Category Archives: fun

A museum adventure

January 29, 2021Columns, Family, funsusanmanzke

I loved going on school field trips, but I think this one was the most challenging of all.

Robby’s 4th grade class was going to the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum, in Neenah to see their antique glass paperweight collection. All those active children and all that glass made me nervous. Here’s what I wrote about that day.

Now I wish I had jotted down the lyrics to the songs the kids were singing on the bus. That would be fun to share today.

The boys were active as always, but we all survived and no glass was broken. Thank goodness.

A call from tomorrow

January 27, 2021Columns, Friends, funsusanmanzke

This phone call was the first time my pen pal Pauline and I ever spoke to each other. Up until then, we sent letters and a few tape-recorded messages.

Pauline’s call in 1985 took me by surprise. This column is what I wrote about it.

As a teenager, I remember waiting to find one of Pauline’s blue airmail letters in my mailbox. It was always a treat when one arrived. These days real paper letters are non-existent but we can still connect for free over the internet.

It’s wonderful to have Pauline as my friend. Messages from her, whatever the mode are always special.

Travel advisory

January 24, 2021Columns, Family, fun, wintersusanmanzke

It was a nasty day in 1985 but I didn’t stay home. Listen and hear what took me out on slippery roads that day.

These days I don’t venture out on slippery roads. It would have to be an emergency to get me moving.

I prefer to stay home and watch winter from a distance. The most I do is walk to the mailbox and the chicken coop and even on those trips outside I walk carefully so as not to slip.

Car-E the cat in action

January 21, 2021Car-E, cats, funsusanmanzke

I went fishing for cat by dangling a string and a pompom. The toy was hung from a stretched out metal hanger.

Car-E really enjoyed this homemade cat toy

And yes, that is me sniffling. I stopped the video so I could get a tissue.

This cat is full of energy, but he does cuddle, too.

Winter fun

January 18, 2021Columns, Family, fun, wintersusanmanzke

I was in my thirties when I wrote this column about sledding with three of our children. Sledding had always been a favorite activity of mine, too bad age has put that fun on the back burner for me. Just walking out for the mail is enough of a challenge for me when things are slippery.

I believe Bob only went sledding once with us. Getting up from the ground and then walking back up the hill was too much for him and his joints. When he did join us he preferred watching the fun from the car.

Still, I yearn for a fun swoosh down a hill.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person