Author Archives: dickenslj

By Lori Dickens April 2, 2024 To begin, I’d like to thank Jim for allowing me to post the blog for our recent trip to Grand Canyon and Zion.   “History belongs to those who write it.”  -J Stanion  So – this history belongs to me!  Growing up, my family did not travel very often orContinue reading “Not Bored”

By Guest Chris Dickens with edits from Jack Dickens Welcome to another elusive guest blog post. If you are not a fan of meandering extended metaphors (analogy, allegory, zoomorphism? Not sure which literary device I am using), the summary is that Sophie and I joined a trip to Hawaii, and you should just enjoy theContinue reading “Blog Post”

Jim Dickens  February 12, 2024 Usually, I do a lot planning for vacation trips, but for the past month I let go of the reins and found out how great it is to go on the agenda of your trusted family and friends. I’ll be 70 in 8.5 years so Lori and I continued on ourContinue reading “Letting Go through Trust”

by Jim Dickens            January 2, 2024 At my company, as with many companies, sometimes it needed to evolve or change. Once, the executive team was given a book called Switch by Chip and Dan Heath. We all read, discussed and mostly forgot it. But some of it stuck with me. In my own words, making change requires effort, discipline, persistence,Continue reading “New Ruts”

by Jim Dickens                 December 20, 2023 Somewhere around December 21st, is the darkest day in the northern hemisphere. Cloudy with low sun angle and the latest sunrise and earliest sunset characterize that day. There are many traditions and religious holidays old and new that brighten these dark days. I think a lot of it is by design. Reflecting backContinue reading “Light on the Darkest Day”

Last Goggle Text My ironwoman niece in law, gave me a pair of excellent swim goggles on Lake Chelan, WA after looking at my 20 year old yellowed goggles in dismay. Since that time, July of 2022, I texted her pictures from places I use them. In 2023, they have been in the Pacific andContinue reading “R1T Tour: November 2023”

Still Traveling Somehow I managed to only be home a few days in October. It was lots of fun with family, fishing and large mammals. Park City to Bozeman to Naperville to Baja, Mexico, to Naperville to San Francisco to Reno to Naperville. Of interest was Baja, Mexico. My friend Pete was invited because ofContinue reading “R1T Tour: October 2023”

Scotland to Utah Our son, Jack, and his fiancé, Shelby married. With two weddings and chairing a charity event completed, whew, I went fishing. Shelby and Jack planned a great wedding and had unScottish, warm and sunny, weather supporting it. Ninety or so people shared a weekend at Thirlestane Castle in the Scottish borderlands. ThereContinue reading “R1T Tour: September 2023”

Retirement hectic stress In retirement you relax but August proved to be jam packed with stuff that had to be done in August. I was co chair of the 50th anniversary Illinois Trout Unlimited celebration, my mom had a birthday and my son, Jack was about to married. I am bad at event planning dueContinue reading “R1T Tour: August 2023”