Robert Wayne Sloan, 69, passed away on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. Born on July 8, 1955 in Houston, TX. Robert was the son of the late David and Marilyn Sloan. He is survived by his sister, Diane Barber and two brothers, Ken Sloan and Stan Sloan.

After graduating from Sharpstown HS, Robert earned his BS in Journalism at Sam Houston State and spent his career as an outdoors sports writer for numerous fishing and hunting publications. Robert was an avid outdoorsman with a passion for salt water fly fishing and duck hunting in Port O’Connor. He holds four Texas state salt water fly fishing records.

A Celebration of Life service will be held in Port O’Connor, TX at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hospice of South Texas or to the CCA Chapter in Port O’Connor.

Dieter Erhard and Petra Beck

Dieter Erhard lives a stone throw away of the Der Beck bakery headquarter in the city of Erlangen. With 150 shops and 1500 employees Der Beck is a great example for German middle class. Dieter was asked to design an artwork for its new bread production which is now hosted in a 23.000.000 USD  building and machinery at 24.000.000 USD including a big bistro. Petra and Siegfried Beck said .. but please not a stereotype bakerman!

The chosen design out of three  proposals is a 22 foot Flower made of stainless tubing, holding plexiglass discs with lasercut writing inlays. The bakery slogans found in the upper circles are tasteful (orange),  live (blue) and passion (red). The kiwi green leaves include at each theme three leading words such as water, craftmanship and region amongst others. Dieters work breaks up the architectural lines of the building and gives it a coulorful look.

His new work, the Texas Alligator, will soon be shown at the Kronach City Light Festival starting the 25th of April for nine days.

The Hooked-on Books Club gathered for another enjoyable meeting on Tuesday, March 11^th to discuss Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.  The heartwarming and beautifully written novel captivated everyone with its unique perspective and emotional depth.

Hostesses Annie Seay, Michelle Lippold, Kim Hall, Beth Smith, and Cindy Hansen showcased remarkable creativity and mindfulness to detail in embracing the novel’s theme. Guests were captivated by the international editions of Remarkably Bright Creatures that were on display, food, and beverages.

To begin our  “confinement” of the afternoon, an engaging icebreaker activity inspired by Marcellus and Tova added to the excitement at the start of the meeting. Participants embraced their inner Marcellus, searching through their purses for a specific “treasure” to present to the group, adding an extra layer of excitement to the start of the meeting.

To pay tribute to Marcellus and his sneaky, snack-loving ways, the hostesses curated a seafood-inspired menu served on octopus-themed plates, and attendees dove into the offerings, which included shrimp tartlets, crab dip, pickled shrimp, Marcellus-themed veggies and dip, a palm tree fruit tray, and a fresh green salad. The meal was delightfully concluded with Annie’s infamous bread pudding with whiskey sauce.

In the “ocean water” section of the meeting room, a variety of beverages were available. These included Blue Lagoon Cocktails crafted with vodka, lemonade, and Blue Curaçao liqueur, along with spa water infused with lemons, limes, and cucumber. A variety of wines were available for tasting. In honor of the novel’s Washington state setting, Hostess Michelle Lippold’s roots, Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay was a special treat.

Several book club members wore nautical clothing. Several shirts were made with fish print, one had coastal shells and Beth had an octopus t-shirt.

As usual, the participants commenced the meeting with a discussion of characters, quotes from the book, and discussion questions. The group also had a lively conversation about the novel’s blend of human connection, healing, and mystery — all told in part through the unexpected narrator, Marcellus the octopus. Many members praised the author’s imaginative storytelling and characters, especially the sections written from Marcellus’s perspective, which added humor and heart to the story.

Members who had viewed the Netflix documentary film, My Octopus Teacher, in which a filmmaker forges a relationship with an octopus, to view the documentary as an enrichment to the reading. Annie showed a YouTube highlight video for a few moments.  Giant Pacific Octopus Facts were read along with notes about the author.

Several attendees shared their favorite scenes and moments, with Marcellus’s witty commentary stealing the spotlight more than once, such as the parts where Marcellus starts with the number of days he has been in captivity. The bittersweet ending also prompted reflection, with members agreeing that it was both hopeful and realistic.

Book club members gave Remarkably Bright Creatures glowing reviews, describing it as charming, thought-provoking, and unlike anything they had read before.

All Book club ladies took home a bookmark with a notable quote from Marcellus: “Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.”

The Book Club’s next meeting will be on April 8^th and the members voted to read Up Island by Ann Rivers Siddon for the upcoming April meeting. We look forward to another great discussion! If you would like to join “Hooked on Books,” please email your contact information to alanehaardt@yahoo.com.  All are welcome!

 Why do we often take the long way home? For we do, returning, only after much wandering, to the abiding realities of living. Perhaps this is one reason we are brought again and again with certain inevitability to the story of the Prodigal Son. We walk searching for fulfillment. Our personal fulfillment often takes us the way we walk. We can see in his unfolding experience the assurance of God at work in every life, making for that fulfillment for which we hunger.

Our story begins with the right claim, “I want my share.” The awakening of want is a time of great significance in all of our lives. The awareness of a new want often may be clearest evidence of God’s dealing with us. Most add whole dimensions to our lives by these moments of wakening. We may see a life of fruitful service and know that all our years we must seek to walk a similar way, like I did 61 years ago when I was credentialed to be a minister. “I want my share” may be God’s working in us, calling out the response that we might begin asking of Him to seek as He already is seeking.

This is a constant part of Biblical understanding of life. He reminder that God’s provision is prior to our asking. We want what the early Christians experienced, like joy, love, and peace. We may be certain that such gifts have not been withdrawn but wait for the day when we know our need, take up our claim, and move into the possession of which God has provided. We begin the journey to fulfillment with the plea, “I want my share.”

What makes us a Prodigal is when we say, “I want my way.” We must understand the subtlety and subterfuge by which we insist upon our way at the very time when we are claiming that our devotion is to God. We try to use God rather than serve Him, insisting on our way while calling it His Will, and seeking the far country in us when He is calling us home. One of the hardest words for us to submit to is “Nevertheless!” Not my will but Thine be done does not come easily for neither Jesus or us!

Soon the Prodigal comes to say, “I want!” The younger brother knew what emptiness was all about. There was plenty of husk, but he knew there was better at the Father’s house. Our emptiness is not when we are deprived, but when we have arrived. The poverty of those despised goods make life seem understandable and is a quite logical failure of supply and demand.

The real story is summarized by “I am wanted.” While he was yet at a distance his father saw him and had compassion and ran and embraced him. God has seen us from a distance and in compassion He has come to us. It is the words that is found when we have come the long way home. It is the kind of wholeness we see in lives centered down in God’s house. We never set out to deliberately take the long way home, but when we find ourselves away from God’s house, we should return as quickly as possible! The story of our lives will turn out to be like that of other Prodigals – home is always better than any far country! Get back home!