue, and Rachel is far right

Thank you Bob Keeshan for 29 years of fun for children, starting in 1955.

Inventing a day to celebrate

February 23, 2021Columns, Family, fun, Odds and endssusanmanzke

I get an email every day from National Day Calendar telling me what is celebrated today. BTW: Today is National Dog Biscuit Day.

This column from 1987 talks about other days of celebration.

I think my dog Sunny and his canine friends invented National Dog Biscuit day! Sunny wants to celebrate by eating treats all day long.

A family story that still makes me smile

February 21, 2021Columns, Family, funsusanmanzke

Life on Sunnybook Farm has been documented in my column for over 40 years.

This story from 1987 brightened my day when I came across it in my archives. Poor Rob was completely shocked by what his little sister did, or thought she did.

I hope you enjoy it, too.

I cherish this family story and think how lucky I am that my column helped me save it all these years.

Suggestion: write down one of your own family stories today.

Dad’s funny story retold

February 20, 2021Columns, Family, funsusanmanzke

My dad told all kinds of fun stories about his life. This is one of my favorites. If you want a laugh listen.

I asked him to tell this one over and over again.

You can see how I took this story and fictionalized it in my novel, BARLEY SOUP AND SLUG SPIT.

I also have copies to sell and they are for sale at Sissy’s, too.

Lights that brighten a winter

February 19, 2021Columns, Family, funsusanmanzke

Northern lights are awesome, but you can’t always see them, especially if it’s cloudy.

These winter lights are different. Just take off your sweater in a dark room and they will capture your attention, too, especially if you then touch a light switch.

This 1987 column talks about the times our children zapped each other using these lights.

Sometimes after my cat leaves my lap, Car-E also leaves a charge of static electricity. I think we both get zapped at these then, which is not fun for either of us.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person