Apr 5 2026

Susan Croce Kelly joins David Harrison and Friends at The Library Center on May 5

Hi everyone,

My May 5 program at The Library Center (6:30-8:30 p.m.) is 31 days from today. we’ll have about 123 entertainers on the agenda, ranging from 3rd grade students to well known singers, poets, and actors.

Here’s a little information about one of them, SUSAN CROCE KELLY. She will speak briefly about the history of Route 66, using her book, Father of Route 66: The Story of Cy Avery, for part of her text.

Susan Croce Kelly has been a newspaper reporter in two American cities, practiced public relations in the US and Europe, edited two magazines, written executive speeches, and authored three award-winning books. Two of those books deal with the early history of Route 66, which is celebrating a centennial this year, and made her an in-demand speaker on the subject.  She lives in Springfield with her husband Joel Kirkpatrick and their dog, Sunny.

Apr 3 2026

Poetry Month

Hi everyone,

Happy Poetry Month. This is not a Word of the Month poem. It’s just a fun little bit of a poem about something I saw in our bathroom. I invite you all to post poems at will this month. They don’t have to be Word of the Month. They can be about anything — serious, fun, verse, free verse. Tiz the season!






Thoughts on a Metaphor

On the floor beside the toilet,
the backup roll of paper tilts on the edge
of a too-small ceramic cannister.

Living on the roll is a spider,
tiny, slightly crab-shaped.
Sometimes I spot it 
as I stand seat-up,
it’s dull gray stark against pure white.

The current roll will soon expire.
If the backup goes into service
when my wife is on duty, 
she’ll squash the spider.

I reflect, it’s just as well
the spider doesn’t know
its life expectancy is dwindling
square by square of toilet paper,
to be determined by fate
of who sits last in judgement.

If this is a metaphor,
I don't care for the smell of it.

(c) 2026 David L. Harrison, all rights reserved

			

	
	



				
					


	

		
		

					
				Apr
				3
				2026
			
				


				
							

									Getting sealed in a time capsule
							

			


		

		

Hi everyone,





I have been given a 9″x12″ envelope that will be included in a time capsule to be buried on April 30 during the Birthplace of Route 66 Plaza Dedication Ceremony. At 4:00 that afternoon I’ll stand where the Colonial Hotel stood 100 years ago and read my poem to commemorate the occasion. Then, on the spot where the new highway was named, a time capsule will be sealed and not reopened for 100 years. I am honored to be given this opportunity to greet those who will examine its contents a century from now and two centuries since Route 66 first attracted the interest of our nation. I have until April 27 to decide what to put in my envelope. This picture of Sandy and me for sure!










What else should I include? My Route 66 poems for sure. I’m thinking about adding “My Book!” from Somebody Catch My Homework. That’s the one sandblasted on the Burton Barr Library in Phoenix. What else? I can only squeeze so much into a 9×12 envelope.  Sticking in a bio probably won’t mean much to people 100 years ago. Everything will be different by then. I might include two other favorite pictures.















I think I’ll write a brief letter to folks of the future. Not sure yet. What would you say to someone who will be reading your words 100 years from now? Hmm. This will be my third time to be sealed in a time capsule. The first is located at David Harrison Elementary School. In that one I included the speech I gave for the grand opening of the school. The second is in Phelps Grove Park and includes a copy of Cave Detectives, a book about a Springfield cave (Riverbluff Cave). I need to get seriously back to the gym. 






			

	
	



				
					


	

		
		

					
				Apr
				1
				2026
			
				


				
							

									Alicia Farris joins David Harrison and Friends at The Library Center on May 5
							

			


		

		

Hi everyone,





My May 5 program at The Library Center (6:30-8:30 p.m.) is 34 days from today. we’ll have about 123 entertainers on the agenda, ranging from 3rd grade students to well known singers, poets, and actors. 





Here’s a little information about one of them, ALICIA FARRIS. The painting that she will finish during the show will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the library.










Alicia Farris’ work, articles and interviews have been published in the Internationally distributed fine art magazine, The Art of Watercolour, in which she won first place in the International Reader’s Competition, Artists and Watercolor Artist Magazine, Plein Air Magazine and others.  She delights in teaching workshops both Nationally and Internationally and has earned signature membership in several National and International watercolor organizations.  View her work and story at www.afarris.com

			

	
	



				
					


	

		
		

					
				Apr
				1
				2026
			
				


				
							

									And the word for April’s Word of the Month Poetry Challenge is…
							

			


		

		

Hi everyone,





I hope Spring has arrived where you live. Around here the wind is doing it’s work, blowing pollen and dust everywhere. It’s the coughy-sneezy season. SANDY and I are both taking meds for the flareup in our sinuses. My thanks to all who joined the fun for Word of the Month for March. I’m about to delete your poems and comments to make way for your work in April. I look forward to what you do with the word for April.





Sneezing





All things considered, I say we go with WIND for our April word. I can’t believe we haven’t used it before. So blow and wheeze and cough a sneeze away, dear friends. Tie yourself down and get to work!