In a story about the University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team, a description of a player set off my grammar alarm. It read, “…a Black member of the school’s volleyball team….” Why was an adjective capitalized? It is well known that the primary work of an adjective is to describe. In the case above,…
It was my turn to checkout at the grocery store. The petite, dark-haired cashier hummed as she scanned bell peppers, eggs, and pork tenderloin over the flat glass. “What are you humming,” I said. “Oh, nothing in particular, just working to the beat,” she said. “You can’t stop the beat,” I said and pressed a…
I’ve just completed a six-week course called, “Appreciate Your Nondominant Hand.” I did not sign up for the program. It was a crash course—in the most literal sense. I fell backward and committed a cardinal sin: I caught myself with my left hand. The not-so-graceful move resulted in a clean fracture, but a fracture nonetheless,…
As the sun faded into the horizon on Memorial Day, I received a text from a friend. She sent a photo of a comment she happened to see on Facebook. The picture showed only a couple of sentences of a conversation. It read: “Some of the inscriptions are awesome – ‘I dreamed, I soared.’ ‘Love…
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…
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