In Plain Engel-ish

LOVE ME FOREVER Greenland has been in our news more than ever before. But it’s been political news, and Professor Engel is an English professor, not one of political science. Also, Professor Engel is not a fool. He would not be overtly political in his essays, in case they would alienate even one delightful reader. I am just happy all of us agree on the one most important point: that we can’t wait to hear what I have to say every other Monday. I know I can’t.  So, Professor E, get back to Greenland: now. The Greenland I mention here concerns...

Because my childhood years ended at the end of the 1950’s — I turned twelve in 1960 — I grew up with the first generation who had frozen foods in their home freezers. My mom was a great cook, so it was a rarity for her to reach into the freezer compartment of our Frigidaire for anything but ice or ice cream. Oh, and one time for my sister’s Snow White doll. I was experimenting to see if she would look even more beautiful with her head sprouting icicles. Not to brag, but I was 60 years ahead of Disney’s...

Most of us know that the dove is a symbol of peace.The reason can be found in the Bible’s book of Genesis, where the famous dove visited Noah with an olive branch in its beak, signaling the restoration of peace between God and humanity.  You might assume that the reason the dove also symbolizes love is just a fluke of the English language, since the two words rhyme. After all, there’s no expression exactly like “lovey-dovey” in any other language. But it’s not just about the rhyming. In addition to mating for life, their demonstration of love for their offspring...

As a kid, I was a fingerprint junkie. Once I learned that every person had unique prints, I studied mine intently with my magnifying glass and “Finger Inker” kit (fun to say with a Swedish accent).  It became one of many afterschool activities I enjoyed with my neighborhood friend, Andy. When you were as lousy in sports as we were, weird hobbies were good for filling that time when more athletic friends were engaged in football or basketball. When one of those friends broke his arm playing football, we shanghaied him into our fingerprint club. He was so bored that...

Shortly after moving into the first house I purchased, I was mixing samples of two different colored paints on a board to achieve the perfect shade of white for a touch-up spot on the wall. I stepped forward to apply it, paint in one hand, reaching for the ladder with the other and brush poised between my teeth. I tripped over the large wooden platform we’d just used to move some heavy furniture into the living room. Fortunately, I caught myself so I didn’t fall flat on my face, but the pointed brush handle poked the roof of my mouth....