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…

By MARY RICHE DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 1, 2022 — It’s not every day that a couple of septuagenarians marry, then return from their honeymoon to hear a lot of their friends saying, “We sure enjoyed your honeymoon!” Of course, I’m referring to readers of our social media posts who tagged along virtually, not in…

By Mary Riche  DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 22, 2022 — I’m voting for Deidre DeJear, and I’m hopeful she will be the next Governor of Iowa. DeJear has been endorsed by the Des Moines Register, however, her endorsement by influential Janel Tyler, a registered Republican from Des Moines and a group of Janel’s Republican friends,…

By MARY RICHE  DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 30, 2022 — “Do you play bridge?” she asked.  She thought I might be more available since I was newly divorced. “Not really,” I answered.  She suggested we have coffee instead, and that’s when Joy Corning and I began a special friendship that covered a lot of years,…