Elmo, the red shag rug Muppet from Sesame Street, inadvertently set off a firestorm by asking an innocent question; “How is everybody doing?” The puppet’s social media account on “X” formerly known as Twitter, was inundated with hundreds of responses from people who admitted to feeling anxious, gloomy, and full of despair. Too bad Elmo…
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Like Fred Flintstone planting his big feet on the ground from the driver’s seat of his stone-wheeled car, my latest book plans have come to a screeching halt. WILMA!!!! It was all going so well, and writing makes me as happy as applying mascara made Tammy Faye Baker. “La-la-la, life is so good. La-la-la, this…
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When I first taught school, the director of our flagship Early Childhood Intervention program told us we would be fired if she ever caught us giving our students a “ditto,” which is an old-fashioned thing to call a pre-printed coloring book type of page. We could use blank paper only. If we wanted the children…
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It is the tale of a tough, determined woman from the Civil War who isn’t named Scarlett. “Gathering Leaves,” by Ron Meszaros is a love story, a history lesson, the tale of a strong woman, a war story, a dog lover’s story, and an example of faith that is sprinkled with curse words — all…
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The brown paper grocery bag held three loaves of bread — not even Sunbeam or Wonder Bread, just run-of-the-mill regular old sliced bread. It was my first experience with a death in the family, but I knew to smile, say “thank you,” and get the name of the bread bearer so a proper thank you…
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Everything I’m reading and listening to this week before the New Year revolves around goals, dreams, plans, and passions for the next 12 months. Passionate people have always been a favorite topic of mine, and it seems they’re the ones making all the big plans for the New Year. These people are captivating to know…
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I had to take drastic measures to control the stress of Christmas, even if it meant giving up one of my favorite traditions — for this year only. – this story can be found in Lagniappe News. I’m feeling out of sorts this Christmas season. It’s not because I started December off with a violent…
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Before she had the Pepto Bismol Pink wedding in Steele Magnolias, no one was named Shelby. Shelby was a car, for crying out loud, but after we watched her story on the big screen, we wanted to be just like her and started naming our daughters after the perfect Southern girl. Our 1980s gang thought…
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Fairhope’s Magical Christmas Parade had a weather delay this year and was moved to a Thursday night, which resulted in much smaller crowds than in recent years. I have to admit, it was a nice throw-back to a decade or so ago when there weren’t so many people living here- a relaxed, non-pushing kind of…
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Continuing my podcast notes from yesterday (HERE), here’s the scoop on a great podcast. Listen while you bake Christmas cookies or drive your one horse open sleigh to parties. I don’t have a sister, but I truly think I could plop myself down at the kitchen table with Lainie and Laura Beth and feel like…
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