Dedicated to Dave Thompson as a tribute to his wife Jan who has passed on Nov. 12, 2025.
With deepest sympathy
A letter to Dave
Dear Dave,
It is with heavy heart that I write this sympathy message with Jan’s recent passing. I know how much you loved each other despite all the jokes.
On one of my countless stories about your involvement in American Legion and VFW post 8303 for The Lowell Ledger, Jan responded to my question: Why do you do all this?
“We’d be sitting at home and fighting,” she laughed.
Both of you were anchors of the Memorial Day activities at Oakwood Cemetery that spanned decades. Most recently, I hunted you down still participating in your car parked the closest to the monument.
That was the last time I saw Jan.
To be continued……….
My friends Jan and Dave Thompson
My friends who enrich me
Living in a different country than your homeland has its repercussions. That is what I write about in my memoir and what I have told my daughter Emma Palova-Chavent when she was deciding about immigrating to the USA from France.
“You’re leaving old friends behind, and making new relationships,” I said. “That becomes binding.”
Immigration is not an experiment.
While living here for more than two decades, I have made a lot of friends that keep enriching my life. I know more people around here, than I knew in the village I grew up in back in Czechoslovakia.
Probably the biggest compliment I’ve ever received was from Lowell resident Barbara Schmaltz, who used to work for the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce. I did a story on her for “Behind the Scenes.” The compliment is bigger than an award from the Associated Press.
“Emma, it’s been a privilege knowing you,” she said.
The same goes for my longtime friend, Dave Thompson.
As we approach Memorial Day, I write about Dave who has been the master of ceremonies for the event for the last six years. I met Dave while working for the Lowell Ledger in 2006. He came to my tiny cubicle office to tell me that he was organizing a clown parade to honor the 175th anniversary of Lowell.
“I am my own chairman,” he said.
Dave told me he wasn’t going to organize the parade unless he was solely in charge of it.
I’ve always liked that statement for its power.
“Once a teacher, always a teacher,” Dave said.
As a former teacher of chemistry and biology, and a coach, Dave always likes to put an educational component into the Memorial Day ceremonies.
One year Dave did a briefing on military uniforms to explain to the public the meaning behind the metals.
Post commander of the Lowell American Legion Dave Thompson with Boy Scouts on Memorial Day.
“Everything on the uniform has a meaning,” he said. “It is decorated based on the things you’ve accomplished.”
And truly while interviewing Dave in his den with the secret door and a miniature railroad track, I noticed what was on the walls and how it was placed. One wall was dedicated to civic honors, and the other to military. There was no more room left.
So, here is Dave’s story abbreviated version:
Dave Thompson was born in Grand Rapids during the depression on Nov. 23 1933. He grew up and attended public schools, and graduated from Central High School in 1952. He attended Olivet College and graduated in 1956. He was the winner of the coveted Olivet Oaks Cup Trophy as the Outstanding Graduating Senior.
After college, he flew in the navy, later he became a Naval Air Intelligence Officer, specializing in survival, escape and evasion tactics. He retired as commander with 21 years of service.
His work history includes teaching in the Detroit area for 10 years biology and chemistry, and coaching football and track.
Dave bargained three of the first five contracts in the Detroit area before the state bargaining law took effect in 1965.
“That made me a bargaining expert, something I still chuckle about,” he said.
Dave was the first executive director of Grand Rapids Teachers Association. He was also the general manager of the Grand Rapids Symphony for five years.
“What was your instrument, Mr. Thompson?” people quite often asked.
“The ukulele and the radio,” he said. “Neither one is a symphony instrument, but I put people in DeVos Hall.”
Dave with wife Jan moved to Lowell in 1996, and built a home on the Flat River complete with hidden moving panel doors and a white pine kitchen fireplace mantle. The mantle originates from the first Thompsons who arrived to Vergennes Township in 1833 as the first pioneer settlers.
Dave & Jan Thompson, avid volunteers, in their unique home.
He is proud of removing cars from Main Street during parades and organizing Dutch spaghetti dinners, as well as being Jan’s ticket out of Arizona. Currently, Dave is the post commander of Lowell American Legion, and on the board of Gilda’s Club.
Dave has three sons scattered around the country and five step children. Both Dave and Jan have lived by a motto:
“We all owe something to our community and we should be willing to give some time to those causes that affect others,” he said. “But when something ceases to be fun anymore, it’s time to move on to something else.”
