This was originally published on June 19, 2013.
It would be wonderful if I could say that this kind of thing does not happen anymore.
That cannot be said because it still happens.
When asked, most women have a story.

Their stories may differ.
However, the underlying root cause is the same.
The abuser has a need for power and control.
The abuser disrespects and objectifies women.

Read More...

Have you ever watched a baby interact with the world?
Everything is new and exciting.
Every sound is fresh.
Every experience is untried.

A baby comes into the world totally dependent.
Within one year’s time, crawling becomes walking and babbling becomes talking.
Within one year, a cup has been mastered and food is eaten with their own hand.
The personality that God gave each child has come through loud and clear.

Read More...

It was not unheard of for my mother to pull over and give someone a ride.
The person was not a hitchhiker.
It was usually an elderly person waiting at a bus stop.
My mother was especially known for such behavior on a hot summer day.

I knew to expect that extra time would be added to whatever we were going to do.
It’s not out of my way, she would say to the person.
That was not altogether true but the person never knew.
I sat in the back seat and listened to their conversation.

Read More...

Mr. and Mrs. Kuroki were married in 1956.
The two cared for 60 cows on a dairy farm that was on their property.
They raised two children in addition to working long hours each day.
Their life was hard but rewarding just because they were together.

They had a dream.
Their dream was to travel around Japan after they both retired.
Everyone said it would be a well-earned trip.
They counted on that time together and looked forward to it with anticipation.

Read More...

My husband asked me if we were having a barbecue next weekend.
It is the first official holiday that marks the beginning of the summer season.
I knew what he meant.
He didn’t want anything large, just the family, which is large enough!

I knew that I could talk to my daughters as we drove to a bridal shower.
It was the shower for the fiance of my younger son.
My daughters were excited about cooking out and having our usual barbecue menu.
It was just a matter of deciding which day of the weekend would be best.

Read More...

Years ago, before my husband and I were married, one of his brothers got married.
My husband was a groomsman in the wedding.
I needed to get a lovely dress to wear to the occasion.
Women, young and old, wore long dresses to events, which was fine with me.

I was in college at the time near a town with many boutiques and shops.
Not being able to afford much on a college budget, I window-shopped for some ideas.
There were many vintage shops where you could find gently worn things.
I was never against that since the pieces were high quality at an affordable price.

Read More...

When I was in college, I worked at a bank.
It was a wonderful, full-time summer job.
It soon became a part-time job during the school year as well.
I really enjoyed my work and all of the customers I met.

In the summer months, I was known as a floating bank teller.
I would go wherever they needed me to fill in while others were on vacation.
That arrangement made for a very interesting summer.
I moved around the Main Line Region at any one of eight different locations.

Read More...

I saw him with walking in the mall.
He was wearing a red shirt like the other employees.
When I first saw him, he was walking with another red shirted individual.
That person seemed to be his manager since he was giving him directions.

The red shirted individuals keep the mall clean.
They walk around day after day cleaning up everyone else’s messes.
They do their job without interacting with the shoppers.
They do their job around everyone else.

Read More...

At age 62, J.R.R. Tolkien published the first volume of his series, The Lord of the Rings.
At age 65, Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first book, Little House in the Big Woods.
At age 66, Noah Webster completed the American Dictionary of the English Language.
At age 77, John Glenn became the oldest person to go into space.

At age 89, Arthur Rubinstein performed one of his greatest recitals in Carnegie Hall.
At age 93, P.G. Wodehouse worked on his 97th novel, was knighted and died.
At age 95, Nola Ochs became the oldest person to receive a college diploma.
At age 100, Ida Keeling became the oldest runner to cross the finish line of the Penn Relays.

It was Ida’s story that intrigued me.

Read More...

I met a friend for breakfast.
She is a precious friend who has six children.
We knew each other from church years ago.
She is dear to me for a very special reason.

When I took care of my aunt, it was determined that she could no longer live alone.
She had a lovely apartment near the Art Museum in Philadelphia.
She was a career woman her entire life.
She never married.

Read More...