Here at the Sentinel, we have experienced the loss of a dear, sweet friend. Our big yellow cat became very sick with bladder cancer, and the humane thing of putting him to sleep was the only choice.

* Sad News….Actor Ray Liotta has passed away. My favorite movies he starred in are “Operation Dumbo Drop” and “Field of Dreams.” * Passing this along… “I’ve been to a lot of places, but I’ve never been in Cahoots.

Dear Sentinel: It’s almost time to renew my subscription. Enjoyed the Cooper Barber Shop article, brought back many memories.

Gun violence and school shootings are a uniquely American epidemic. Sandy Hook Promise is shining a light on these vital facts and statistics.

* Okay, raise your hand if you bawled like a baby during the last few episodes of “This Is Us.” * I see a lot of MAGA hats and t-shirts, but I have yet to see a Build Back Better hat or shirt. * It’s time to make Kool-Aid ice cubes and drop them into your Sprite or sparkling water! * Just saying…..Movies have PG-13 ratings that state the movie may include strong language, extended violence or sexual situations or drug use that is not suitable for an audience under 13 as parental guidance so parents can determine if it’s appropriate for their children to watch it or not.

My older brothers are six and four years older than me, and I am five years older than my next brother, and then a fourth brother is 11 years younger than me. We love him and decided to keep him, even though he was an “oops.” I did have another brother two years younger than me who died when he was four years old, the evening before my seventh birthday. So many friends and relatives came to our house the evening my little brother died. I had two birthday cakes that night and got a shiny red tricycle that Mom and Dad gave to me as there were so many kids there. So as we are, there are five of us—two brothers older, two younger, and me smack-dab in the middle. (Think of an Oreo Cookie; then think of that sweet frosting in the center. That’s me.)

* I like the “Left” Twix candy bar the best. * At one time in the running of this year’s Kentucky Derby, Tessa, Trent and my horses were in first, second and third place! Wish that would have been how they finished.

Growing up “country bumkin” style, Part 2 When we moved out to the farm, 3-1/2 miles east of Goessel—I was one-year old—our house had running water at the kitchen sink and a big clawfoot bathtub on the second floor, but no other plumbing. There was a cistern just a few feet away from the kitchen door, and a pump to draw up the water.

THIS AND THAT Recently read this…. “Kansas U.S.

Some people were gifted with an amazing capacity of a memory bank. My dad has an incredible memory. He can tell stories of his childhood, and he’s about to turn 96. A number of years ago, I helped him publish his memories in a book for our family, and I was amazed at the details he remembers. Perhaps he kept all those memory genes to himself because really, none of us kids in my family can remember childhood to the extent and as clearly as he does.