What Defines “Adirondack”?
The original version of this story 1st appeared in the June 17, 2021 on-line edition of the Adirondack Almanack I had an interesting conversation with my brother a while back in camp. It began innocently enough, with an observation he made about the difficulties the Saranac Lake Elks...
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April’s Promise
An SLHS ’81 Classmate Collaboration By Jackie Ely & Dick Monroe (With a cameo assist by Karen Barrow Pittman) Winter’s Long March Behind Me Birch Trees Framing My Thoughts Sitting Alone in a Park Contemplating Ice-Covered Mountain Lake Waters Quietly Waiting for Spring (And waiting…and waiting) Soaking In April’s...
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Drummer’s Debut
I’m not sure what made me choose the drums over other instruments. My first real musical influence was listening to my parent’s vinyl recording of the music from “Jesus Christ Superstar”. I learned all the lyrics by heart to every single one of those songs. I even learned to...
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Bedroom Window
I awoke to the sun. Its warm morning rays gently knocking on my bedroom window. I sat up, yawned and stretched, kicking back my hand quilted comforter. I looked out from my second story vantage point across Stevenson Lane to the day. To my left was Carpenter’s...
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Outlawed Athletics
Cancel Culture Censorship’s Efforts to Erase an Era So here I am, an Adirondack Outlaw, on the lam once again. Living in the day I am in, sharing life’s memories, staying true to myself. A proud Saranac Lake Redskins alumnus, for as long as I live. *********** Until Our...
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An Adirondack Engagement
Author’s Note: This story appeared in the June 8, 2021, online edition of The Adirondack Almanack. ********** I remember our orientation day visit to Paul Smith’s College with our son RJ as he prepared to enter his freshman year as a Wildlife Sciences major there. It was August...
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Memory Lane
“Totally Adirondack – Totally Outlaw – Totally ’80’s” Saranac Lake’s 2022 Winter Carnival was great fun. A “Totally ‘80’s” trip down memory lane. ********** My wife Robin and I had already had great fun driving over together to enjoy Winter Carnival. We toured the Ice Palace. I went...
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Postcard Picturesque
Small Town Life Adirondack Captured on Camera An SLHS ’81 Classmate Collaboration Featuring Photography by Jackie Ely Author’s Note: This story appeared in the January 14, 2022, edition of The Adirondack Almanack. Jackie’s photography proved to be extremely popular. Gaining 371 Facebook shares in a little over a...
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Raising A Glass
Celebrating my Adirondack Bottle Diving adventure forward into 2022 This past year brought what appeared to be an exciting culmination point in my three- year Adirondack bottle diving adventure. First, I discovered a one-of-a-kind vintage Saranac Lake “F.M. Bull” glass & wood stopper pharmacy bottle. Then, Historic...
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What’s In a Gnome?
Author’s Note: This story appeared in The Adirondack Almanack’s November 18, 2021 online edition. Early one fall, several years ago, my wife Robin & I were planning our Christmas gift shopping list. We asked my mom, who lives with us, and has everything; “Mom-What do you want for...
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