If you were a teenager in the 1980s, chances are you were crushing on at least one of the members of the "Brat Pack," that intriguing group of actors that kept showing up in the hottest movies of that time: The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles and St. Elmo's Fire. Those movies are... Continue Reading →
Luck of the Irish ☘️
With St. Patrick's Day coming up this week, you don't have to be Irish to get out and enjoy good times with friends. Many towns have parades and celebrations in honor of their citizens with Irish heritage this weekend. Pubs and restaurants often offer specials. World events may feel a bit grim lately, so taking... Continue Reading →
Admiring the Lifestyle
My sister and I returned from a fabulous journey to Spain's Andalucia region last week. The primary reason for our visit was to view an exhibit at the contemporary art museum in Malaga devoted to the life and work of our father's Uncle Frank, who spent the latter half of his life and career in... Continue Reading →
BHM: Remembering the Underground Railroad
A few years ago, I was visiting my daughter in Cleveland, Ohio, when we noticed a National Historical Landmark sign planted in the sizeable yard in front of a large brick house in this otherwise urban area. We had been exploring the University Heights neighborhood, right near Case Western Reserve University, where she was a... Continue Reading →
Cozy Winter Reading
Massive snow drifts and frigid temperatures outside always signal to me that it's time to hunker down in a warm, comfy spot with a pile of reading material as my trusted companion. I've been reading like crazy this winter thanks to my winter hibernation tendencies, and I have a few fiction recommendations to share. The... Continue Reading →
Observing MLK Day
The middle of January, one of our darkest months, seems like a fitting time for a national holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He shined a bright spotlight on the systemic racial injustice and inequality suffered by Black Americans, leading to major societal changes including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting... Continue Reading →
What’s Happening in 2026
Welcome to 2026! We hope you enjoyed a festive holiday season with friends and family. Now that the new year is here, I've been looking at the calendar to see what opportunities this year has in store for making memories together with people you care about. I've found plenty of events to add to my... Continue Reading →
Holiday Wishes for Peace and Love
World events and the news have been bleak this week, but that just reinforces our message about the importance of friendship, community and connection. For nearly five years now, Julia and I have taken time each week to reflect on the vital nature of friendship to add meaning and joy to our lives, as well... Continue Reading →
Connecting an Audience in Community
As one of the best-known classical musicians in the world, Yo-Yo Ma has been delighting audiences with his masterful cello performances since he began playing publicly as a child prodigy at five years old. At 70, he is still performing but he has elevated his mission to create shared connection for his audiences beyond a... Continue Reading →
Poems of Gratitude
With Thanksgiving coming up this week, I am thinking about gratitude and how important it is to our mental and physical well-being. Julia's post about World Gratitude Day in September referenced an article published by Harvard Medical School discussing how practicing gratitude not only improves our mood but it also can extend our lives. Some... Continue Reading →