Book excerpt: Combining the personal and the universal, this essay collection by best-selling author Marnie O. Mamminga details the common experiences that unite us in the heart of the country. From the Chicago suburbs to the Northwoods of Wisconsin, On a Clear Night charts the passage of time from childhood to adulthood, sickness to health, working life to retirement, parenthood to grandparenthood, and everything in between. These humorous and sharply-observed vignettes highlight the importance of taking time to appreciate the ordinary occurrences that profoundly shape our lives and the places we call home.