Barry turned eight today. I wanted to make it special, but special costs money, and money is something we just don’t have right now. Still, I scraped together enough for a small dinner at the local diner. Nothing fancy—just burgers and fries. He didn’t complain. He never does. When the waitress asked if we wanted … Read more
The whole kitchen was buzzing. Streamers that read “100” dangled from the ceiling, and there were enough cupcakes and cheese platters to feed a wedding. Everyone wanted a picture with Grandma Elsie. I mean—100 years. That’s something, right? She looked tiny in her wheelchair, wrapped in her favorite purple fleece. Fragile, but sharp as ever. … Read more
I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do. His best friend, Zeke, had been in that hospital bed for three days after the accident. A freak fall at recess. Skull fracture. Internal bleeding. Tubes and machines now doing the work his little body couldn’t. My son, Eli, hadn’t spoken much since it … Read more
He kept saying he didn’t want a big goodbye. “Just a sandwich, a folding chair, and a quiet lake,” Grandpa told me. “I don’t need all the fuss.” But we knew. We all knew this wasn’t just a casual Saturday picnic. His surgery was scheduled for Monday morning. They said it was routine, but when … Read more
It was supposed to be just a community demo day—kids climbing on armored trucks, officers smiling for photos, cotton candy melting in the sun. I wasn’t expecting much when we showed up, just figured it’d be a good distraction for my daughter, Leni, who’s been unusually fussy the past couple weeks. This officer—broad-shouldered, kind eyes, … Read more
It was supposed to be a quick stop. Just a lunch break between errands, nothing fancy—chicken tenders, apple juice, the usual bribe to get my five-year-old through one more Target run. We were halfway through our meal when he spotted them—two police officers near the window, chatting over coffee. He froze mid-bite. “Mom,” he whispered, … Read more
I’ve owned Jasper, my chestnut gelding, for almost five years. Sweetest horse you’ll ever meet. Calm, loyal, a bit nosy—especially around strangers. He’s never once acted up. Until that morning. It was supposed to be a light trail ride and a quick stop at the county fairgrounds for a local event. The mounted patrol unit … Read more
The last thing I remembered was brushing my teeth. That, and the dull ache in my back I kept ignoring. I was 31 weeks pregnant. Tired, sore, but figuring I still had time. I’d packed a hospital bag the night before, just in case—half joking, half instinct. But I never got to use it. Because … Read more
J. Fox, the acclaimed and award-winning actor, regards fatherhood as his most treasured and important role in life. Having been happily married to Tracy Pollan for over 30 years, the couple shares the joy of raising four wonderful children together. Fox has even humorously mentioned in an interview with Reader’s Digest that sometimes it feels … Read more
This unique time in our nation’s history was unlike any other.More than a century ago, Ellis Island in the east and Angel Island in the west have processed millions of immigrants, all of whom came to the U.S. looking for a better life, or at least a new start. The photographs taken during this time … Read more
