Opinion

Dear Readers,

Dear Eric: My wife and I uprooted from our rural community and bought a home to be nearer our grown children who had both settled near the city. Soon after, our son and his family of four and a dog lost their housing as their rental situation failed after the landowner passed away.

Dear Eric: Over the past few years, more and more of my long-time friends have vanished from my life. One sent a message reading “I am retired,” and when asked how she was enjoying her retirement, sent the same message repeatedly as her reply.

Few embody the spirit of resilience and innovation like Honesty Beaton, a senior Computer Science major at Fort Hays State University (FHSU). A first-generation college student from Wichita, Honesty’s educational journey is a tribute to her determination, a shining example of what can be achieved when passion meets opportunity.

I know, Dear Readers, that a few weeks back I promised I would put a moratorium on my fixation with my ducks and my chickens and the plethora of critters ambling about my little patch of Kansas Countryside. I promised I would not share with you their trials and tribulations.

Dear Eric: I grew up with highly educated parents, with a strong work ethic. Because of my and my also well-educated and accomplished husband’s many years of hard work, we have been able to provide well for our children.

Dear Eric: I have been married nearly 35 years. We and my husband’s family all live a few blocks from each other.

I can’t be sure how things are in your neck of the woods, but the Annual Spring Burning is pretty much done around here. I did not get the chance to shoot farther down in the Flint Hills this year to watch their incredible conflagration, but I heard it was spectacular.

Dear Eric: Is it normal for an unmarried man over 60 to want a baby? Where should he look for a marriage-minded young woman willing to accept the age difference? How should he deal with the social stigma against May-December relationships?

Fort Hays State University (FHSU) prepares students to navigate life’s complexities by immersing them in an array of experiences that form the core of the Global Citizen Leader Program (GCLP). This pioneering initiative aims to cultivate engaged leaders who not only excel in their local communities but also make meaningful contributions on a global scale.