Dave said the biggest claim to fame after all is said and done is being known as Jan Thompson’s husband. The couple received the title of 2010 Lowell Persons of the Year awarded by the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce.
The 1968 Prague Spring was looming over Czechoslovakia. On the night of August 20th, the country was invaded by the Soviet tanks and the armies of the Warsaw Pact. Hundreds of tanks roared all over the country in the full-blown invasion that impacted an entire generation of immigrants to the U.S., Germany, Canada and Australia. The country was occupied, and the Russians set up military bases both in Slovakia and in the Czech region. The Russians punished the Czechoslovak liberal government for attempting to create “socialism with human face.” The reformist movement was led by Alexander Dubcek, and late president Vaclav Havel who was part of a signatory group called Charta 1968. The Charta group proposed a series of reforms that meant to ease restrictions on the media, free speech and travel.
At the time of the occupation, my mother was on a spa stay in Carlsbad in Western Bohemia, a famous town known for its 12 healing springs.
“I went to the colonnade in the morning,” mom said. “People were crying, listening to the radio. There were huge demonstrations, as people knocked down statues of the communist leaders.”
Mom had to stay three more days, because the roads were closed due to tanks. Then she took a detour bus through Sumava to Brno.
“We had a new apartment in Brno, but I left for Vizovice to be with my parents,” she said.
There was no telephone connection, according to mom. But the borders were open for anyone to leave freely.
“My friends were leaving the country, crossing the border on foot with just a suitcase in their hands,” she said. “I didn’t want to go anywhere.”
She left by herself on Sept. 28, 1968 for Africa leaving us behind with grandparents Anna and Joseph.
I learned this from horror stories, passed down from generation to generation, and from an interview conducted with my parents in Venice, Florida on March 5th 2013.
My parents came back to Czechoslovakia in 1969 to be reunited with us and the rest of the family for a brief moment in time. Dad left again, because the school year in Khartoum was beginning.
“I didn’t want to leave. We just wanted to save some money for a house in Brno,” mom said.
But, as the one-year anniversary of the occupation approached, mom packed up her belongings along with us. All three of us ended up in Vienna, Austria with the help of a friend from Vizovice, and flew back to Africa. Since the exit visa was extended until the end of 1970, mom was still hoping to return to Czechoslovakia.
“For two years I lived in a limbo,” she said not knowing what was going to happen.
But dad was determined not to return to the Soviet-occupied country.
“We were discussing it with colleagues,” he said. “We had a consensus that we were not going to return.”
So, that’s how all four of us finally ended up together as a family in the fall of 1969 in Khartoum, Africa.
Relatives advised my parents not to return back to the country which was going through “normalization,” a hardline communist approach that purged all of Dubcek’s reforms. My heartbroken mother was crying constantly after dad said he wasn’t going to return home. So was my Grandmother Anna back in the old country. Total chaos prevailed, both inside the country and outside. People were leaving the country massively anyway they could, on foot or hidden in trunks of cars.
“Do not come back,” warned my paternal Grandfather Anthony in letters describing the grim situation in the homeland.
My Uncle John too was ready to leave the country, but Aunt Anna refused to. The border with neighboring West Germany was heavily guarded. Whoever got caught crossing was shot on the spot mercilessly. Everything was censored: letters, newspapers, TV, movies, as the Communist Party tightened its grip. Phones and apartments of suspicious individuals were tapped, that is if the residents were lucky enough and didn’t get locked up in jails. But so many did, like former president Vaclav Havel. The party put a damper on arts and culture allowing only the works of “socialist realism” about the working class called “proletariat.”
There was no TV in Khartoum at the time, so dad relied on British radio BBC and endless warning letters. He also listened to friends who had already immigrated to Canada. But mom still wanted to go home in spite of constant bad news. My parents fought often over the prospect of emigration. Unlike dad, mom did not speak English. She didn’t need to, because mom surrounded herself with Czech and Slovak friends. When shopping or in movies, dad translated for her. She argued that if she can’t speak English, she has to go home, and that her aging parents were getting increasingly sick.
“Do not return home,” was the overpowering message in letters coming from homeland.
Letters became a signature staple in our lives. From the origins of my name that mom saw in a novel with a letter greeting “Dear Emma” to most recent letters from Florida. In between there were hundreds of letters and postcards with stamps from Italy, Greece, Germany, Czech Republic and Czechoslovakia. I have an entire collection stored in boxes in the utility room that I call the Frankenstein Room.
