I was raised in Pittsburgh and one son and his family still live in a suburb there, so I know the city. Two things are true about being a Pittsburgher: You love the Steelers and you talk funny. Most people think your first cry at birth is a result of a slap by the doctor […]

Not the green ones, nor the pale pink/yellow ones, but the red, red, red ones like Red Delicious. I’ve loved apples since I was a little girl sitting in the crotch of a withered, old apple tree in the woods near my home, reading Nancy Drew books. In spring I sat there with my book

No, I’m not talking about my intestines or bowel function. I’m talking about that gray stuff between my floor tiles that turned black. I decided to clean them because they were ugly and dirty. Little did I know, having never done this before, what a mess it would be. First I googled it, writing down

2. Flush 3. Be a “yes” person. Say Yes to new things, places, and people. 4. Make people feel good. They may not remember what you said but they will remember how they felt with you. 5. Listen 6. Say people’s names often. 7. Marry your best friend. 8. Be friends with all ages, all

In Vallejo California, years ago, I listened to an addict’s story while we sat at a country and western bar, drinking Diet Cokes. Her name was Amber,, and this is what she said. I started drinking in CA and sobered up 3 months later in Saigon. I was a nurse and wasn’t sure how I

I jumped into the back seat of the Uber, snapped the belt, and settled back. “Hello, Momma,” the driver said. I looked up front to see a man with gray hair and a gray beard. Momma? We were in the same age group. Momma? Did I look like a Momma? Apparently so. Later I peered

I like to move. If I’m on a bike, I’m happy. When I take a train, I’m happy. Bouncing along on a bus makes me happy. I like to be moving and find myself smiling as I look out the plane window, the train window, the bus window, or the car window. So I’ve been

For years I didn’t watch much TV because I didn’t know how to drive the television. There were too many buttons, too many remotes and I didn’t have the patience. Now I can operate it and found a show called ER. And I’m in love with Mark Green, Doug Ross, and Carol Hathaway and their

I booked a cheap flight from Nice to Sydney, which included an overnight layover in Dubai. The overnight layover was why it was cheap. My neighbor told me about accommodation at the airport which only cost $89.00. I believed her, unfortunately, and booked it. I made sure I packed clean undies, the good old cotton

GOSSIP FROM INSIDE FRANCE Watching what I thought of as a terrific Opening Ceremony to the Olympics, reminded me of the time and I spent in France, and all the ‘inside stories’ that locals knew but were never published in the press. Here is one of my favorites. Prince Albert of Monaco, needed an heir.