Published in Mercury Press·23 hours agoI am Observing July 4thI get why you aren’t but here’s my reason — My social media and writing platforms are filled with Americans sitting out the 4th of July this year. Some of them give specific reasons and others are just NOT doing it. I respect their decisions and understand their reasons. They don’t feel the independence of Independence Day. I saw it…4th Of July5 min read
Published in Mercury Press·Jun 22Bring in the Puppets and CrayonsRealizations of a frustrated communicator — I am a Maximizer. I used to think that meant I made the best out of a situation. And, I suppose that’s still true. But, according to Now Discover Your Strengths, (by the dreamy-blue-eyed Marcus Buckingham) a Maximizer is someone that develops already performing folks to the best potential. While…Communication3 min read
Published in Mercury Press·Jun 19Death of a Salesman(Trigger warning: suicide) — I once explained to a small group my ideas for selling an odd mismatched item. At the end of the discussion, in which I shared a rather off-the-wall approach that actually HAS worked before, one of the people asked me if I could sell ice to the Eskimos. “No,” I said…Life7 min read
Published in Mercury Press·Jun 17There are no Fringe BenefitsLook at the whole, not just the fringe — Social Media is one of my passions. This no longer makes me feel embarrassed and ashamed. Through social media I see my grandsons, often all of them, in two different states, all on the same day. I get to share in the excitement of a sports achievement, get to see the…Life4 min read
Published in Mercury Press·Jun 15Sister ActSometimes the magic takes time — My first daughter was 2 and a half when her little sister was born. We made sure that the baby arrived (miraculously and mysteriously!) with an ‘I am the BIG Sister’ t shirt and baby doll for Jennifer. Careful introductions were made. Much attention lavished on Jennifer. Shannon came home on- I…Life4 min read
Published in Mercury Press·Jun 13Your Struggle is Not Your IdentityDon’t get distracted — I heard a commercial tonight; medication for people that ‘struggle with obesity’. That’s odd. Many things are a struggle for me: parallel parking online banking growing the nail on my left index finger keeping my witness when six lanes merge into two and someone decides they can make their own…Life2 min read
Published in Mercury Press·Jun 10Being-HaveWhat are the Main Rules for your family? — When they were small and I admonished my daughters to ‘Behave!’ it was my youngest daughter’s usual response to say ‘We ARE being-have!’ Her protest was usually accurate. There is, after all, a limit to the mischief you can do when you are under three feet tall. …Luck3 min read
Published in Mercury Press·Jun 8Making is a Super-PowerSometimes too much is wonderful — When my husband-to-be and I moved into our house we did it all ourselves. Load after load in the back of the van and car. Load. After. Load. After. Load. After Load. At one point, after we set the Craft Shelving into place in the basement (note- Craft Shelving is white…Luck4 min read
Published in Mercury Press·Jun 6The Fish (Sandwich) That Saved PittsburghThe Holy Moley and the Wholey Whaler — I’ve lived in Michigan for 19 years but to me ‘eating local’ means Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has several fine restaurants (steak, Pittsburgh-style), many mom and pop diners (pancakes and omelets to make you weep with joy), and some truly amazing firehalls and church meeting rooms to tempt your tastebuds (kielbasa and…Travel5 min read
Published in Mercury Press·Jun 2#WearOrange DayPlease: Don’t shoot — Friday June 3 is the start of #WearOrange weekend. It is also National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Orange is the color worn in the woods during hunting season: a bright and vivid color used to protect the wearer from death by shooting. Bluntly: it’s done to protect people from being killed. If…Communication2 min read