As the mother (and grandmother) of girls, I am hyperconscious of the messages they receive. They have more choices than the ones I did as a young woman. But the...
Last month my nephew and I agreed to a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order for my mother. As co-guardians, we had separately agonized about telling the other how we ...
I’ve mentioned sporting events several times in this column. My favorite was embarking on my first 5K… for bacon. The reward, besides the health benefit, was un...
We spent Easter with family in Pensacola, Florida, a mini-reunion of my husband’s immediate family.
Reunions have been a part of Roger’s family for decades. ...
In Hitchcock's classic thriller Rear Window, the wheelchair bound protagonist (Jimmy Stewart) suspects that his neighbor has killed his wife and shipped her par...
Last month I attended my first service at a Greek Orthodox Church. I have seen many infant baptisms, but the triple full immersion of a naked baby was a first. ...
Recently I had a blast from the past when a woman I grew up with called. I have not seen or talked to her in years. An Afro-American, Erma is married to a white...
It is not unusual to see a movie and get excited about visiting that location. Any James Bond movie is a travelers dream. Even Thelma and Louise inspired movieg...
Here we are again trying to figure out what to give or request for Christmas, a ritual fraught with anxiety and worry, or anticipation. If it’s right, there is ...
On November 11 we celebrate Veterans Day, commemorating the armistice that ended the Great War when a peace treaty was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day i...
I often throw a load of clothes in the dryer or start the dishwasher before I charge out the door—it’s efficient.
I know, I know, it’s also not a good idea. Di...
I recently passed one of those massive flags at a gas station. I’m sure it was supposed to show their love of country; instead what I saw was a tattered, faded ...
Sometimes the bonds between friends can be stronger than that of family. Our friend Juanita was one of those friends. She was kind and loving and also had a wic...
Memorial Day 2016
It was fun seeing my children grow and learn. Now I’m re-experiencing that thrill with my granddaughter. We have videos of her rolling ove...
Last summer my mother had a stroke. By October we knew that she would not be returning home. With court-ordered Guardianship and Conservatorship, I set about cl...
This Memorial Day we once again focus on those who have sacrificed by serving our country. But why do they serve?
My six year-old great-nephew provoked this ...
Few people have the luxury of doing something they enjoy until they want to retire.
Thus, I was delighted to read about my brother-in-law’s barber, Joe Brown...
My 41 year-old niece Tamar is special needs – developmentally disabled. She didn’t go to prom, has never held a job, and never lived or traveled alone. Yet she ...
Next month, Illinois voters will vote in the primary for a nominee for president. For a nation that cherishes freedoms, a significant percentage will not vote. ...
A recent article in Consumer Reports reported how seniors and their families lose $3 billion a year to con artists. But reputable companies also succeed in avoi...
