Many of my nostalgic childhood memories have as their backdrop the posts and rails of my grandparents’ front porch. Reminiscing about those carefree summer days bring back the subtle fragrance of blooming flowers, the aroma of baking gingersnaps, and the taste of fresh lemonade. A squeaky wicker chair seemed to offer a front row seat to the rest of the world as it paraded by. The smooth, painted rails were straight and narrow. They provided challenging balance beams that tested the surefootedness of little feet. The sturdy porch posts were official places of safety during our neighborhood games of tag. That porch symbolized the security of home and family, where wisdom passed from one generation to the next. Years later, those simple lessons learned on that old front porch continue to add balance, perspective, and enjoyment to my life.

by Greg Olsen