Category: Features

What Do You Say to a Gold Star Mom?

Kathy Sinnott How often do we see heroes wearing insignias or uniforms that identify one’s service in the military or other hero profession? How often do we then congratulate and thank them for their service? For the Gold Star Moms who wear the Gold Star lapel pin, it’s of the utmost importance to approach them…

Word of the Month: Gerund

David Zapatka Reader Luz Stella Perotti wrote, “I had a SPLENDID time reading that one (Splendor). It is one of my favorite words.” While reading a fiction writers evaluation team’s comments about what makes a story successful, I came across these sentences, “Successful: tight writing, sharp dialogue, creative use of language, vivid imagery, a surprising…

Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress

Suzanne Marlatt Stewart The holiday season can bring mixed emotions for many. For some, it’s their favorite time of year. For others, it brings feelings of sadness and loss. Seeing old friends and family members may be exciting or may bring up memories of disappointments. Feeling depressed or anxious is not unusual during the holiday…

2 Your Health: How to Repair Damaged Relationships

How to Repair Damaged Relationships Dr. Rose Bricker Political stress has damaged some of our relationships! Anger and hurt are the reasons people have disconnected with family members, friends, and neighbors. Are you experiencing challenges within your relationships? Do you want to start to rebuild the relationships that you’ve lost? Or maybe, just make sense…

A Birthday Gift

Ron Machado It was cold and dark when I stepped out of my room this morning. Early this year, I turned 85 and wanted to do something different for my birthday. I contacted an old friend, Carl van Zyl, the owner of John X Safaris, and spoke with him about hunting a cape buffalo. I…

Duplicate Bridge Brilliant Birthdays!

Toni Graves We’ve heard that duplicate bridge keeps your mind nimble. There is a group of SBRers who prove mental acuity is important, but social interaction is even better and just plain fun. In October, the Duplicate Bridge Club’s Manager, Niel Hartman, celebrated his 80th birthday, and Barb Simms celebrated her 70th with other members…