Like the quilts displayed in her home, Jean Brew’s life is a tapestry of stories, carefully stitched, lovingly preserved, and meant to be passed down. Recently honored with the William Canfield History Award, Jean has spent a lifetime making sure…
Many years ago, my aunts gave me a gift unlike any other. It wasn’t wrapped in glittery paper with ribbons and bows. It came in a simple box—plain, sturdy, dependable. Much like the women it honored. Inside was a bracelet…
My granddaughter is getting married in a few months, which means I needed to find a pair of dress shoes. This may not sound like breaking news, but for me, it ranked somewhere between preparing taxes and breaking off another…
Several years ago, I had the chance to hike Isle Royale, that rugged wilderness park in Lake Superior, where moose outnumber people and wolves howl in the distance. Before our group set out, our trail leader explained the seven principles…
Sunnie, our new puppy, fell head over paws for the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama. She pulled on the leash as we got closer. Once her paws hit the warm sand, she dug furiously, pausing now and then to stretch…
They’re back — the harbingers of death. I step outside into the twilight and hear the soft rustle of wings. Shadows ride the thermals above me. One descends and lands on the top of a pine tree. Another follows. Soon,…
I pack the last suitcase and set it near the others with a happy sigh. Gulf Shores, Alabama, offers white-sand beaches, thrilling dolphin sightings, balmy weather, and a chance to play tennis nearly every day. Still, it isn’t home. I…
Spring has a way of tossing wild possibilities at our feet — the kind that can leave us breathless before we even realize we’ve started running. Gulf waves roll in with a steady hush. The beach stretches empty in both…
One minute I had a front tooth. The next minute I didn’t. I was standing in the bathroom—not eating, not flossing my teeth—when it suddenly fell out. I truly can’t remember what I was doing seconds before because the shock…
There’s a faint crunch beneath my feet when I walk across the condo floor. My black pants are decorated with sandy paw prints. My hair hasn’t obeyed me for days. And the funny thing is — I don’t care. There’s…