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July 2026
Some places from childhood stay with you long after you first visit them. For me, one of those places is Tidioute, Pennsylvania, a small town along the Allegheny River where I spent part of my summers visiting my grandmother. I hadn’t been back for many years, but when Laurie and I later took our kids there, I rolled down the windows and noticed the smell. That fresh pine, green, outdoors smell was still there. Everything looks smaller when you return as an adult, but some parts of a place still find you. I also found out there’s an island in the river near town called Courson Island, spelled with a U, which was a funny little connection I never knew about as a kid. Of course, my kids weren’t especially impressed, but that’s how these things usually go. My grandmother lived on Tidioute Creek Road, right by Tidioute Creek, because they weren’t wasting much creativity on names. It wasn’t a working farm by then, but there were about 26 acres, mostly wooded, with paths, picnic tables, swings, and little park-like clearings with names like Monarch Park and Laurel Park. To a kid, it felt like plenty of room to disappear for a while. I spent a lot of those days fishing, swimming, hiking, and just being left alone until it was time to come back in for dinner. My favorite thing was tubing on the Allegheny. The adults would take us miles upriver, drop us off, and then go do whatever adults did when the kids were gone. This was the 1970s, so there were no cellphones and no easy backup plan. Our job was simple. They told us not to float past town, or we might end up in Ohio. My grandmother was the center of a lot of those memories. She was small in stature, but she had a lot of personality. She was hilarious, intelligent, and something of a free spirit. My grandmother also told great stories and knew how to hold the attention of a kid who was more than willing to believe almost anything. A Question to Ask (or Answer for) a Loved One Asking and answering important questions helps preserve your family’s values and life lessons for generations to come. What place from your childhood still lives vividly in your memory, and what made it special? Summers Along the Allegheny A Childhood Place Revisited
One of the stories I remember best was about a so-called hoop snake. According to her, this snake could bite its own tail and roll downhill after you. She claimed one chased her when she was a girl, missed her at the bottom of the hill, and bit into a tree instead. The snake’s venom made the tree swell so large that they cut it down and built an entire house from the lumber. Then, when they put turpentine on the boards, it counteracted the venom, and the whole house shrank into the birdhouse out in the yard. I soaked it all in. Wild stories like that fit the place because everything around my grandmother seemed to have a little personality. She hand-fed the birds and other animals, so even the practical side of country life could get complicated. We weren’t allowed to hunt on the property unless we were going after groundhogs that were getting into the garden. Even then, if you tried to aim from the back porch, chickadees would land right on your gun barrel. That was my grandmother’s world, and the animals knew it, too. Like most kids, I didn’t appreciate how special summers at my grandma’s place were. It was just where I went, and I liked having somewhere away from home. Then my father died when I was 15, my grandmother’s health began to decline, and that chapter of life slowly ended. The property was eventually sold, and life moved on the way it does. That’s the strange thing about childhood places. At the time, they can feel ordinary because you are too busy living in them to think
much about what they are giving back. Only later do you realize that a little town, a creek, a river, and a grandmother’s larger-than-life stories became part of you.
Philip J. Corson, Founder
“Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask about the ancient paths. Ask where the good road is. Walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” JEREMIAH 6:16
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Even When They Know They Shouldn’t WHY PEOPLE KEEP AVOIDING ESTATE PLANNING
Procrastination plays a large role. Putting something off doesn’t necessarily mean someone is just lazy. Sometimes, it’s rooted in how we perceive effort versus reward. Estate planning feels like a heavy task with no immediate payoff or instant gratification. As a result, people push it down their to-do list. Busy schedules reinforce this behavior, making it easy to justify delay with thoughts like, “I’ll handle it when things slow down.” Unfortunately, that “later” often never arrives. Complexity creates mental overload. Legal language, financial decisions, and unfamiliar terminology can make estate planning feel intimidating. After all, you have to make dozens of decisions, which creates what psychologists call cognitive overload. When faced with too much information or too many choices, the brain tends to shut down or avoid the task altogether. Even starting can feel
exhausting, especially when forms or processes seem complicated or unclear. Misconceptions can lower urgency. A common belief is: “I don’t have enough assets to need a plan.” This misconception reduces urgency and gives people permission to delay. But when it comes down to it, estate planning is all about control, clarity, and protecting loved ones. Still, when people underestimate its importance, they mentally downgrade it from “essential” to “optional,” increasing the likelihood of avoidance. Emotional and family dynamics play a role. Estate planning is extremely personal and can raise sensitive topics such as family relationships, fairness, and legacy. These conversations can feel uncomfortable or even conflict-prone. Rather than risk tension or difficult decisions, many people avoid the process entirely, and the emotional weight of these choices can feel heavier than the practical benefits of completing them.
