When I was growing up, I was continually in hot water. Mostly I had no idea why. Randomly, my mother would tell me to go to my room. I learned later that because I had been sent to my room, I missed phone calls from my long-distance father and grandmother…

(And how you can help stop them) — A historic Catholic church in our town burned this morning. My heart breaks for the 1000+ members of this congregation. They hold mass in four different languages to make more people feel at home in their parish. They host a school and a myriad of activities. …

(in memory of wonderful women) — A magnificent woman died last night. Even if you have reached the point where you are at peace with being in the final quarter of your life, it is not okay when good people die. Hypocritical, yes, but true none-the-less. This news brought forth one of those memories our brains…

Recently the MusiCares organization (a division of the Recording Academy) sent out a call to all musicians and members of the music community to volunteer some sort of service on Friday, July 28th. My first thoughts were, “Summer is music season, I’m too busy.,” “I can’t do any extra peopling.,”…

For the past several days there has been an outcry regarding country singer Jason Aldean’s newest video, “Try That in a Small Town.” Country Music Television pulled it out of rotation. Fox News celebrated it. Sheryl Crow condemned it. The reality of all this discussion is not about the disturbing…

It will tell you where you’ve been — (Excepts from a speech given by Kathy Crosby at the Falls City, OR Baccalaureate celebration 5/31/23) Did you know that on the Northern east coast of America and in Scotland they have wishing stones? They are simple gray rocks with a stripe of white or pink quartz. …

The days we celebrate our parents change as time rolls along. In a perfect family, there are people you share DNA with, none or some siblings, and a complete muddle of the days celebrating parents, complete with burnt breakfast in bed, flowers picked from your favorite plant, and artwork where…

(Until it becomes a part of daily life) I shared a long discussion with a student this week regarding our new obsession with AI writing, art, and music — including who owns the intellectual property rights, answers gone terribly wrong, and how the world is always afraid of drastic change. …

If you are a parent, you have witnessed your children doing things that may not be the best of choices. …

We have been doing a rare “binge watch” at our house, and the question was presented the other evening as to what we would do if we had known what act of violence Ted Bundy would perform? Sort of a butterfly effect. If we’d known that someone would grow up…

Most people have experienced the death of someone who puts them in a state of grieving. Grandparents, parents, siblings, friends, pets, and other assorted beings who have left us behind to mourn the fact that they have moved on without us. Recently, my brother became the first of my siblings…

Several years ago, I was presented with the nametag in the photo above. I wasn’t the only one — dozens of these tags with different sayings on them were passed out that night. The goal was simply to make people feel good about themselves. It would not have mattered which…

In the state I reside in, we’ve had three deceased whales wash up on the beach in recent days. For many of us, this brings up memories of 1970, when it was decided to remove the carcass of a whale from the beach by blowing it up. What could possibly…

Mr. Sussex needs help. Inpatient mental health therapy support. The trajectory he is on can only end in tragedy, and that would be a calamity on so many levels. His documentary, his book, and his interviews have only made me sad. His manic behavior from charming to angry to bitter…

We rarely go to the movie theater as most offerings are as good (or bad) on the small screen as they are the large. Occasionally, a movie comes along that must be experienced in a room that shakes your seat with the bass notes (Maverick) or needs to be 3D…

Old devil age, you’re catching up with me My hair’s gone gray, and I always need to pee My eyes have wrinkles, and my cheeks sag I’ll swat the first person who calls me a hag My bosom is where my waist used to be My arms hang low and…

In addition to writing, I produce a weekly vlog called Short and Sweet. This labor of love covers subjects such as: • Babies and Road Maps • Those Who Have Done You Right • Gratitude • Anxiety, false hope, and determination • Love • Choices • Bullies • Attitude •…

Make your bed Clean up this mess Take out the garbage Do your chores We’ve heard them all. At one time we felt our parents were so MEAN to ask these things of us. As adults we understand they are simply part of life. Is there a meaning past the…

I made it to 60. I should be grateful. Many people begin to wonder what happened to the body they’ve known all their life once they hit the age of 40. You know the routine. Suddenly, your pants fit better if you put them on backwards. Your bird legs unexpectedly…

I regularly take surveys for a company called YouGov.com. A question in today’s survey had me scrambling for a Google search as I simply couldn’t believe it was true. Undocumented immigrants are being shipped to blue states. Each year, thousands of cities purchase one-way tickets to bus the homeless out…