I’ve heard more than one person my age complain that so many younger adults are unable (or unwilling) to compromise. I have a theory about that.
When I was growing up during the 1950s, we had one telephone, which was...
Imagine my surprise when I moved to Arlington in 1976 and heard everyone talk about going to “the beach.” It took me at least one season to realize they were talking about going to the edge of a real...
Remember when “a visit” didn’t mean a trip? It meant connecting with other people, also known these days as chatting or conversing or my least favorite: “reaching out.”
Visiting didn’t happen by e-mail, text, Zoom or Snapchat. It meant you...
I’ve always been a joiner, even as a kid. So over the years I’ve belonged to plenty of clubs, but the one I remember most fondly and which taught me the most was Girl Scouts.
We met on Thursdays after...
Back in my childhood, I didn’t need the rock, but sure needed paper and scissors for another favorite pastime of mine: paper dolls.
Keep in mind, these were not the fancy things so prevalent today, made of pliable, easy-peel-and-stick plastic.
Ours...
From previous columns, you know my mother juggled better than any circus performer. She cooked, cleaned, kept the books for the family business, did the taxes and was active in our church. I forgot to mention another of her...
'Old School' column: Crowd control
Recently a friend confided that her 80-year-old mother is having trouble adjusting to life in a retirement community.
It seems the poor women told her daughter tearfully at lunch that she’s dealing with “mean girls.” We’ve...
I loved my dolls as a kid and had several over the years. They tended to fall into two categories: the “look, but don’t touch” variety and the “everyday play” type.
The first I remember was a doll I received...
My family was big on colloquial sayings and used them in everyday speech. I arrived in Arlington, “fresh off the boat” and had no idea my fellow residents didn’t know them, too.
I learned this disturbing detail in a restaurant...
Call me crazy, but I’m one of those codgers who likes to look at old photos. It brings a smile to my face and triggers many columns.
I like remembering the “back story” of the more recent photos. You know...
