With apologies to Ms Franklin Read More

I had a glimpse of the future at East Lansing Junior High--and it didn't look good. It seemed like a reprieve when our family moved to the other side of the world. I wasn't sorry. Read More

Once it got dark, the kids would hit the residential streets in roving bands gone wild, armed with big bags, running to each porchlight to cry, “Trickertreat!" at the door. Read More

At age 92, there was no treatment for him; usually the end would come from some infection his blood cells could no longer fight off. When?  Maybe a month or two, max.  Maybe tomorrow.  No one knew. He got very quiet and then said, “Oh.  I guess I had better make some phone calls.” Read More

The traffic going into London for the morning commute is insane.  The roads in London are impossible (and no GPS then).  Finding the cute little hotel in the Bloomsbury District would have been a challenge if we were awake and oriented; we were not.  Read More

I just remember it was the girls crowding around my dad, and it was a very special time. Each week, he put aside his work and read us a chapter. Read More

Meals were a challenge when I was a resident on hospital rotations.  There were no official breaks, no lunch, dinner, or breakfast hours, just work that had to be done and rounds to attend.  Sure, there were cafeterias with overcooked steam trays of food, but they weren’t open 24/7, and weren’t free.  Finding a moment… Read More

It is not foreign terrorists who invaded the US Capitol, corrupted democracy, attacked the press, blocked voting, tried to install an unelected autocrat, attacked public health, imposed punishments with religious zealotry against women, or damaged the rule of law. Read More

It was clear I needed a job.  Turning twenty, literate (two years of college behind me), energetic, and flexible—surely this would not be too hard.  But it turned out I knew nothing about finding work. Read More

The house was a study in deferred maintenance.  Charming, with furniture, bedding, kitchen ware, and barn implements still in place, but old. He was a budding architect.  I was a friend of a friend with no repair skills to speak of, but had youthful enthusiasm, and came cheap. Read More