Dear Abby, I miss you

February 2, 2023

Ten years ago in this space, I mourned the loss of Dear Abby. Abigail Van Buren had died at age 94. I felt like a wise old member of the family had passed on – similar to the way I felt the day Erma Bombeck passed … the day the laughter died. Like everyone else, I met both those ladies in my morning newspaper. Unlike most people, I was privileged to meet them both …when they traveled as passengers on American Airlines. I read Dear Abby daily, whether I lived in Boston, New York or San Diego. Sometimes, she was like a second mother, addressing some of the sticky subjects I ...

What’s in a name? Depends on your party affiliation

January 30, 2023

Here are some made up words, terms and truths: ¯ R. I. N. O: Republican in name only – term applied when supposedly a GOP member was not aligned with party ideology. Under Trump and since, there is no official Republican Party platform; policy was what Donald Trump said it was. Platform policy and ideology were open for interpretation. The Party invited in all who would adhere to this arrangement, even those with extreme views; enter Marjorie Taylor Greene, Proud Boys, etc. Trump gas lighted traditional Republicans whose loyalty was to policy and not to Trump. ¯ W. O. K. E.: ...

Finding a spiritual hero to shape lives in Ignatius

January 28, 2023

Editor’s note: This saint series will feature a saint and how he or she is a meaningful example for us today. Pope Francis wrote that “the saints help all the faithful” for “their lives are concrete proof that it is possible to put the Gospel into practice.” St. Ignatius’ example helps us to look up to spiritual heroes. Ignatius was born in 1491 and was the youngest of 13 children. He grew up in Northern Spain. His desire for material things amplified as he entered his late teens. He also lived a life of promiscuity. Ignatius became an officer for the Spanish army and ...

The growing up years

January 27, 2023

Growing up in the 1940s and ’50s was a lot different than growing up is today. Life was so much simpler. Each morning during the summer I got up and had chores to do. We lived with my grandparents. Grandma was in charge of overseeing my chores. After chores were done, I was free to play with the neighbor kids. We rode bikes. We played games. We embroidered. Hop scotch was one of the games we played on the sidewalk. Who could get to the top of the design first? We played kick-th -can in the street. There was not as much traffic back then. Sometimes we put on our roller skates. ...

Imagine owning your own island

January 26, 2023

I’m pretty confident that there aren’t too many Caribbean island owners among the readership. I’m not talking about land ownership in the tropics as the subject, although I would not argue with anyone who forced a small atoll on me. We all have our own island, it’s just not a completely physical place. I read an article recently – please don’t ask me where, I haven’t a clue – that describes the island that belongs to each of us. We all have our own space, our refuge, even if we live in the thick of a dense population. I know that sounds crazy, but stick with me. I am ...

Overspending GOP finally gets tough

January 21, 2023

House Republicans — now under the control of a minority of rather extremist members calling themselves the “Freedom Caucus” — are threatening to crash the nation’s economy by refusing to raise the debt ceiling. That means America would then be forced to refuse paying bills which are currently due — which incidentally would have no effect whatsoever on future spending. Gee, I wonder how things would go if you or I would just refuse to pay owed bills claiming we’ve reached our “debt ceiling”? Among other things, such a historic and massive default would irreparably ...