Life Style & Travel

UNITED STATES—April showers bring May flowers. May flowers make a mess. Well, some of them do. Most simply disintegrate and fall from the trees, shrubs and vines that produced them, and decompose into the soil below. Some might have needed to be swept off of pavement and decks. Regardless, most of us do not notice the very minor consequences...

UNITED STATES—"Oh, look! She signed the check!" Davy says. "There's hope," Karen says. Hope that she gets on the anti-anxiety meds and it dissolves her resistance to therapy, and getting out of bed." "She's gotten out of bed already a lot. When you're 90." "You're such an apologist for her," Karen speaks. "You can't touch me with your evil, logical yet hopeful eye,...

UNITED STATES—It sounds like science fiction, but it is not. Every spring and during particular summer weather, limbs can fall from trees without warning, and seemingly for no reason at all. It happens when least expected, while the weather is warm and perhaps humid, but notably without wind. The lack of wind is what makes it so unexpected. It...

UNITED STATES—"Hello, this is the son of Betty Bird, and we'd like Dr. O'Leary to prescribe anti-anxiety medication for our Mom, Betty Bird, here at Wastonville Manor." Davy hangs up his phone with a sigh. "They're out to lunch, I left a message." "Yeah, yeah, I could tell," says Karen. "I can tell when it's your message voice." "The doctor's are out for...

UNITED STATES—Annuals are plants that complete their entire life cycle from germination to death within a single year. Biennials complete their entire life cycle in two years, mostly by developing vegetative growth during their first year, and then blooming, producing seed and then dying after their second year. Perennials are the many herbaceous plants that survive longer than just...

UNITED STATES—There are just those days that you do not feel like slaving in the kitchen. I don’t mean that literally, but I know so many people who will do almost anything to prevent from having to cook. Myself on the other hand, I enjoy cooking in the kitchen; I just hate doing it when I’m super exhausted. I...

UNITED STATES—"What are you doing?" Davy asks Karen. "Prolonging the inevitable, that's what. "I can take over if you want." "She's getting to the point with Grandma. No more food and Ensure." Willow walks in and addresses Doris in the other bed. "Time for your rehab, darling." She swings her legs over the edge of the bed, she scowls and protests, then raises herself to...

UNITED STATES—Oak, which might seem to be obvious to many of us, was identified by the Arbor Day Foundation as the People's Choice for American's National Tree. We certainly like our redwoods and exotic palms in California. Quaking aspen and blue spruce are probably favorites in Colorado. Sugar maple must be the most popular in Vermont. Yet, everyone appreciates...

HOLLYWOOD—The passing of Hollywood writer, producer and director John Singleton this week thru me for an absolute loop. It just seemed to come out of nowhere and this guy was so young. He was only 51, and died from complications after he suffered a stroke. His family made a plea for many in the African-American community who suffer from...

UNITED STATES—Davy stands in the hallway, shoulder blades pressed to the wall. He gasps. "Relax, drink water," he says to himself. This place is hard work, draining, stressful, heart-warming. It's a crouching beast, even when all the lights are off at night, a vortex of love and suffering breathing slowly in a gargantuan ribcage. Slowly, slowly, Davy escapes the quicksand of...