We found the TV show almost by accident. Someone with the same last name as my spouse was informed that "Papandrea" appeared as the last name of a byline for a Burlington Times-News story from around 2008 or 2009. He tracked down her work email via online search and sent her a message. He wanted … Continue reading Grave Secrets: TV program revisits an Alamance County murder
Month: December 2017
Another Taylor Christmas, another visit to the emergency room
Author's update: I wrote the story below about in 2015 or so a family Christmas tradition that really needs to stop. Yet it continued on Christmas Eve this year -- with me. Yes after being hospitalized in September, unable to work or do much of anything else without an oxygen tank and being largely bound … Continue reading Another Taylor Christmas, another visit to the emergency room
Then one smoky Christmas Eve
I few years ago I wrote about Christmas Eve memories of going to my grandparents house on my mother's side of the family. It was a great event with a house full of rowdy men and children along with the women who did the real work and put up with the shenanigans. I'm only slightly … Continue reading Then one smoky Christmas Eve
Take part in this sharing season — for a friend
The Christmas season delivers a large supply of rich foods, rich gifts and rich excess of nearly every description. But it's also a season of mixed messages, confusion, conflicting expectations and an excess of poverty and despair of every description. It can be overwhelming. I'm just as likely to get down around the holidays as anyone … Continue reading Take part in this sharing season — for a friend
‘You can’t trust nobody’
My late Italian father-in-law, who came to the United States in the 1950s and learned to speak English by watching Martin and Lewis movies, had a frequently quoted saying in the family. It goes like this: "You can't trust nobody." Often the man we called "Papa Joe" made this observation during the holiday season, a … Continue reading ‘You can’t trust nobody’
Wonder why school is called early when snow is in the forecast? Here’s why
It's every school superintendent's nightmare -- making the call to dismiss students from school or cancel the day altogether when snow is in the forecast and doing so too late. That's why on Friday night the superintendent of schools in the mountain community where I grew up posted a video apology to parents and students … Continue reading Wonder why school is called early when snow is in the forecast? Here’s why
The unsolved mystery of the John Lennon memorial
In the Some Things You Never Forget Department . . . Today marks another anniversary of the murder of singer / songwriter / social activist and former member of the Beatles John Lennon -- gunned down outside his New York City apartment on the night of Dec. 8, 1980. I'm often reminded by friends from … Continue reading The unsolved mystery of the John Lennon memorial
Along for the ride — without a driver in Las Vegas
Sometimes when I'm walking along a city street with my spouse or friends I don't pay much attention to where we're going. Usually I'm far too busy taking in where we are in the moment to see what's next. Count this among a few dozen bad habits I've developed since birth. Let's say this tendency … Continue reading Along for the ride — without a driver in Las Vegas
Madison's Avenue 