Archive for May, 2010
Are You Optimistic?
December 29th, 2009 by John Creighton in Dispatches
Tags: 2010, Citizen Centric, Culture-Structure
Americans agree the 2000s are the worst decade since World War II. We entered the decade with exuberance (though perhaps irrational). Now, many Americans are just plain worn out. Time Magazine dubbed the Aughts “The Decade from Hell.” The December 7 cover story details the all too familiar gloom. We began the decade with the most controversial Presidential election in modern times. The new day of infamy is 9/11. Stock markets, personal earnings and personal wealth are a shadow of [...]
Read more...Be Present on Christmas
December 24th, 2009 by John Creighton in Dispatches
Be present at our table Lord Be here and everywhere adored These mercies bless and grant that we May feast in fellowship with thee. Amen This is one of the prayers my family regularly said – or in this case sang – before our meals when I was a boy growing up. Prayers, perhaps especially for children, are sometimes no more than a set of ritualistic words. We don’t give a great deal of thought to their meaning. I have [...]
Read more...Most Viewed Dispatches for 2009
December 23rd, 2009 by John Creighton in Dispatches
Tags: 2009
I have enjoyed the opportunity to create content for The Washington Times Communities. It has pushed me as a writer and forced me to create more content striving to produce three Dispatches from the Heartland each week. I appreciate those of you who have checked out my Dispatches. I especially appreciate those of you who have taken the time to comment. It has been fun to engage with a national audience as well as old friends who join the conversation, [...]
Read more...Most Viewed Snapshots for 2009
December 23rd, 2009 by John Creighton in Snapshots
Tags: 2009
Thanks to everyone who took the time to read Snapshots in 2009. I am looking forward to adding to the collection of anecdotes in 2010. I have enjoyed reconnecting with old and new friends through these stories. Three of the top five Snapshots for the past year had a common theme – businesses that play a meaningful role in building community and lifelong memories. The other top posts celebrated the creativity of youth (who are bored) and reflected on saying [...]
Read more...#1 Snapshot for 2009: Tastee Treet
December 23rd, 2009 by John Creighton in Snapshots
Tags: Atwood, Business, Community, Summer
// I miss the Tastee Treet. My family and I went out for summer time burgers tonight. They were good greasy burgers from Five Guys Burgers. But our meal didn’t even compare to my memories of the Tastee Treet. My mom, Alec and I often ate lunch at the Tastee Treet on summer Thursdays when we were out of school and Dad went to Rotary. I always ordered a cheeseburger with ketchup and onions, fries and a chocolate shake. I [...]
Read more...