Author Archive

Shortly after married in 1968, Jack started carrying his wife up flights of stairs. It wasn’t a romantic gesture, but certainly a labor of love. A heart condition diagnosed after their wedding made stair climbing very difficult if not impossible for Lois. And as grateful as she was for Jack’s faithfulness in carrying...
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Sensitivity to body size, weight, BMI or physical appearance seems a genetic trait in my family. We’re not overly large people, but we are appreciative of good food especially at social events. One son-in-law says we discuss food in greater detail than most. Perhaps he’s right, or perhaps those he spends time with do...
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Meaningful quotations, self-help books, and thought provoking conversations about life, spirituality and ethics, these are a few of my favorite things, to borrow a line from a well-known song. Now one might conclude from such favorites that I’ve discovered the meaning of life and live blissfully in the moment regardless of surrounding chaos. ...
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Heart of Illinois Harvest began recycling long before green became a buzzword. The not-for-profit food rescue program was founded in 1992, and was the first chapter in Illinois, and the 52nd Harvest Chapter nationwide. The first food pickups began in December of ‘92. During the beginning years, dedicated volunteers averaged pickups of a ton...
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Technology and I are not best friends. We tolerate each other. I like what the latest electronic gadgetry can do, and if someone else operates it, I’m an enthusiastic observer. But I’m not keen on learning all the intricacies and solving the whole gamut of mysteries one must solve to use the latest device...
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Flipping through December issues of monthly magazines suggests contradictory approaches to the holidays. “Survive” headlines one magazine, “celebrate” another. Such different ways of considering the same event. In an effort to respect diversity and individualism, we struggle even with what to call that period of time from the day after Thanksgiving...
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We sit close together at the kitchen island enjoying breakfast. After numerous food options, she chooses pancakes, even after I explain they’re yesterday’s leftovers. She persists. I’m flattered, thinking she’s fond of my homemade pancakes. It’s only after we’re ready to add the choices of butter, syrup, or honey that I realize it’s not...
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“When women come together and are well informed, there is a lot to be accomplished,” says Duffy Armstrong, President of the Women’s Fund of Central Illinois. The Women’s Fund was established in 1993, and Duffy says proudly, “we’re shakers and movers to this day.” The primary purpose of the Women’s Fund is “to support programs...
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“We should write a book,” they tell me, laughing and joking as they exit the van. They have stories to share, and as the senior population increases, more people can relate to their details. As queen of part-time jobs, an honorary, self-bestowed title, I interact with many people in varied situations. Some favorite folks are...
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Deciding to welcome a dog into your heart and home requires considerable deliberation. Dogs are social creatures not content to simply sit in a corner. By their very nature, they like to be involved, especially with their owner. A dog’s capacity for affection and loyalty is limitless, but not every dog is...
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