MY SWEET SADIE Happy Birthday to my sweet Sadie. You know I love to write short little poems and stories for and about you and your little family.

It’s a lot easier to talk the talk than it is to walk the talk. Generally we might have a lot to say about an issue or an action, but until we put our shoes on and actually do what we are talking about, our words can be pretty hollow. If we don’t prove it by our actions, we don’t truly mean it.

THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT HAN SOLO * I love all things Star Wars in the first trilogy of movies and have written a couple editorials about the films and characters. But here are a few things I bet you didn’t know about one of my favorite characters, Han Solo! * In George Lucas’ original script of “Star Wars,” Han Solo was not the square-jawed, human scoundrel, but instead he was a green swamp-like creature from the Alien race called Ureallians.

I am continuing this week with just a few more of the 455 new words added to Merriam-Webster Dictionary. You needn’t worry... I won’t mention the whole lot of 455! But before I review the words, I asked the folks at Merriam-Webster: How does Merriam-Webster decide what words to include in the Dictionary? And they said: This is one of the questions Merriam-Webster editors are most often asked. The answer is simple: usage. To decide which words to include in the dictionary and to determine what they mean, Merriam-Webster editors study the language as it’s used. They carefully monitor which words people use most often and how they use them. So keep that in mind as we take a look at some of the words that you may or may not have heard in conversation.

* With the passing of Sidney Poitier there will be a small tear in my heart. I love, love, love the movie “Lilies of the Field,” and one of the most classic songs in all of cinematic history is from his movie, “To Sir, With Love.” His list of movies, as well as the ones he has directed, is legendary, not to mention the fact that he was one fine looking man.

New words to add to your language I always enjoy seeing what the new words are that will be added to our dictionaries. In its 2022 edition, Merriam-Webster (MW) has added 455 new words and definitions! Wow! Some are slang terms, while others are words that seem like they should have been added long ago.

Dear Stockton and area residents: On January 3rd, 2022... our daughter and her family's lives were changed in just a moment! Like many other families who lost their entire homes, farms, ranches and personal belongings during the tragic recent fires in our area, our daughter's home and all their personal belongings were totally destroyed by a "surprise fire" which raged through their house in rural Alton! BUT....HOPE was not destroyed!! On behalf of my wife and I plus our daughter and her family, Kendra and Clayton Yoder, we want to give a HUGE THANK YOU to the Stockton Fire Department, Alton Rural Fire Department and Osborne County EMS and their amazing volunteers who helped fight the fire for hours and who risked their lives to salvage what could be saved! While some of these brave men and women were battling a raging fire on the second story on one side of the house, others were on the other side of this historic home....

KOBE BRYANT’S LEGACY Most people know that I don’t watch a lot of basketball. But what I have done over the years is follow a handful of basketball players throughout their career.

While every new day should be celebrated — if only for the sheer privilege of waking up to see it — there are some days that are even more special than you might know. For example, I hope you all spent some time just this Tuesday, the 11th, cleaning off your desk, as it was “National Clean Off Your Desk Day!” I tossed a few loose paper clips in the container where they belong and placed a half-dozen ink pens in the cup where they should be when not in use.

* I am going to take away some of the power of the pandemic by writing Covid-19 instead of capitalizing the entire word. * That Christmas Crack toffee everyone loves is not just for Christmas! I read where you can make it for Valentine’s Day using red and pink sprinkles on the top, and change it up by swapping out the saltines with Ritz crackers! And maybe even add a little peanut butter! * February 22nd, 2022 (2/22/22) lands on a Tuesday this year! * Stockton PRIDE is looking for energetic volunteers to help with the events the organization hosts throughout the year.