It’s one of life’s most predictable realities, but one of the most avoided conversations. Estate planning sits in the uncomfortable space where logic says, “You should do this,” but emotion says, “Not today.” Thus, people delay. Weeks turn into years, and before they know it, something essential remains undone. Facing mortality feels unnatural. Estate planning forces people to confront their own mortality, which can feel unsettling. That emotional discomfort is often enough to trigger avoidance. Psychologically, humans are wired to sidestep thoughts of death and prefer to focus on the present. When estate planning brings up questions about incapacity, death, or what happens “after,” it can feel overwhelming. Many people respond by choosing short-term emotional comfort over long-term preparedness and putting it off. This emotional resistance is a major barrier, not a lack of awareness.
PURR-FECT TIMING Inside Your Cat’s Daily Rhythm
dividing their food into smaller portions and using puzzle feeders that force them to work for it. Give them plenty of objects they can scratch, as that’s how they naturally care for their claws. Cats like having places to rest or watch the world around them safely, so give them a variety of seating options. No two cats are the same, but they cherish time with their owner. Bond with them through regular play, grooming, and snuggles. Flex the Feline Flow Just like in the wild, sometimes things don’t go as planned, so you need flexibility. If you’re late on feeding time, for example, they can typically accept it if the majority of their day follows their normal itinerary. However, if other changes will cause a major schedule shakeup, introduce the big ones gradually. Say the vacuum cleaner scares your furry friend. Start using it at predictable times so they can better anticipate it and adapt their own plan. Though cats will always pounce to the beat of their own drum, a little routine allows them to purr at their very best.
Our cats may act like effortlessly cool rulers of the home (with a flair for chaos), but deep down, they’re creatures of purr -fect predictability. Felines thrive on consistency and crave routines that make them feel in control of their environments. From mealtimes that arrive right on cue to having their own special perch in the sun, routines help cats feel secure and completely in their element. Born to Stalk Domestic cats are still little lions at heart. Their habits come from their ancestors, and the instincts that helped them survive in the wild drive many of their quirks. If they were fending for themselves, instead of meowing to you for a meal, they would build routines to maximize the potential of food. They would scope out a watering hole, find vantage points to frequent for hunting, and always be prepared to pounce. Their natural hunting strategies are part of what makes them so good at anticipating what’s next. Pounce Planning You can support their cat calendar by creating
routines that speak to their wild side. Make mealtime a hunting ritual by
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Nobody wants their name dragged through the mud, but some of our unlucky ancestors couldn’t escape their abhorrent appellations. Though last names are passed down through families today, in centuries past, they were assigned based on a person’s looks, character traits, location, or trade. And some of these surnames stung. Often doled out by local officials or tax collectors, these mean-spirited monikers could tarnish the reputation of generations to come. Crooked Clans Some of the most common Scottish surnames today originally mocked someone’s physical features. The name Campbell comes from words that translate to “crooked mouth.” The first person to receive this title was Dugald of Lochawe in the 12th century. Due to a medical condition, he had to speak out of one side of his mouth. But his clan admired him, and they proudly adopted his surname. Similarly, the name Cameron was given to someone who had a crooked nose. Negative Nicknames If you were known to get into brawls, lie, or plunder, it marked you forever. The name Barrett, which comes from an old French word that means “strife” or “trouble,” was given to people who caused problems in their community or couldn’t be trusted. Those with the surname Foley might SURNAMES THAT STARTED AS SNARK Inherited Insults
TAKE A BREAK
BARBECUE BASEBALL CYCLING FISHING
FIREWORKS ICE CREAM INDEPENDENCE
PARK RUBY SHADE STARGAZING VACATION
FLANK STEAK TACOS
Ingredients
have swashbucklers in their family tree. It’s a shortened form of the Gaelic name Foghladha, which refers to the descendants of pirates or marauders. Even if your ancestors didn’t sail the seven seas, you could earn the name if you had a reputation for criminal behavior.
