Month: January 2005

My New York sister returned from her week long trip to Las Vegas richer than she left. Before she left, a church friend teasingly hinted her trip had to do with a looming mid-life crisis, “We need to pray for her. She is turning 50 this week and is heading out to Las Vegas.” If…

Five-year-old Kenny Robert was quite adamant about one thing: He did not like heights and he had no intention of going up the wooden steps of the sturdy, if breezy, four-story-high observation tower at the park. The fit he threw at the base of the tower was meant to convince Uncle Randy that he would…

Electronics provide us with a number of venues to escape real life: Reality shows about survivors who never saw a tsunami, a tornado or a mud slide; exotic tales of romance and mystery few of us will ever encounter and round the clock sports with players whose yearly salaries exceed Average Joe’s lifetime salary. Choosing…

My husband once observed, “Joan, when you do something, you really do it.” I stood there with my mouth open – all I had done that day was throw together a couple meals and half listen to be sure no child was in major trouble while I spent hours reading a very absorbing book. “All…

Reading the business page report on the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Asia and Indonesia last week left a bad taste in my mouth. The business reporter assessed the financial situation from the destruction in Indonesia and Sri Lanka and other countries. One phrase in particular echoed in my brain: “The devastating earthquake and…