It was a dark time for mom, as dad was arranging for a post-doctoral fellowship in Saskatoon, Canada with the help of a friend, Mr. Rosenberg. The airport in Khartoum was small, and people often sat or laid on the floor. We flew with Sudan Airways with a yellow tail and with Arabic letters. Sometimes we just went to the airport to watch a plane take off from the terrace. It just intensified mom’s longing for home, but helped her to reconnect. Many years later I adopted that habit of going to the airport whenever I was homesick in Grand Rapids.
My parents listened to the Beatles, and mom sported psychedelic colors and headbands typical for the late 60s, yellow and lime green. Ken was a British friend who used to visit with us. One night, he got so drunk on whiskey that he slept in the bathroom. Liquor was cheap in Sudan, who gained its independence from the British in 1956, but Britain maintained its influence and language domination.
My parents often talked about the palace revolutions during the Sudanese Civil War. I never quite understood what a palace revolution was as different governments changed hands, but it constantly inspired me. I can trace my inspiration to those days in Africa. During Ramadan, we heard the ghastly drumming coming from the other side of the Nile long into the night as the sounds carried into the river valley. I can still hear them today if I close my eyes.
Mom has always been proud of her good looks that she got from Grandfather Joseph. She had dark brown, almost black straight hair that she permed, warm brown eyes, sharp eyebrows, nice complexion and a slim figure.
“I was the most beautiful one there,” once she said about a ballroom dance.
Mom always attributed that sentence to a woman named Miluska, but I think she was actually talking about herself. Until recently, mom dyed her hair dark brown, but finally after so many years, the color would not stick. So, she reluctantly went gray. Mom has a theatrical habit of standing up from a dinner table, as she talks about the same events from her life over and over again, much like my Grandpa Joseph did.
“She always wanted an intermission during a play,” Grandpa used to laugh. He bought a miniature marionette theatre for mom and her sister Anna. As a true marionettisthe pulled the strings and changed voices.
Grandpa too would stand up from the table and make Caesar-like speeches. Mom and I inherited his theatrical manners. We both love movies, and I have written a screenplay. At some point, mom started wearing her signature coral orange lipstick that goes well with her teal colored outfits.
In her early 80s, she lightens up at any mention of her fine looks and personality.
“Really?” she smiles. “I still look good, and I lost some weight.
In the African heat, mom started taking naps (siestas) after lunch. The nights cooled down considerably. We all slept in a large airy room adjacent to the living room with light green wooden furniture. The trash was deposited into a vertical shaft in the kitchen.
Mom is a good cook, as she picked up various dining customs and dishes in different countries. I should call her a “Cosmo” chef. But we all know her best for her baking. Back home she used to bake for weddings, including her own. She counteracts her baking fame with, “Where did you come up with that?” or “I hate baking.”
What she really hated was the prospect of leaving her homeland forever, even though it was inevitable considering the crisis in the country.
Dad probably made up his mind to leave the country a long time before 1968. The country has always had a shortage of apartments. He finished his studies to the screaming of my brother and hauling coal to Mrs. Vyhlidal’s deteriorated apartment in Brno, in the region of Moravia.
About the feature photo Then and Now
Pictured above are my parents Eliska and Vaclav Konecny who started our immigration saga from former Czechoslovakia in the aftermath of the 1968 Prague Spring. An entire exodus of several generations defected the country to pursue freedom around the world including fellow author Peter Vodenka–Journey to Freedom, Defection from Czechoslovakia.
I am humbled by the opportunities I continue to find in the USA every day. This country has not only provided freedom to three generations of Czechs, including our children, but it has enabled us to grow as entrepreneurs of @Moravian Sons Distillery.
People ask me to speak at different events about the ordeal and the obstacles we had to overcome to survive hard-line socialism. I am still on the fence about the speaking engagements, as I don’t want to politicize my Greenwich Meridian Memoir.
Last weekend, during a big book signing event at the Wild Blueberry Festival in Paradise, UP, a gentleman asked me, “What do you think about Putin and the war in Ukraine?”
“I do not give my opinion on political affairs, because I don’t want to lose 50 percent of my readers,” I answered.
I do not give my opinion on political affairs, because I don’t want to lose fifty percent of my readers.”
Emma Palova, author
It wasn’t my intention to write a thesis on either of the regimes mentioned in the memoir, that is capitalism and socialism. And I quote from the Introduction to the memoir.
