Cloak of shame
For much of my life, I wore a heavy cloak of shame. I couldn’t shake it. Even if I was successful in ridding myself of it for a short period…
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Mother was a drop-out, part 1
Here’s another one of Mom’s yarns. School days began at Sterling Elementary School. It was about two blocks from home if I went out the back way. (Be sure to…
Microplastics are everywhere but we can make their impact smaller
“Environmental problems are really social problems. They begin with people as the cause and end with people as the victims.” – Sir Edmund Hillary It’s a challenging world when we…
Pressing flowers
Have you ever received a gift and been so enamored with it that you wonder how you’ve gone your entire life without it? For me, it happened on my birthday…
“Spay” puts face on complexities of addiction
By LARRY ADAMS A Seat on the Aisle “There ARE no solutions, okay?” – Aubrey, from “Spay” American Lives Theatre (ALT) prides itself on “presenting a mirror to this country,…
“No” isn’t a bad word
Has saying no to something good ever been a struggle for you? Are you a people-pleaser? Do you compare yourself to others? Me too. How could I say no? I…
A look back at our Civil War past
The story of John Hoard By KEVIN YANEY Guest Columnist You can learn a lot about the past by taking a stroll through an old cemetery. One of the fascinating…
Like father, unlike son
The final sawn limb popped from the poplar tree, untangled from the utility line and crashed down. Middle-aged, I applauded from a safe distance, like a giddy child. My old…
Spreading joy to your customers
“Customer satisfaction is worthless. Customer loyalty is priceless.” – Jeffrey Gitomer, author & speaker Hopefully by now you’re on the path to being a more joyful person/employee and you’re gaining…
The big hill
A few years ago, my husband, my youngest son, and I went on a weekend getaway for his fall break. I told them I wanted to try a short trail…