Author Archives: Wright Flyer Guy

Saturday morning I rose and immediately began working on the editing of the Wright Brothers’ musical. To my horror, I discovered I had made an error in a particular area of research. I could not allow it to slip through … Continue reading →

This August, my mother’s family, the Barmes side, will have its first full out reunion in over 40 years. Last year, following my grandfather’s death, I realized that our family had been in the United States for 170 years. They … Continue reading →

Thursday afternoon my sister, Dena, 32, and her two sons, Jonathan, 7, and Andrew, 6, arrived to spend a few days with us. I always enjoy being with my nephews, who, like many of my former students, were the extra … Continue reading →

I’d rather be the ship that sails,And rides the billows wild and free;Than to be the ship that always failsTo leave its port and go to sea. I’d rather feel the sting strife,Where gales are born and tempests roar;Than to … Continue reading →

The empires of the future are the empires of the mind.~ Winston Churchill Every heart that has beat strongly and cheerfully has left a hopeful impulse behind it in the world, and bettered the tradition of mankind. ~ Robert Louis … Continue reading →

Two of my most favorite figures in American history are John & Abigail Adams, parents of the American Revolution. If you have a chance, read two great works on this fascinating, courageous couple: Irving Stone’s Those Who Love (Abigail Adams)and … Continue reading →

I walked into Border’s Books & Music by the Dayton Mall as I had many times before. With barely a look as to where I was heading I walked directly to the rock music section, straight to the CD’s alphabetized … Continue reading →

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth;Then took the other, as just as fair,And … Continue reading →

The Jolliffe~Haas family code of conduct: We, the family members of Jolliffe-Haas, demonstrate love, compassion and understanding to our fellow travelers of this world. We recognize, respect and rejoice in the Creative Spirit and acknowledge and utilize our individual and … Continue reading →

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson. Follow the three Rs:· Respect for self· Respect for others and· Responsibility for all your actions. Remember that not getting what … Continue reading →

The fall of 1964, I was born. Also that fall, the Ball State University Singers, the new “show choir” at Ball State, was born. When the Ball State Singers and I were not even teenagers, we met for the first … Continue reading →

One of my heroes of inspiration is Father Flanagan, the Irish priest who established Boys Town in Nebraska. Father Flanagan’s mission began with five orphaned boys and grew to become one of the most prestigious mission programs in the world. … Continue reading →

Late one Saturday night I heard a pair of footsteps bounding up the basement stairs. I looked up at the clock and figured a commercial had propelled them from the depths of TV Land. “Dad,” my sons cried. “There’s a … Continue reading →

I recently discovered this photograph of Wilbur and Orville Wright, and their younger sister, Katharine.

The summer of 1999, I took off on a wonderful three week vacation which included Niagara Falls; the Trapp family resort in Stowe, VT; FDR’s Home, Hyde Park; New York City; Teddy Roosevelt’s home, Sagamore Hill; Montauk Light House on … Continue reading →

This Spring the Lincoln Library & Museum opened in Springfield, Illinois. Although I have not yet taken my sons to visit this magnificent place, I intend to do so by summer’s end. It looks incredible! If you have an opportunity … Continue reading →

This is one of my favorite photographs – Mother and me dancing at my brother’s wedding. My mother was a tremendous enfluence on me as a single parent. Our birth father left us when I was eleven, and my sister … Continue reading →

Top: FlyerBottom: Flyer with my student, Dan Moore I was not really looking for a dog, but for some reason, the morning of November 4, 2001, I scanned through the Sunday paper and jotted down a number. The gentleman gave … Continue reading →

In 1984, my step-father adopted my brother, sister and my self. What a lesson I learned about life – one man can love another man’s children enough to call them his own. Adoption was not unfamiliar to us growing up, … Continue reading →

Today is the eleventh anniversary of Logan coming to live with me. Logan was born in April 1994 to a family in Centerville. I really wanted a dog, but with my travels back and forth between New York and Dayton, … Continue reading →

Hello! My name is Darin Jolliffe-Haas. I am a 40 yo single father of two adopted sons, Matthew, 16 and Jose, 13. I am a playwright~composer~director and an educator. We live in a wonderful neighborhood in Kettering, Ohio, a southern … Continue reading →