I decided to Google “Thanksgiving.” That was fun. I found a six-foot inflatable turkey that, if my husband had his way, would be affixed to our roof (so please don’t mention it exists if you see him). I found links to all sorts of heated debates about whether or not the Christmas shopping season
riting our story on discharging the mentally ill from the Genesee County Jail was both a trying and moving experience. When I first met Lori and Julie, who work at the jail, I immediately felt that I was standing in the presence of the anointed; these women live with purpose. And like two tiny Davids
Yes, summer has faded away all too soon. But I haven’t put away the golf clubs just yet, hoping for some warm Indian Summer Saturdays to take that last swing of the year. While summer is easy living, fall brings peaceful contentedness. The days are growing shorter and shorter and the crispness in the
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn’t it?” –Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables I feel the same way as Anne, shuddering at the thought of skipping from mischievous September, with days that are often blazing hot,
Upon first look, Antwerp, Belgium is as charming as the postcards found in souvenir shops throughout its twisting passages and nonsensical medieval streets. The sounds of the Flemish-Dutch language echo in the bars over pints of more than a hundred kinds of Belgian beer. The facades of the tall, thin, Amsterdam-style canal houses are stately
My daughters and I recently played the board game Life® and faced the proverbial question: college or no college? My children are in fifth and third grades this year, and I was startled to realize that this generation heads off to college in eight short years! As a financial advisor, I wondered, how many parents
If you’re of Celtic descent (Irish, Scottish or Welsh) and you love Halloween, rejoice! The holiday was created by your ancient, pagan ancestors. Originally called Samhain (pronounced sah´-win), this holiday marked the beginning of winter, otherwise known as the “darker half” of the year. Celebrated mainly in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, Samhain festivals
We live in a community of runners. A lot of the credit likely goes to the Crim, specifically their training program. I watched my first Crim from the sidelines in 2009 and decided, after seeing people of all shapes, sizes and abilities doing it and owning it, that I was going to give it a
Hollywood be damned – France can rightly claim its title as the birthplace of cinema, and the films from its shores – or made elsewhere by sons and daughters of the Republic – continue to be relevant everywhere. Recent cases in point: The Artist, the 2011 Academy Award winner for Best Picture; La Vie en
In the 5000 block of Seymour Road, the Flint River flows around two massive monoliths standing high above the water’s surface. Made of concrete and large field stones topped with stacked stone slabs, these weathered formations have long outlived their purpose. For nearly 100 years, the river’s current has gathered dead trees about their
I hate carrying a purse. In high school and even in college, I loathed the female obsession with purses so much that I used a wallet. Finally, when it became necessary to carry medication with me, I borrowed a purse from a friend. It was a simple design – brown leather, not too flashy –
Five years have passed since the financial collapse of 2008 and ‘09. During that financial crisis, difficult lessons were learned by investors and investment advisors alike. One of the most important lessons is to operate your financial investments from a position of strength. A prime example of this strategy in action is the concept
