Kelly McManus

By Kelly McManus Summer is my favorite season. That’s probably because all my favorite things happen in the summer—lake swimming, camping, rafting, mountain climbing, watching shooting stars from my sleeping bag, huckleberry picking, canoeing, birthday cake, birthday dinner, birthday presents, and you get the idea. Summer is the best! Did I mention birthdays?? I have always felt sorry for people whose birthday does not occur in the dog days of summer. Most of my childhood birthdays were spent...

By Kelly McManus April 2026 My sister Peggy and I weren’t always best friends. Perhaps you’ve noticed how she will often refer to me and our sister Shannon as “the trolls” in her blogs. I find this very insulting. I’ve asked her to stop, but she’s always been very stubborn. For the record, Shannon was never mean enough to be a troll. There can only be one troll in a family, and that honor generally falls to the eldest daughter—me. I was trained by the best. My Aunt Patricia, Dad’s older...

By Kelly McManus February 2026 I don’t mean to brag, but I’ve got the best sense of direction in my family. It’s really my only natural talent. I’m like a human compass. Unfortunately, it is not a great crowd-pleaser like being a gifted singer, artist, or athlete. I have yet to go to a party where someone says, “Hey, Kelly, what direction are we facing now?” All I can say is you people don’t get lost enough! Admittedly, it would have been a lot more impressive before everyone got cellphones...