The Gift of the Magi

The Gift of the Magi

The Gift of the Magi Hank Nuwer Christmas Day was both a special day and a day like any other for this professional writer. My wife Gosia and I are on a budget and so we exchanged gifts. I gave her “beautiful combs, pure tortoise-shell, with jeweled rims.” She gave me...
6 Months in Fairbanks: Guy Walks into a Bard

6 Months in Fairbanks: Guy Walks into a Bard

by Hank Nuwer My six-month anniversary starting work at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in Alaska occurs today. My cheechako moments still happen, and sourdough status still is far away. Like last Sunday when I went on a hike by myself near Angel Creek off Chena Hot...
Epitaph for a Writer

Epitaph for a Writer

By Hank Nuwer John Carlson started as a copyboy in the 70s at Muncie’s evening paper. Years later, gruff World War II veterans like Dick Stodghill asked him to bring over a coffee. But jokes aside, at a newspaper with many good writers, John was the best wordsmith. He...
In praise of a lone elm

In praise of a lone elm

by Hank Nuwer   Once upon a time, every hamlet in the American Midwest had an Elm Street. But around 1930, a blight came overseas from its origins in the Netherlands. Similar invasions of shade trees also destroyed that king of the forest, the American chestnut...
Santa is in the holiday spirit

Santa is in the holiday spirit

After performing Tues. morning for an audience of bussed-in schoolchildren, the cast sang a Christmas carol (with the kids) that raised the roof, and I (Santa) answered such sweet questions from the boys and girls. It looked like a fifth of the house or more had...