I'm changing offices, temporarily, until March when I will move again. I've changed offices 3 times in 5 years and each time I purge a little more...a few more old files are discarded, old reprinted articles tossed, books given away, pictures pitched. I… Read full post »

I'll say right at the beginning, summer is my least favorite season. I don't like hot weather, humidity, or bugs. I don't like going from air conditioning to hot air and back again. I don't like feeling sweaty and sticky.  I don't like summer.

So, it will come… Read full post »

Over the weekend I was watching 2.5 year old Clara while her parents went out to dinner.  She is still working on the use of pronouns; I, you, mine, yours.  She has it down pretty well, but there are still a lot of third person references, "Clara do it!"  or occasional… Read full post »

Was bowling with the boys over the weekend. After putting on his shoes and choosing a ball, my 20 year old bent down to roll up the bottom of his jeans which were dragging a bit on the floor.  "Good,"  I commented, "that was making me a little nervous."  He smiled,… Read full post »

I remember 3 things about learning to read and 1 thing about trying to teach someone else.

In kindergarten I was fascinated with the idea of reading. I had two older sisters and they would read all the time. I didn't quite get it. We were learning about letters and… Read full post »

Dear Rose; I am so pleased to hear that AFAR is recognizing you at their dinner this year. I wish I was able to be with you tonight, because I’m afraid that what I write won’t convey all that I feel. I’d like to be able to give you a big hug… Read full post »

When is the right age to start feeling nostalgic?  I used to laugh when my sons, at ages 8 and 12, would reminisce about their “childhoods,” but at 54 can I legitimately feel nostalgic for mine? 

I was at a Noel Paul Stookey/Peter Yarrow concert a few days ago and spent… Read full post »

I'm cheating.  But, I can't help from sharing this story of my father's.  Here is what he wrote:

I came in and made a pot of stuffed peppers, a dietary delicacy akin to the ambrosia that the gods on Mount Olympus dined upon or the manna that fed the Israelites.  

I think… Read full post »

 I don’t fly Southwest Airlines often, they don’t service my city, but from time to time when I’m traveling west it makes economic sense to drive a few hours to get a flight with them.  Being a relative neophyte, I’m always a little taken back with their open seating… Read full post »

      Today I was walking in one of my favorite places in the world, the Indiana Dunes. My parents met and fell in love there. As kids, we spent many summer hours at the beach, and many more fall and spring days hiking the trails. In high school I would toboggan d… Read full post »

  Remember middle school, possibly the worst years of your life? It is a time for figuring out the rules to life and love, with lots of missteps along the way…

A few years ago my younger son performed in the middle school musical. He did a fantastic job, sang wonderfully,… Read full post »

It was April, the week after Easter, and we were all on vacation from school.  My family lived on Meadowbrook Road, a dead end street where eight houses stood at the top of the hill.  The houses on our road were originally summer homes for Chicago residents. People would come to… Read full post »

Somewhere around 8th or 9th grade I figure I must have missed a day of school. It was the day when all the girls were taken into another room and given the official "girl guide."  You know, the one where they tell you about make-up and clothes, and all the mysteries… Read full post »