The Hale Family Weekly Update (6/07/26)
It has been a very good week for the Hale family—one of those weeks where life keeps you busy in all the right ways. Between doctor visits, tinkering with my new website, and getting a much-needed haircut (because Lancaster deserves my best appearance), we’ve stayed on the move.
I’ve also been enjoying two books written by friends right here in our community: The Life and Legend of Turkey Pete by Joy Morris and Leavings, a thoughtful book of poetry by Stephanie Kay Sugioka. Both are excellent reads, and I highly recommend them—no, I’m not on commission, just a satisfied reader.
I came across an article in Time magazine titled “5 Ways to Get More Out of Your Daily Walks,” and one statistic really caught my attention: apparently, walking about 8,700 steps a day can reduce your risk of dying from any cause by 60%. That was enough to make me lace up my shoes a little tighter and head out the door. I have attached it for you, if you are interested.
Monday got us off to a productive start. I had an early call with Nicole from GoDaddy to fine-tune the website—goodbye spinning carousel, hello user control. We also had dental visits (a modest $600 outing), including a new screening for oral cancer. Thankfully, all clear. We celebrated our good health with a beautiful walk along the Matteson Trail, followed by some guitar practice, dinner with Betty, and Bible study, which is always interesting.
Tuesday began bright and early at Greene’s Barbershop. I had the place all to myself—just me and Staci, who kindly restored order to my hair situation. Later, Jerilyn had eye injections (not her favorite pastime), and I made a quick stop to reclaim a $159 dental overcharge—always satisfying. The afternoon included yoga for me and a small handyman victory fixing Betty’s patio hose.
Wednesday kicked off our Lancaster adventure. We boarded a large bus bright and early and arrived in Pennsylvania ready to explore. That evening included a delicious dinner and a lively performance of All Shook Up at Dutch Apple DinnerTheater. We made it to bed around midnight, happily worn out.
Thursday was a full day of sightseeing: a tour of historic Lancaster, a visit to President James Buchanan’s home, and lunch at Southern Market where we discovered that one Detroit pizza can easily feed a small village. That evening, we attended Joshua at the Sight & Sound Theater—an impressive production—and enjoyed yet another hearty meal at Hershey Farm Restaurant.
Friday wrapped up our trip with a visit to an Amish farm and some shopping at Kitchen Kettle Village. I had a caricature done and apparently, I haven’t aged a day in five years—according to the artist, anyway, and Jerilyn and I shared a classic lunch of soft pretzel and ice cream. We returned home tired but full of good memories.
Saturday brought us back to reality with a few practical matters—namely, depositing estimated taxes (always a humbling experience). I also performed minor surgery on our trusty Samsonite suitcase using JB Steel Stik; it now sits proudly repaired and ready for our next trip. Debby stopped by for a visit, followed by a Kroger run (a weekly tradition normally done on Fridays around here). I also ordered a replacement speaker for my guitar practice and admired our newly clear Reflection Pond—soon to be restocked with goldfish, much to the delight of local wildlife.
Sunday included church at Tabernacle UMC—at the later hour, which gave us a chance to see some different friendly faces. Sally will enjoy her weekly spa treatment at AutoBell, and later today we’ll likely pick up ten goldfish for the community waterfall. I’m hoping our next-door neighbor (Jack) can go with us – he’s in charge of fish security 😊. Subscribers to the “Tadpole” newsletter will receive timely updates on their progress.
Based on past experience, the fish will enjoy a peaceful four-month stay before becoming part of the neighborhood food chain—nature’s version of “short-term rental.”
We’re finishing the day with an early Father’s Day dinner with Dean and Tiffany, which is especially kind of them. That leaves Father’s Day itself open, and I’m hoping to spend some time with my daughter Debby then.
All in all, a full and happy week—just the way we like it.
I would like to finish by bringing a smile to your face:
- You’re not fat! C’mon, chin up…No, the other one!
- Don’t teach your children to chase money. Teach them to seek happiness. Then they’ll understand the value of things, not the price.
- Eat your food as medicine, or one day you’ll have to eat medicine as food.
- People who truly love you won’t leave, even when they have every reason. They’ll always find a reason to stay.
- There is a big difference between being human and being kind.
- If you want to go fast — go alone. But if you want to go far — go together.
As always, we are grateful for the many blessings of this past week and for the friends and family who make life so meaningful. We hope your days are filled with good health, a bit of adventure, and plenty of reasons to smile. Until next time—take care and keep moving forward, one step at a time…Tommy