I’ve had Shirley Westfall on my mind. When I read her obituary in the newspaper, a stream of kindergarten memories played in my head. You see, Miss Westfall and Mrs. Thelma Nutter (Cookie Cutter, Peanut Butter Window Shutter…) led my three children through kindergarten. And what a team they were. Mrs. Nutter controlled her boisterous…
I’ve been counting to 40. And let me tell you, counting to 40 is a bigger emotional investment than counting to three. Yet, I remain forever grateful to my parents for that first math lesson. Learning to count to three was key to reaching 250, 1000, and, well, 40. I lost track of how many…
One Sunday a month, I help out with toddlers in our church nursery. Volunteering in the nursery is an important task, but my responsibilities aren’t what you’d call taxing. As part of my duties, I read aloud an abbreviated Bible story. Then, I assist the kids with a craft. If we have any additional time,…
Is it my imagination or has there been a tattoo explosion over the past 20 years? Because my mind and tastes change from minute to minute, tatting pictures and sentiments in living color on my body is probably not a good idea. To me, tattoos are permanent reminders of temporary feelings. Still, I’ve been trying…
Gray is not my friend. I come home from the salon with a new head of color, and three days later those merciless grays start sneaking back. OK. Two to three weeks is a more honest estimate, but it feels like three days. Those pompous unwanted grey strands smile when they see me see them.…
My friends told me about a tennis player named Debbie Disco. I did not believe them. “Debbie Disco plays for the league across town,” said one of my teammates. “I’m sure you’ve met her.” First: If I met a woman named Debbie Disco, I would not forget her. Second: I was raised by a practical…
Funny how just a smell, taste, sight, sound, or a place can land us in the middle of a memory. The scent of homemade bread puts me back at the table in my grandmother’s kitchen. At the sight of a child clanging a triangle, I’m a second grader again in Miss Hatfield’s music class holding…
Several months after Gary and I celebrated our 40th birthdays and our 60th wedding anniversary, my mother rang in her “30th” birthday. Don’t waste time re-reading that sentence. Don’t waste energy scratching your head. I call my life as I feel it. In honor of our mother’s birthday, the 6’2” baby of the family — we call him…
Last week, I attended my first swim meet in a long while. I saw my grand niece and nephew compete for my children’s alma mater—the Bridgeport Wildcatters. Within minutes of my arrival, I saw life come full circle: former teammates of my children have become the parents of the newest generation of Wildcatters. As I…
It’s no secret that Independence Day is special to me. It’s one of the most important holidays Americans celebrate. Now, more than ever, citizens need to remind themselves of the reasons we have lived safe and free for 245 years. Over the past several months, our country has suffered divisions of gigantic proportions in the…
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