By the Dashboard Lights
by the dashboard lights by the dashboard lights by the dashboard lights by the dashboard lights

'By the Dashboard Lights' is a feature column by David Friedli which is
printed in the Lyons Mirror-Sun, a weekly newspaper in Lyons, Nebraska.
Since 1998, David Friedli has written 'slice of life' columns for the
newspaper. The column has received awards in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2007 from
the Nebraska Press Association. Friedli's columns have been
reprinted in the newsletters of various organizations and businesses,
including those of the Omaha World-Herald, the Nebraska School
Activities Association and the Nebraska Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Here are some of Friedli's recent and favorite columns, reprinted by permission of
the author and Jodie Jordan, the current editor of the Lyons Mirror-Sun. The publisher of the Lyons Mirror-Sun is Mark Rhodes.
Warning: Parental Advisory May 1, 2008 Thirteen years to prepare, one week to get ready.
Dad Being Dad April 24, 2008 It's a lame tradition, but it is a tradition.
In My Son's Insteps April 17, 2008 "Walk a mile in my shoes." Kill the Fatted Goat April 10, 2008 A State Championship deserves a party of mythical proportions.
Reverberations April 3, 2008 "Honey, get the door! My hands are full of sound..."
The Ultimate Spinoff March 27, 2008 NASA + The Japanese Space Agency + 'Necessity' = One Strange Idea. (BTW: the astronaut's name is really Doi.)
Home Again March 20, 2008 The outlook for the weekend changed in an instant.
Addys Baby March 13, 2008 Her baby...our problem.
By the Concourse Lights March 6, 2008 Traveling by air has none of the comforts of home.
Poor Postman February 28, 2008 The influx of mail from colleges directed at my Senior daughter obviously has not solved a revenue deficit for the US Postal Service.
Different Day, Same Names February 21, 2008 The sport of wrestling is a family--and a familiar--affair.
Making it Count February 14, 2008 My recap of the Burt County, NE Democratic Party Caucus...(see A Giant Slipup below, also)
In Search of Perfection February 7, 2008 It's hard to have a perfect season...and it's OK to cheer for those looking to complete it.
A Giant Slipup January 31, 2008 Mistakes of the legendary kind in science and politics.
It's Just My Idea January 24, 2008 Writing a column does take effort.
That Part of Sport January 17, 2008 I have written a number of stories about sports. This describes the most frightening thing I have ever witnessed in sports.
Jonesin', January 10, 2008 The holidays are over, and I am in withdrawal.
Memorable Twists, January 3, 2008 My quest for the perfect snack food begins and ends in my grandmother's kitchen.
The Year In Revue, December 27, 2007 Revue, not review, like entertainment, not fact.
Waiting and Watching for a Miracle, December 20, 2007 Merry Christmas to all...even those who missed it the first time.
Officially Older, December 13, 2007 It happens to all of us, and you can take my word for it.
Restoring the Tradition, December 6, 2007 Bo Big Red...Pelini coaches NU football
Video for the Rest of Us November 29, 2007 Thanks to my friend Nate, I am a hero.
Words of Gratitude November 22, 2007 I have been a city councilman, school board member and an Elder in my church. I know from where I speak.
Listen to the Music November 15, 2007 I received as much feedback on this column as any in my eight years of submission. Supporters on both sides let me know their feelings about the future of a 100-year old building in Lyons, Nebraska.
Wart Removal November 8, 2007 All plugged in and nowhere to go
Oh Deer November 1, 2007 There are six seasons in Nebraska: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, Road Construction and Deer.
iUnderstand 10/25/07 I actually thought about changing a school policy about this.
Shiny Ride 10/18/07 If students and nationally-required testing were automobiles...
In Honor 10/11/07 Sometimes I am humbled, sometimes honored, sometimes overwhelmed. This was a trifecta.
Welcome to the Game 10/04/07 When small-team football comes to play at a field near you.
Fifty Ways 9/20/07 September 15, 2007 was a good day. The Power of Ten 9/10/07 Heroism of the athletic kind.
Hole-lueiah! 8/30/07
My prayers are answered.
Center of Attention 09/06/07 What parents go through in sports.
And the Winner Is... May 3, 2007
If it is Tuesday, it must be another school awards program.
An Idea to Stick With, April 19, 2007
I can't make money in the stock market, but here is my latest get-rich-quick scheme.
