JoanWink.com

Dear WinkWorld Readers,

When we were last together, I was leaving the book festival in Tucson and returning to the ranch in South Dakota.  Once again, I am reminded that I live in two different worlds–each with challenges and opportunities.  My primary care doctor asked me this spring how much social interaction I have, and I responded, “Where?” In our little community in Tucson, I have more social interaction by 9 a.m. daily than I do on the ranch in a week. In what follows, I hope to share just a glimpse of our ranch life as spring changes to summer, 2025.

Memorial Day

Much to my surprise, I find I enjoy wandering through cemeteries and thinking about all of those who have gone before me.  My family is primarily buried in Rapid City, Spearfish, and the National Cemetery.  Each location is only two hours away, and I often stop at any of the three locations, just for a quiet moment on a busy day in town running a long list of errands. I was also able to drive to Mobridge cemetery to decorate Bill’s grave for my dear Angel-Mama, 99-year-old Betty, who is adjusting well to a lovely seniors’ center in Bismarck.

Every spring Mobridge celebrates with a Tour of Tables, and Betty was honored this year.  Betty and I sure did hate that we could not attend, but we did get to spend the day together up in Bismark.

This year Wink and I also drove to Moville, Iowa to visit Wink’s graves.  While there we had a fabulous time with Wink’s only remaining sister, Elaine, and some of her family.  Wink also connected with a cousin, whom he had not seen in 30 years.

While in Moville, we visited the local high school, and even though it was a very busy last-day-of-school, an employee (Thanks, Ashton Gardner!) took us to the weight room area to show us where a photo of Wink is displayed.  Thank you, Larry Mayes, we know that you were behind all of this!

While we were in the southeastern corner of SD, we also had great moments with treasured Yankton College friends of 60 years–can it really be that long ago?! Thank you, Annie and Roger Smith, for pulling this group together at Muddy Mo’s magical coffee house, where Bernie Hunhoff, took very good care of all of us.  He even introduced us to some Eagles fans, who have recently moved to Yankton. Bernie was so busy taking photos for all of us, that he didn’t make it into any of the group shots.  Fortunately, Guy & Liza Larson saved the day with a photo, which they shared with us.

Wink and Bernie were once colleagues in the South Dakota legislature. Lots of great social interaction!

While in Yankton, we were able to attend an Ann Smith art show. Love her creations.

Atall School

Of course, when I returned from Arizona, I immediately scheduled a visit with Missy and students at our treasured rural Atall School (K-8) on the prairies.  As much social interaction and hugs and giggles as anyone could ever need or want! In addition, I always learn about new books for kids.  The language in Buffalo Fluffalo is captivating.

Books

Whether I am on the ranch or in Tucson, I always have books lying around in various states of having-been-read or waiting-to-be-read.  I mostly will read anything, but this month I notice a pattern in my book lying around on my bedside table and a coffee table.

Books on Aging: I notice that suddenly there are more books on aging lying around in my various piles of books. I won’t say that I am enjoying these. . . . Here is one example which is a handy resource, if I would only just DO what it says I should.

Graphic Novels: I have never been an avid fan of graphic novels, the way many children and young people are.  I did not even enjoy comic books when I was a child.  Lately, I have been reading more graphic novels and learning to appreciate them.  Here are two very distinct examples, which I am glad that I read.

Can We Talk about Something More Pleasant? is a graphic sad story about an older couple nearing the end of their life.  The images are gorgeous, and the story is told by a daughter.  The art pulled me into the story. Feeding Ghosts is a graphic memoir about a grandmother, her daughter, and her granddaughter.  The black and white graphics were a struggle for me, as they relay a heart-wrenching story. I am glad I read both of these books.

Elephants:  Apparently, if someone puts a photo of an elephant on a book cover, I will buy the book.  Here is the latest, which I enjoyed, The Elephants of Thula Thula by Franoise Malby-Anthony.  However, please do not read this elephant book, unless you have previously read The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony and There Is an Elephant in my Kitchen by Franoise Malby-Anthony.

One Book South Dakota

Every year, readers in South Dakota all read and reflect on one book.  I have started this one, but I am not yet finished.  A tough read for us Prairie People.  A painful history.

Internet

The internet provides me with lots of social interaction–particularly when I am on the ranch.  I stay in close contact with friends from various chapters of my life. I sometimes think of my Grandma Grace, who homesteaded on this ranch. I am in awe of how she survived without the internet, which provides connections to friends, ideas, books, and the outside world. Thanks to ZOOM, I am lucky enough to be involved with a small mentoring group, which keeps me up-to-date with various areas of education.  In addition, I love being included in a spiffy literacy group, where we use Close Reading to go deep into the thinking of a scholar or a concept. This week, we focused on the NAEP test–what on earth do those literacy descriptors really mean?  You might want to read the following:

Wendy Vaulton’s Rethinking Reading Proficiency, https://crrlc.lesley.edu/rethinking-reading-proficiency/, May 28. 2025

And/or

NAEP: A Modest Proposal by Paul Thomas of Furman University, May 10, 2025, https://radicalscholarship.com/2025/05/10/naep-a-modest-proposal/  He shares his writing on Bluesky, Twitter, and on his blog, RadicalScholarship.com

By reflecting and writing this issue of WinkWorld, I realized that I do have good social interaction whether I am in Tucson or here on the ranch.  In Tucson, when I walk out the door, there is often a neighbor or two nearby, and we can visit.  Or, when I leave our little community and head out to 8^th Street to walk where I immediately have other walkers to chat with.  However, here on the ranch, I often go for days with lots of quiet solitude, which I enjoy, but then we go somewhere, and we run into all sorts of people.  In addition, my computer and/or phone are always with me for great communication. If I could expand on something I learned from James Cummins, “human connections are at the heart of schooling,” I will add: and of living.  Dawn and I recently wrote a reflection for an edited book on the impact which Cummins has had on our professional work. After the book is published, I can share parts of the reflection on WinkWorld.

And, finally Parkinson’s Disease

Yes, I am doing well, and I continue with my exercises, but I do miss the social interaction that I had with my “Blue Buddies” in Tucson.  We, who are at a certain level of ability, are grouped together, the Blue Team. I have great fun visiting and laughing with them during our classes.  However, while I am on the ranch, I love my online Rogue in Motion, https://www.rogueinmotion.com/.   The founder connects with all of us daily with live classes and a huge library of recorded videos.  We also have lots of educational live classes, which I love.  Some of the research on Parkinson’s is very encouraging.  I suspect that in the next WinkWorld, I will share some of what I am learning.