Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
In recent weeks, I’ve been cleaning out the storage room and a few other areas in my childhood home. The task has been physically taxing and emotionally draining. The initial clean out happened almost ten years ago following my mother’s death, but there were some things that fell into the categories of “don’t know what […]
Years ago, the trademark symbol of one of the television networks was a stylized peacock with vivid multi-colored tail feathers. The words “brought to you in living color,” along with the peacock, preceded programing. Perhaps the trademark originated when television transitioned from black and white to color. Regardless, it was a vivid visual image that […]
Each year, when the third week in June rolls around, I can’t help but think of my Daddy. Even though he died almost 30 years ago, I still miss him. I miss his strong hugs with a jiggly squeeze at the end. I miss his gentle voice, his humor, and his wisdom. My father was […]
In these turbulent days, calmness and peace are hard to find. Demonstrations, marches, violence, fear, and turmoil flood our cities, and mainstream and social media. Coming on the heels of COVID-19 quarantine, one has to wonder if all the emotion stems from fear, frustration, and confinement rather than backlash over injustice. We all experience times […]
In the mid-1950s, before I was born, my parents went to Europe. My Uncle Wesley was stationed in Germany as part of the post-WWII Allied presence and my parents visited him and Aunt Jean. But my parents also went to Switzerland to see the place where my father was held prisoner after his plane was […]
Life presents us with many learning opportunities and COVID-19 is no exception. The uncertainties of the disease, and other unknowns, challenge us in unexpected ways and bring out various emotions. The wide range of actions, reactions, and emotions highlight positives and negatives. Following are some things we are learning about ourselves in the face of […]
Last weekend, we had the pleasure of gathering our family in our home to celebrate Mother’s Day and our daughter-in-law’s birthday. After months apart, it was a joy to see each other in person, share a meal, and watch little folks play, squeal, run, and laugh. We are social beings, designed by God, our Creator, […]
As I sat on the deck one morning, I looked across the yard to a spot where I thought we had planted a dogwood tree, but the tree wasn’t visible. Thinking perhaps the tree was a victim of the recent tornado, I walked to the edge of the yard. Upon further inspection, I saw that […]
Years ago, a popular watch brand introduced a series of television commercials designed to show the durability, shock-resistance, waterproofing, and dependability of their products. The commercials put wristwatches through various scenarios designed to test them, including: strapping them to a baseball bat that was used to hit a fast ball, taping a watch to a […]
In a matter of weeks, our patterns of daily living changed as COVID-19 invaded our lives. Businesses moved to survival mode. Parents became teachers. People transitioned to working from home. Conferences were canceled or moved to the fall, and meetings shifted to Zoom. Along with these changes, came forms of new learning required to make […]