LFS: The Storyteller

Not Your Garden Variety ANT Farm ©2019 by Lee Frederick Somerstein I had a most remarkable experience the other day, taking a tour of Windy Acres , a five-acre farm and sanctuary in Bellingham, WA. Windy Acres is no ordinary farm, or sanctuary for that matter. Its crop is growing healthier at-risk kids ages 6-18. Volunteers also help the therapists with veterans and seniors. Here’s another thing that makes Windy Acres special; the “therapists” are all animals. From the barn cat to the horse herd and a whole lot in between, these animals are improving people’s lives every day. From their Website: “Since 1999, Animals as Natural Therapy has helped thousands of people find healing through horses and other animals. Additional services include mobile therapy animals, leadership, anti-bullying workshops and team-building experiences.” Why Animals, you might ask? Their work is based on the knowledge that animals can reach a place in the human...

Do you remember when the car horn was a metal ring or half-ring inside the steering wheel of your dad’s car? If you do, you’re old like me. My dad’s car horn was in a 1957 Dodge Custom Lancer with a gold and white paint job. There was no shift on the steering column or on the floor. The automatic transmission was a series of big buttons on the dashboard to the left of the steering column. I borrowed that car late one Saturday night in 1962 – all 15 years old of me – and taught myself to drive. I was doing fine for about 20 minutes until I turned onto Elmont Road, just across the New York City line into Nassau County. After I made the legal right turn the light turned green and the next thing I see is a blue and orange Nassau County cop car right behind me. I panicked and with shaking hands immediately pulled over to park on the right. So did the cop. Yup That's Me  It was a costly misadventure. Besides the citation for driving...