Relationships & Family

Greetings from…Turkeyville

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:11:40 -0600

Turkeyville was in the middle of farmland just north of Marshall, Michigan, surrounded by acres of cornfields and grass.

I pulled into the parking lot, keeping an eye out for turkeys that might be patrolling. I surveyed the wooden building with red shutters and doors.

There was a huge sign out front featuring a running turkey. “Cornwell’s Turkeyville,” it read. “Home of the world’s best turkey sandwich.” Sounded promising.

You Changed My Life, Rod

admin — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:26:00 -0500

Maybe it was because I was an only child raised by a single working mom.

Every day after school, I came home to an empty apartment. Or because I didn't fit in with the other kids where I grew up in Los Angeles. I was chubby, terrible at sports, unappealing to girls. A bout with cancer that made me the only fourth-grader with no hair didn't help.

Maybe it was because I was a late bloomer career-wise. I spent a few years playing in rock bands before I went to college at the University of Michigan in my twenties and discovered my true passion was writing.

It's Still a Wonderful Life

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:16:50 -0600

We see it on television every Christmas: a movie that continues to be a favorite from generation to generation.

And as It's A Wonderful Life nears its climax, there's a scene that always gives me a shiver. Because I know the story behind it.

Fighting Prejudice and Bullying in the Lunchroom

batch — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:05:05 -0600

Sometimes the simplest acts can make a big difference in the way that young people view themselves and the world at large.

On November 10, more than 2,700 schools across the U.S. will be taking part in the eighth annual Mix It Up at Lunch Day, a program aimed at breaking down barriers between students and promoting tolerance.

Starry Night

admin — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 06:07:00 -0500

Everyone knows I love to fish. I'd rather be fishing than most anything. I've been going to Stanley, Idaho, for more than 20 years to a remote spot on Elk Creek where the trout always bite.

You'd think after all those years I wouldn't get lost. That summer morning a couple years ago when I took my friend Claudette there, I was confident. We parked at the trailhead and began our trek, carrying gear, a light lunch and walking sticks.

This Way to Pumpkin Pie

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:30:48 -0600

One thing we agreed on that crisp fall Sunday was that our supper had to be topped off with fresh, homemade pumpkin pie. It would be the only proper ending for the day we had in mind.

"Pumpkin pie is nonnegotiable," I said, laughing as we drove along a winding country road in the car we had rented back in New York City. We had come upstate to see the brilliant colors of the changing foliage, and we had not been disappointed.

Tuesdays Revisited

jbloustein — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:18:28 -0500

Although Tuesdays with Morrie has gone on to be a best-selling book—much to my surprise—we certainly didn’t start out in that direction, Morrie and I.

Far from it. No, we had a more urgent reason to write about Morrie’s fatal illness and how he faced his final months on earth.

The Makeover

jbloustein — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:12:20 -0500

Go-getter.

I could tell at first glance that was the word to describe the new employee. The way she strode into the office that first day in her red power suit said it all. I peered over to watch her set up her desk. A framed photo of a friendly looking young man went front and center.

I hope I won’t have too much to do with her, I thought, turning back to my own work. And that was all that decorated my desk—work.

My Mystery Escort

batch — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:19:57 -0500

In my hometown of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, graduating high-school seniors make a procession through the streets before receiving their diplomas in the gym. Everyone in the community comes out to cheer, and I looked forward to the day when I would walk arm in arm with a handsome escort from my class.

But just before rehearsal, I came down with pneumonia. "Don't worry, Ana," Mama tried to console me. "You'll be well in time for the ceremony."

The Right Stuff

admin — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 07:54:00 -0500

Evening at the gym. Thin women in sleek spandex jogged on treadmills, men in tight tank tops grunted as they pushed thick weights over their heads, muscles bulging. And then there was me. Out of shape, 30 pounds heavier than I was in college. Wearing gym shoes that clearly had never been worn. I was getting married soon, and the thought of all those wedding photos was enough to motivate me to buy a gym membership. But I dreaded working out. I sucked in my stomach every time another perfectly toned girl walked by.