Now & Then by Lorna Marquardt

I grew up in the 50’s in Marion, population 1,118 at the time. Other than early childhood, parents of kids back then did not find it necessary to entertain them. I quickly learned that when I complained about having nothing to do; my folks quickly found enough chores to keep me busy all day. We were…

We live in the present, look forward to the future, but enjoy remembering the past. I don’t mind saying I am 81. I feel very blessed that I am able to share with you some of the memories I treasure. So many changes have occurred during my lifetime, most are good. I really did enjoy…

Did you know over 7 million Americans 65 years and older are living with Alzheimer’s Disease (the most common form of dementia)? Worldwide, over 57 million people are living with dementia. By 2030, the number is projected to reach over 82 million. Dementia is a term for decline in mental ability, such as memory loss,…

People spend their free time doing a variety of things; including gardening, running, biking, fishing, swimming, skiing, hiking, and so on. My hubby enjoys racing. He regularly attends racing at the Shawano race track on Saturday nights. He also likes watching Nascar. One of my favorite ways to spend free time is playing bingo. I…

Those of you who have lost a loved one know how difficult it is. Hubby and I recently lost his only sibling, his sister Dawn, and we also lost a dear cousin of mine, Lynn. Thank you to all who sent their condolences and also for the many words of sympathy and acts of kindness.…

Some people read a book to relax. Others exercise, and there are those who get a massage. How do you relax? For me, if I am feeling stressed or anxious, my therapy of choice is to write. Sometimes I just write random thoughts. I have written a few books, one children’s book and one about…

While growing up in the late 40’s and 50’s, I lived in a farmhouse in Marion. In the summer, our house got pretty uncomfortable at times. We did not have air conditioning. We did have a black metal fan. The downstairs bedrooms had screens. We also had a screen door. There were nights when we…

We recently returned from a wonderful time vacationing at our favorite place to visit, Deadwood, South Dakota. We traveled with our son Dan, our daughter-in-law Julie, their sweet little Shih-tzu Remy, hubby and me. Julie was our designated driver. She loves driving and does an excellent job. Son has a great deal of responsibility at…

Be back soon. Look for Lorna’s column next week!