Raise your hand if you had a charm bracelet. Can’t you just hear the jingle jangle of family vacations, school activities, hobbies, and religious celebrations? Chances are, if you were a woman raised in the 50-70’s, you may have had a charm bracelet. According to my research, they surged post-World War II, and peaked in the early 1960’s, yet I recall their popularity in the late 60’s-early 70’s. “The charm bracelet has evolved over the decades, but still retains its basic concept…a bracelet Continue Reading
Dreaming of a White Christmas
There I was, sitting in row three of the balcony, dead-center. It was the Phoenix Symphony Holiday Concert with the Phoenix Choir, and within seconds of the start of the song, tears began to form. Soon, I was searching for Kleenex in my purse to dab those I couldn’t blink back. The top of my mask absorbed the runaways. I never got close to a sob, but I felt my bottom lip quiver. Fortunately, the tears were gone by the final note. “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used Continue Reading
Going Home -Part 1
Can you ever go home again? And what does that mean to you? I ask because in a couple of days, I’m on my way home. Oh, not permanently, but for a brief visit, enough to conjure up warm memories that are already making me a bit gooey inside. The smell of spray starch when I bounded in from school and chatted with my mom while she did the ironing.The slap, slap of the cards on the dining room table as Dad played solitaire every night.The snow forts we’d make in the winter when the snow plow Continue Reading
Olympics and Politics
“Are you watching the Olympics?” It was a simple question posed by a woman on a local Facebook group, less than 72 hours after the opening ceremony. Many people said yes and many, a simple no, and I understand. The sixteen-day focus on sports is not for everyone. Then I saw a wave of other responses like this: (Paraphrased) When these athletes start respecting this great country, I’ll watch again. Not this year. I refuse to support these people who don’t represent my America. They Continue Reading