15 September 24

The second day for celebrating Wilma Wollenweber's 95th birthday featured an excellent family dinner at Outback Steakhouse. Twelve adults and seven kids shared good food and conversations! Later a bunch of us went to Lake Reba Park for some photos, walks and talks. And of course my tie is another of Mom's flowery favorites!

9 August 22

Way back in 1975 on this date, Beth and I got married (at 2:30 p.m. CDT, in Wheaton, Illinois)! We chose my teal/blue flowers tie for today because it reminds us of the floral design on the dresses worn by our bridesmaids and flower girls.

9 February 22

Since 2009 I've honored my sister's birthday every year with her choice of my ties -- and this is the first time she's asked for a repeat! Gloria Huizenga lives near Philadelphia, after braving many winters in Houghton, New York. Severe storms in the last few winters have provided several feet of ice and snow, and Glo has often longed for the milder weather of spring and summer. So I'm happy that she requested this tie with teal flowers. Happy Birthday, dear sister Glo!

18 October 21

When I asked Beth to help choose a tie to symbolize "stress relief" -- the scheduled topic for my Honors Freshman Seminar class today -- she suggested these teal-and-blue flowers. I thought that was an excellent choice. This morning brought some sudden extra stress, when the Counseling Center staff told me that they would not be able to meet with us! This news arrived just before my Beginning Ethics class, while I was also working on a question about the Blackboard system (my main job). So I got to practice my own personal stress management skills, looking at my tie, taking a deep breath and figuring out how to alert the students that we would not be "Zooming" today but would meet in our ordinary classroom . . . and we'll have our online class about stress relief next week!

9 August 21

Today Beth and I are celebrating our 46th anniversary of our wedding in Wheaton, Illinois. We lived for one year in Madison, Wisconsin, and ever since we've been in central Kentucky. We chose this tie for me to wear today because the blue and teal colors remind us of the flowers on the dresses our bridesmaids wore and of the flowers in their bouquets.

8 April 21

 Today is Hana Matsuri, a Buddhist flower festival in Japan. I'll take all sorts of excuses to wear floral ties! Our apple trees have beautiful blossoms right now.

9 February 20

Happy Birthday to my big sister Gloria Rae (Kleppinger) Huizenga! When I invited her to choose my tie for today, she said she would love to see some birds. "I’ve enjoyed keeping the Cornell Bird Cam on, especially panama-fruit-feeders - watching the glorious variety of colors and activity of these creatures. (One of my escapes from winter.)" But among my ties the birds are few and mostly decorative. So she settled on my "teal flowers" design, which she says will let her "pretend the birds are on their way." The family photo is from 1957. I'm the little boy.

7 October 19

Today is one of several "National Flower Days."

6 September 18

Tomorrow -- the first Friday in September -- is an official day to "Wear Teal." This teal-flowers tie was a birthday present from Beth, and this is my first opportunity to wear it! I also have a teal T-shirt that I may wear tomorrow. Wear Teal Day is intended to raise awareness of ovarian cancer.