Looking Aside, March 29, 2007 A good friend shows tremendous courage and makes a life-defining choice. First Place, 2007 Nebraska Press Association Award Class A Newspaper Personal Column Excerpt and judge's comments here.
How it looked from the newspaper "tearsheet". The column makes more sense if you have seen the layout of the paper.

Injured Reserve, March 22, 2007
Stupidity and middle age means I don't heal quickly.
The Aftermath, March 15, 2007
Don't give me an excuse not to get cleaned up every day.
An All-Star Travesty February 22, 2007
What I know about basketball you can put in a thimble and have room for 10 gallons of water, but I know what I saw.
The Visitor February 2, 2007
I watched a good friend go through some hard times, and I unwittingly was part of it. I learned a valuable lesson.
Champions on the Field Only November 30, 2006
This story is true and it makes me angry.
Groundhog Day in the Boundary Waters Sometime in 2001, posted Groundhog Day 2007
JT in the Cut-out Bin Sometime in 1999
This is NOT where a musical icon deserves to be.
Life in the Gutter July 12, 2005
Near the top of my all-time best list of experiences with my kids.
Lions or Tigers or Bears...Here's Why October 5, 2006 Third Place Sports Column, Nebraska Press Association 2007 Reprinted in the Nebraska School Activities Association newsletter. Eight years at a school serving Native American students will do this to you.
Fall's Fraternity September 20, 1998 Every fall, I do miss coaching football.
From Where We Started July 13, 2006
We were just a bunch of Phys Ed majors at the University of Nebraska. Now look at us.
It Could Happen Anywhere March 31, 2005
It could. Easily. More often than we can imagine.
Save the Whales: Clean Their Teeth August 2005
How I spent one night as a school principal.
It's All About Christmas December, 2004 Just a look into our family tradition.
Dear Melissa January 4, 2001
A favored niece looks forward to marriage.
WWJSB? January 7, 1999
When the rhetorical question becomes real.
Life, Like Chocolates January 7, 2002
Thanks to my Aunt Gwen...
Assorted Tales of the Chocolate Kind January 24, 2002
...this follow-up won a Nebraska Press Association award in 2002.
Turtles in the Fairway June 30, 2005
Bogeys and birdies and pars...there is more to golf than those.
Mic's Revenge May 17, 2001
I get my twists all worded up in public.
Hometown Hero May 27, 1999
A tribute to a local giant.
Meterological Breakthrough March 18, 1999
My column ideas come from lots of sources, and TK from James Taylor Online gave me this inspiration. It ended up winning a Nebraska Press Association award in 2000 because one of the judges was from Oklahoma and understood weather.
A Parable in an Obituary March 21, 2002
When I got turned down about a million times asking for some assistance in getting a project done for the community, I realized someone had died.
Death of A Spiritual Kind August 24, 2006
Just what do you do with an old church, anyway?
The Champion April 18, 2002
Oldest daughter gains a great award.
Dear Matt May 11, 2001
My state senator gets some advice.
Snippets March 27, 2003
Linda's Shear Impressions. Making me look good for over 20 years.
Sports Sense September 30, 1999
Perhaps he is the athlete I most wish could have turned his sports sense into career.
The Passing
You'll understand.
One of Our Own October 31, 1999 When the home town boy and former student does good, he needs to be recognized.
No.12 October 19, 2000
He will always be a favorite.
In the Bag October 30, 2003
Give me caffeine and nobody gets hurt.
Bounty by the Bushel
Big maple trees + kids = a harvest of fun.
Some Gave All November 11, 1998
Thank you to every veteran.
Never Too Late
By the Numbers July 16, 1998 My, time passes quickly.
Know the Code August 27, 1998 Early on in my column career, I passed the time behind the wheel. Here's how it happened.
Teaching for a Lifetime September 17, 1998
Regardless of our job, we are teaching.
Thank You July 2, 1998 You did so I didn't need to.
Your Smiling Face June 18, 1998 He was one in a million.
My Night in The Tipi, a Guest Column by fellow educator and the proof-reading guru of this site, John Mangan
(additional articles and site links are under construction) by the dashboard lights by the dashboard lights by the dashboard lights by the dashboard lights
This Page was last update: Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 9:38:39 PM
This page was originally posted: 11/27/06; 4:43:36 PM.
Copyright 2008 David Friedli
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