By MARY RICHE DES MOINES, Iowa, March 1, 2023 — I don’t have family dishes or silverware that were passed on to me by my parents. I was given a stack of sheet music, mostly hymns for the piano, because my parents Verda and Frank Riche witnessed music pouring out of me from the time…
By MARY RICHE DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 4, 2023 — I’m happy that the seasons change in this state, and I have spring fever. It’s that time of the year. I’m full of anticipation, even excited. I was thinking about that on a recent sunny morning, but still a cold morning, and here’s what came…
By MARY RICHE DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 19, 2023 — I love celebrating my birthday. And I like the pivot point of a birth date, giving me reason to reflect on the past year while dreaming about the year ahead. On my birthday in late 2021, there was absolutely nothing, not even a distant glimmer,…
By MARY RICHE DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 30, 2022 – My husband Chuck Offenburger and I received so many wonderful holiday cards, photos and letters with personal messages that, yes, it seems a bit lame to send holiday greetings and recap our Christmas travels and celebrations in a column. I’m hoping you’ll indulge me in…
By MARY RICHE DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 6, 2022 — These days, I’m moody as all get out. I’m probably cranky and no fun to live with, though my husband assures me otherwise. I’m frightened that I might be living in a state and country that retreat to values opposite of mine, after all the…