This led to the wonderfully slim, tall, and—let’s be honest—terrifying staircases that are now a hallmark of historic Dutch homes. They are so steep, they are essentially ladders. You don't walk up them; you ascend them with a silent prayer and the focused concentration of a seasoned mountain goat.

And after all that waiting, after all that silence, it feels like the simplest, most beautiful freedom just to sit here — cup warm between my hands — and watch the world go by

I lift it gently, leaf of flame, Its veins still whisper summer’s name. Yet in its gold, a promise clear The color season’s crown is here.

The story? Well, it involved the sheriff, a speeding ticket, and Grandma’s quick wit. Back in her younger days, Grandma had a lead foot and a fondness for open country roads. One spring afternoon

I used to ride through Boone with a helmet strapped snugly, pedaling at my own rhythm. Now I’m preparing myself for Amsterdam’s bike ballet — a choreography of speed, timing, and confidence. It’s intimidating, but also thrilling.

That night he scraped together 50 cents and paid the ferris wheel operator to leave them stuck at the very top for twenty minutes. He swore it was the best investment he ever made, because he spent those twenty minutes eating the rest of her chocolate from the basket and falling completely in love.

Not for gold, nor fleeting fame, But joy in simple things I claim. A charm of earth, both small and true End of summer, hope renewed.

The kicker? I had already boxed up half the pan and dropped it off at the office, where my coworkers were burning the weekend oil. By Sunday morning, the office must have sounded like a tuba section warming up.

The weather app said sunshine all day — the kind of day where cyclists stream by in sunglasses and the café patios overflow with clinking glasses.

Dutch can sound serious and guttural at times, but the more I learn, the more I discover these linguistic treasures tucked in between the hard consonants. Words that make me laugh, smile, or feel a little less alone.

But striding in with louder cheer, Chicken & Waffles draw us near. Crunch and syrup, spice and sweet, A carnival of clash complete.

Grandma won first place, the recipe card had been tucked inside her old romance novel, Hearts on the Prairie. She had underlined whole paragraphs of dramatic longing, but in the back of the book, right where the lovers reunited under the setting sun, was the recipe:

Dutch may have a reputation for sounding harsh, but I’ve found its vocabulary sprinkled with whimsy, cheek, and wit. Every funny word feels like a linguistic treasure — and a reminder that sometimes, the best way to learn a new language is to laugh through it.

aboard the Snefro Love Boat out of Sharm El Sheikh, where each morning began with sun gilding the waves and divers bustling to ready their gear. The Red Sea is a world of its own — corals blooming like underwater cathedrals, schools of fish shifting like living kaleidoscopes, the sudden flash of a curious turtle drifting by.

I kneel to watch their silent play, A kingdom hidden from the day. Each stem a story, soft and true, Mushrooms whisper what forests knew.

Tucked into the pages of an old medical pamphlet on “Healthy Eating for a Healthy Heart,” I found this card. Across the top, in her sharp pen strokes, it read:

From Boone’s helmets to Amsterdam’s freedom, the bike has always been my companion. And I can’t wait to live life again by the bike path — this time with the wind in my hair, and maybe a basket of fresh market tulips rattling up front.

So raise your fork, oh breakfast knight, For waffles win the morning fight. Their secret lies in pockets deep Where treasures of the table sleep.

I leaned over the pot to inhale deeply—really deeply—and my nose brushed the rising steam. Instantly, the sharp oils hit me like a lime-flavored wasabi bomb. I sneezed so violently that I knocked the cream pot sideways. Half of it sloshed down the counter, directly into the open drawer where my oven mitts live.

The recipe was pure Grandma: equal parts simplicity and danger. Chili powder, smoked paprika, a mountain of beans, and a commandment written in the margins: “Use fresh peppers only.”