“Greenwich Meridian Memoir is by no means a treatise on either of the above-mentioned regimes, then or now. We were free to return back to our homeland at any point in time during the 52 years. And we have. That is our story. Come along on a journey of a lifetime.”
If you would like a signed copy of Greenwich Meridian Memoir click on the link below:
It is with deep respect and admiration that we congratulate you — you’ve officially been selected as a Finalist for the Author of the Year 2025 at the International Impact Book Awards, in the category of Non-Fiction – Cultural & Historical Memoir.
Your work was reviewed among hundreds of exceptional entries, and your message rose to the top. This recognition is more than a ranking — it’s a reflection of the impact your voice has had on readers, on the judging panel, and on the world of thought leadership.
You’ve done something most people only dream about: you’ve written a powerful book, you’ve put your truth on paper, and you’ve created something that moved others. That is no small thing. This moment is yours.
What Happens Next
The Author of the Year winner in your category will be announced live on stage at our Hollywood Gala on October 4th, 2025 — an unforgettable evening honoring thought leaders and changemakers from around the world.
We would be truly honored to celebrate this milestone with you in person. Finalists in attendance will receive:
A finalist certificate
An achievement medal
Recognition on stage during the ceremony among peers, media, and industry leaders.
More importantly, this is your moment, a chance to stand in a room of excellence and be acknowledged for the work you’ve already done.
We understand not everyone can attend, and we respect that deeply. However, in fairness to all finalists, if the winning author in any category is not present, the award will be presented to the next finalist in attendance.
A Night to Remember — and a Platform to Grow
The International Impact Book Awards Gala isn’t just a celebration — it’s a once-a-year opportunity to grow your brand, elevate your credibility, and be seen by the media, industry leaders, and potential collaborators.
Our team has poured every ounce of heart, labor, and intention into planning this event to honor you and every author selected. We would love for you to be part of it.
I am looking for sponsors for the AI and all episodes. Please contact Emma Palova at emmapalova123@gmail.com for details by April 15. Sponsorship is $40 through May 24. The sponsors gain visibility and their names will be read at the beginning of each episode on all major podcasting apps. Authors can sponsor themselves, and they will be given priority in reruns.
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The podcast features indie and small press authors who talk about their craft and offer a book giveaway.
Disclaimer: The description was created using an AI platform.
In a world increasingly shaped by AI-driven innovation, how do we navigate the complexities of copyright law? This presentation explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and intellectual property, addressing pressing questions about authorship, ownership, and accountability. Through real-world case studies, legal insights, and ethical perspectives, we will examine the challenges and opportunities AI brings to creative industries. Join us as we discuss strategies for creators, businesses, and policymakers to adapt to this rapidly evolving landscape, fostering a fair and innovative future for all.
Dr. C. Daniel Miller is a co-founder and co-owner of Integrated Writer Services, LLC, which provides copyright consulting and clearance service. He formerly served as president of the Collective of Independent Publishers and Authors (CIPA), previously known as the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. Dr. Miller regularly speaks and conducts workshops on copyright-related topics. His presentations include“Copyright Basics” and “Copyright in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” which are aimed at authors, independent publishers, and other creative professionals. Anyone dealing with copyright has to understand how the use of artificial Intelligence impacts the copyrightability of everything today. In addition to his consulting work, Dr. Miller is working on a second edition of the award-winning Copyright Clearance for Creatives, which serves as a guide to copyright issues for the creative community. The new edition will include a section on copyright and artificial intelligence (AI). Through his various roles, Dr. Miller contributes to the copyright literacy of individuals needed to help them ethically create and use copyrighted materials in the digital age
Copyright (c) 2025. Emma Palova. All rights reserved.
Writing a new chapter in my life as I take on new responsibilities in 2024. Yoga, treadmill, and meditation help me stay focused and move forward. And of course friends, most of them are far away, some live on the continent, others in Europe, and I have a friend in Adelaide, Australia. But, just the thought that they exist helps.
After the first major snowstorm of the season, we have received a total of 21 inches as of Sunday morning at 9:20 a.m. The lake snow effect has kicked in and we’re getting more snow, as Mom and I get ready for a trip to Florida. It is also my annual writing retreat.
Read your free Taurus Daily Horoscope to discover how the stars will align for you today! Reveal the hidden opportunities coming your way and any obstacles to be prepared for.
— Read on www.tarot.com/daily-horoscope/taurus/2024-01-14
Not a big writing day today, mainly because I had to catch up on social media posts with all the upcoming holiday events. I made the NaNoWriMo winners’ circle for the second year since it started in 2022. Check out the winners above.
