Servant Leader, Historian, Writer
I like movies. I like to watch them, research them, and share them. A couple of years ago I responded to a Tweet from DVD Netflix asking if I was interested in partnering with them in their new “director” program for …
Recap of the DVD Netflix Director Trip Read more »
Every year around 9/11 we see a procession of posts on social media with the message, “Never Forget.” It is not likely that any of us who lived through that horrible day could forget exactly where we were when it happened …
What to Understand About “Never Forget” Read more »
The other day, my younger daughter invited me shopping to find some new clothes for her upcoming business trip. She works at well-respected Fortune 500 company, and she wanted to make a good impression. I was glad have time with …
A Logical Look at Today’s Female Work Attire Read more »
It seems that Tommy Wiseau has had the last laugh. Fifteen years ago, he spent $6 million to make The Room and grossed only $1,900 on its first release. Now, it’s become a cult phenomenon, and even though I’ve already …
Best F(r)iends: Funny? Or Not? Read more »
A spouse’s passing devastates. A Widow’s Story, by Joyce Carol Oates, illustrates the first year after her husband, Raymond J. Smith, died on February 18, 2008. Oates was fortunate to have many devoted friends, but she still felt isolated and …
Reading A Widow’s Story & Remembering 2008 JCO Talk Read more »
Recently, I saw The Post, starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. The film centers on a damning Vietnam War study and Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham’s most-difficult decision in 1971. At the beginning of the film, I was confused by …
The Post: Film About Katharine Graham, Unsure to Unstoppable Read more »
The 2018 Oscar nominations for I, Tonya sent me to my ancient clipping file to excavate a March 1994 essay I wrote about the controversial figure skater. The piece appeared in a reader-participation series featured in our local newspaper, called …
I, Tonya Renews Inspiration Read more »
I stood in the lobby of the 1891 Fredonia Opera House, in upstate New York, passing the time by looking at my phone while my husband sought out our will-call tickets. We were there to see Pat Donohue, Grammy-winning guitarist. …
An Evening in Fredonia With Guitarist Pat Donohue Read more »
Once upon a time, there was a country called, “Independence.” The citizens of Independence prided themselves on their patriotism, having an appreciation for the long-ago revolution that had liberated them from oppression. The citizens of Independence enjoyed many freedoms, including …
A National-Anthem Fable Read more »
When I tell people I belong to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), sometimes they ask what the DAR is or what it does. Generally, I tell them that DAR members can trace their lineage back to a Revolutionary …
7 Things to Know about the DAR Read more »