Author Archives: Marty Ryan

No Comprendo!

“Get your number two pencils out. Nothing else, just your number two pencils.” At that point the nun teaching the class would go to the child who was never prepared for anything and take away his ink pen, or other … Continue reading

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A Retired Ritual

Some traditions vanish before you think to tell your children about them. On the other hand, I doubt very much that my children or grandchildren would be interested in hearing about the anachronistic ritual of a chivaree. [Alteration of the French word … Continue reading

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First Book Report in 60 Years

Book reports are something for grade school students, specifically seventh and eighth-graders. The last book report I probably wrote was about a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I had checked a book out of the St. Ann’s Grade School library … Continue reading

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By the dawn’s early light

The Iowa Legislature is often a source of frustration and agony for many who follow the process, and particularly for those involved in the process. But it can also be a source of great entertainment as long as you don’t … Continue reading

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The Grace of God

The Des Moines River flows about a third of a mile east of our house. Between the house and the river is a street, a recreational trail, and a levee. On the other side of the levee is a housing … Continue reading

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The Blizzard of “75”

We just went through a blizzard earlier this month. I read several comments on X [Twitter] and Facebook reliving ‘the Blizzard of (fill in the year).’ The “Blizzard of 75” is most prominent in my memory. It hit Omaha and … Continue reading

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