• 1 lb flank steak • 2 tbsp olive oil, divided • 1 small red onion, finely diced • 1/3 cup cilantro • 1 ripe avocado, diced • 1 tbsp lime juice • 8 small flour tortillas
• 1 tsp paprika • 1/2 tsp ground cumin • 1/2 tsp garlic powder • 1/2 tsp chili powder • 1/2 tsp dried oregano • 1/4 tsp onion powder • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper • 1 tsp sea salt, divided
Directions 1. Heat grill to medium heat. 2. In a small bowl, combine first 7 seasoning ingredients with 1/2 tsp sea salt. 3. Brush steak with 1 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle seasoning mixture on both sides. 4. Grill steak for 2–4 minutes per side. 5. Remove steak from grill and let it rest. 6. In a bowl, stir together 1/2 tsp sea salt, 1 tbsp olive oil, onion, cilantro, avocado, and lime juice. 7. Heat flour tortillas on the grill. 8. Slice the grilled flank steak into 1/4-inch strips. Assemble your tacos and enjoy!
Helmet-Headed Handle One of our most well-known presidents bore a name that has various possible meanings, some of them fairly offensive. Kennedy originated from Gaelic root words that mean “ugly head.” So, someone could quite literally earn this name because they were considered unattractive. The surname could also be translated as “grim-headed,” assigned to stern or fearsome figures. Some believe it has more heroic implications and was given to warriors who wore armor because they were “helmet-headed.”
So, what’s in a name? Well, it could be an identifying insult earned years before you were even born.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Wild Stories From Grandma’s Farm
Keep Assets Clear of Courts
Why Little Lions Love a Schedule
3
Flank Steak Tacos
When Last Names Were Personal Attacks
4
Death by Chocolate, Literally
How a Sweet Treat Nearly Took Down Churchill CANDY-COATED CONSPIRACY
out anyone nearby. They even branded it as “Peter’s Chocolate,” wrapped in foil and gold lettering. One of M15’s top intelligence chiefs, Lord Victor Rothschild, learned of the plans to deliver these combustible confections to Churchill in time to protect him. But, Rothschild feared the candy could still put the public at risk. So, he reached out to young artist Laurence Fish to draw sketches of various Nazi booby traps, including the candy bomb. From a hidden bunker, Rothschild sent a quick sketch of the exploding chocolate bar so Fish could turn it into large poster images to warn people what to watch for. The secret letter was later found in 2009 by Fish’s widow, though many of his original drawings have been lost to time. In 2015, Rothschild’s family located a collection of Fish’s booby trap sketches tucked away in a chest of drawers.
If you thought “death by chocolate” only meant indulging in too many sweets, here’s a piece of history that’s hard to swallow, literally. During World War II, Nazi operatives cooked up a scheme
to take out British Prime Minister Winston Churchill using his sweet tooth against himself. They developed a killer candy: an exploding chocolate bar to smuggle into Churchill’s War Cabinet dining room. So, how did an artist’s sketch help British spies foil this murder plot? As Nazi forces bombed Great Britain, they were busy coming up with other dangerous booby traps they could use against their enemies. During the war, the British intelligence agency M15 caught wind of the sneaky campaign that included plans to add explosives to everyday items like canned goods and shaving brushes. However, one bomb took the cake. The Nazis created a chocolate bar with steel and canvas hidden underneath the tasty squares. When the unlucky recipient broke off a piece, it would trigger a bomb in seven seconds that would take
Thankfully, Churchill survived to enjoy safe sweets until he passed away at age 90 in 1965. This moment in history is living proof that sometimes the sweetest treats can hide a bitter surprise.
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