Dec. 13 or 14 Books & Spirits special at The Book Nook & Java Shop in Montague
Dec. 22 Author Kenneth Harmon
Tasting events of Moravian Sons Distillery spirits
I will make this Czech eggnog for the upcoming holiday tastings of Moravian Sons Distillery with our apple spirit. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to experience Czech culture at its best. Our next tastings are on Dec. 7 at @Bricks at Campau Corner from 4 to 6 p.m., Dec. 8 at @HomeRun Liquor Beer & Wine, and Dec. 16 at The Book Nook & Java Shop in Montague from 3 to 7 p.m. Books & Spirits. Happy Holidays.
We will have real Czech eggnog made with our @Moravian Sons Distillery apple spirit. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to experience Czech culture at its best.
Ok, I am back at it pounding the keys on a wintery afternoon embarking on an adventure to finish the first draft of the new novel. I logged in 1,246 words. We got a mixture of rain and snow for a soggy day and a muddy gravel road with potholes. I ended up jumping on the treadmill instead of going on the trail.
I reaped the winner goodies this morning and entered the Winner’s Circle with other writers and authors. Sometimes, I feel like a kid back in school or a college student. I have to get all these rewards to continue on.
Rewards, badges
My badges and more, once I locate it all. The first one on the left is the winning badge for writing 50,000 words on or before Nov. 30, the second one is for writing daily, and the third one is for participating in this year’s challenge.
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
I am indulging in the sounds of the beach: Russian to the right, laughter to the right, kids straight up front and the crashing waves as far as I can see. The sun is warming my legs while my feet dig deep into the hot sand. It’s 82F and the sun is high above my head.
Lemonade Razzonade Bait Bucket Margarita
My backpack has everything I need: notepad and pens, suntan lotion, water, cash for a Blue Bait Margarita and magazines about living in Paradise.
I cannot omit the price this Paradise had to pay during hurricane Ian in September. Crews are still fixing the roofs and some signs have not been replaced. Otherwise you would not believe a hurricane blew through; just south of town.
Dad Vaclav and mom Ella
We spent a great morning on the town starting with yoga with Elin on the beach to the sounds of Ukulele Thursdays. We took a walk on Miami Street in search of the Greek restaurant Bromdon. We browsed through the Island View Boutique with beautiful blings and resort wear. Hasta La Vista.
Mom Ella is doing much better today after her surgery. With strength she’s also getting back her attitude, just a tad.
I have to pick up on chapter Mara and the Revelation of the Great Singapore secret in the sequel to The Lost Town. More later.
I am meeting with Maple later today and mixing up some cocktail recipes.
Well, the meeting with Maple didn’t happen, but I met Pat, the board secretary instead. YAY!
To top off this incredible productive day, I managed to pop into Pages Promotions Winter Book Festival. I am still clueless as to who murdered author Andrew Allen Smith who stole the Sardonic Manuscript, but did he really or was he just framed?
To be continued…,
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
I finished the NaNoWriMo 50k word challenge in November this morning at 6:38 am right before the start of Christmas Through Lowell. This was my third time participating. I can’t say that the novel writing challenge gets any easier with more experience or with more books published. However, I better understand my inner workings as a writer and an author. I know what is my most productive time, and how many words I need to log in per day, (2, 675) and how to push through a writing block.
Each year, I learn something new. This year, it was the buddy system and that it actually works.
When I saw the daily word log ins by buddies and fellow authors Andrew Smith, Diana Plopa, Marianne Wieland, Brenda Hasse and Jean Davis, I just had to keep up with them.
Near the summit, more insights other than metrics came in, and I will be posting quotes.
. Copyright (c) 2021. Emma Blogs LLC. All rights reserved.
“When I am writing, I am trying to find out who I am, who we are, what we’re capable of, what we feel, how we lose and stand up, and go from darkness into darkness.”
Maya Angelou
Lowell, MI- Together we can accomplish anything. We will get through this together. Each one of us has a part to play.
How many times do we get to chat simultaneously with people from Florida, Oklahoma , Minnesota and Michigan?
I did for the first time earlier in the day via video chat Zoo room app. I connected with familiar faces, and I am so grateful for technology with all its whims.
Read your free Taurus Daily Horoscope to discover how the stars will align for you today! Reveal the hidden opportunities coming your way and any obstacles to be prepared for.
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