Columns

Music To My Ears?

Every generation has had one or two — superstars that is. Even during the decades of the great early composers, I’m sure there have been favorites. Teens and even younger kids have been swooning over various singers and musicians for as long as I can remember. Frank Sinatra and the rat pack had a steady following that kept old “Blue Eyes,” Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. , among others, rolling in clover. Elvis Presley and Chubby Checkers had young people swinging their hips and twisting the night away much to the chagrin of some older folks. The British Invasion of the ...

Putting The Polish On Easter

It’s Easter weekend, and for all of the Christian flocks, it is the end of 40 days of fasting, atonement and serious study of what it all means. Recounting the life and death of Jesus Christ each Lenten season is nothing short of a spiritual roller coaster. At its end, there is reason to celebrate the promise that Jesus will return. For many, this weekend also is about the fabled Easter Bunny, a festive meal and of course, candy. For months preceding this weekend, the stores have been filled with Peeps, chocolate bunnies, peanut butter eggs, jelly beans and much more. My ...

Making a Lasting Mark

My dad had some funny sayings. At least he thought they were funny. Some of them had me scratching my head. However one particular witticism went like this: “Be careful looking up your family tree, you might be hit with a coconut.” Now you can ascertain whatever you want from that remark. He just thought it was something funny with little thought to our actual heritage. He certainly didn’t agree that we all came from apes. I thought about that old saying this past week when I read in this newspaper that the Wheeling Area Genealogical Society (WAGS) had recently voted to ...

Time To Clam Up And Listen

I don’t know whether to be happy or sad after watching some of the Academy Awards show last week. I really just tuned in to see what outrageous outfits would appear on the red carpet. I find it intriguing what Hollywood’s elite considers high fashion in both women’s and men’s formal wear. That’s pretty much the extent of any pleasure in watching such “awards” shows. To be fair, I preface my thoughts on the fact that I did not see any of the movies that were up for awards. I’m not sure what kept me from the movie theater over the past year. Perhaps it was reading ...

Going, Going, Gone

Last Sunday was a beautiful day with warm temps and a mix of sunshine. It was also a perfect day for a Sunday drive. Now lately I have not enjoyed driving so much since there are road issues and, well, driver issues that can make being behind the wheel a real challenge. But on this particular day, my husband took the wheel and off we went into the hills of Brooke County. Our destination was an old country house where an online auction would be taking place the next day. The house and its aged, but interesting contents were available for previewing prior to the online auction. As a kid, ...

February, a Stepping Stone to Spring

It’s no secret that our winters in the Ohio Valley have been quite fickle the past few years. Unlike the days of our childhoods, there have been fewer snowstorms to coat our landscape. There is a mixed consensus over the desire or lack of desire for snow. I get it that skiers and snowboarders are bemoaning the barren hillsides. Others, however, are thanking their lucky stars that we missed the latest depths of snow to hit the Northeast last week. The older I get, the more I appreciate not having to deal with snowy road conditions, frozen windshields and heating up the car just to ...