To help the busy ladies here at the Wise office, I go to the post office for the mail. It gives me a chance to interact with other masked folks – the community and personal interaction I miss the most as part of COVID. On a recent post office run, I stopped by a gas… Read more »

Sometimes in life what we need is a good cry. Breakup with your first love in high school? A good cry is needed. Lose a favorite aunt or uncle? A good cry often accompanies the smiles and memories. Often a good cry is in a special place – your bedroom at home, that beautiful overlook… Read more »

My grandson loves books (a passion of mind too). He especially likes books with colorful and expressive pictures. One of his favorites is “The Pout-Pout Fish” by Deborah Diesen with pictures by Dan Hanna. I was reminded of the message in this book during our monthly church Deacon meeting (via Zoom) and our lesson of… Read more »

In the Back to the Future series, a common theme was underdogs overcoming their weakness (shyness, quickness to anger) to do something that caused them to step past their fears to achieve what led to a better future for the character and their family. If you have seen the movie, you will recall the scene… Read more »

After a year like this, it is good to step back for a few minutes and realize that the tellers, loan officers, bookkeepers and others who have worked at our Bank over the past 132 years also faced trials and troubles. Their hard work and staying the course kept the bank independent. During our Board meeting… Read more »

The great spaghetti western featuring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach was called, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. Over the years, that movie title has been a saying used by many for comparisons and examples– in business, sports and life in general. During the current times, we may tend to focus… Read more »

Over the weekend, my niece sent me some pictures of her daughters dropping off their letters to Santa at our Wise Office. They were so excited, and I have gotten many, many positive comments about this “new” family tradition at Christmas (bringing Christmas Letters to PVNB) we have started. (Thanks to Paula, Gary and the… Read more »

You are making your family lunch. Maybe you have just tended to the animals. Perhaps you have just gotten out of church. Maybe it’s time to run down to the gas station and get a bottle of pop. Then you learn of an attack on America. Pearl Harbor.  You are confused. You are frightened. Then… Read more »

To say the week before last was a stressful week would be an understatement. By the time Thursday came around, I felt as if I’d worked a month without a break! As I arose, took my morning walk, showered, and hopped in my car to drive to work, I already felt mentally drained. Then it… Read more »

Life often comes with surprises. Growing up, my mom cooked our Thanksgiving meal (and most meals), generally from scratch. Her stove and cabinets were situated so that she could reach (she is not a tall lady) her spices by stretching and standing on her tiptoes. Each year she made her famous pumpkin pies. I couldn’t… Read more »