History has dark corners. I think most are aware of this, even if they choose to ignore it. Ignorance is always easier. Family histories are particularly tricky. This is because the narrative is controlled, handed down generation to generation, until it becomes a specialized truth. And some things are just flat ignored, falling in the … Continue reading Family histories, unwanted surprises, and don’t call me Meredith
Month: November 2018
Then there was that Thanksgiving when my lung exploded
This happened in 2006, on Nov. 22, the day before Thanksgiving that year. I wrote about the experience for the Jacksonville Daily News a couple of months later in January 2007. Five months after that, we moved to Burlington -- that was a lot of stuff going on all at one short period of time. … Continue reading Then there was that Thanksgiving when my lung exploded
A message from one friend to another
Two years ago I reached out via a final newspaper column to a person in the Alamance County community who made a profound difference in the lives of several dozen people who were undergoing some hardship. In the process this person, someone I came to call "My Anonymous Friend," strongly impacted my own life. His … Continue reading A message from one friend to another
A legacy sealed by an assassin’s bullet
I wrote this in 2013 for the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John Kennedy. First published in the Burlington Times-News. I think this toon appeared with it. The conspiracies are still out there after all these years. For those who find themselves in Dallas, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is well … Continue reading A legacy sealed by an assassin’s bullet
Departing the best job ever for an even better one
Last spring I was working on a writing project about the Numen Lumen Pavilion at Elon University. While I was interviewing a student about the role the building plays on campus he had a question for me. "So, do you talk to students and professors about things here at Elon and write feature stories about … Continue reading Departing the best job ever for an even better one
Still thankful for our big, beautiful (and growing) monster
We created a monster. It’s called “The Big Dinner.” Now, what came to be known as “The Big Dinner” didn’t start out that way. Not by a longshot. Eight years ago when this snowball was put in motion by my spouse, her sister and her oldest brother it was relatively small. You couldn’t exactly call … Continue reading Still thankful for our big, beautiful (and growing) monster
Maurice Koury was always comfortable in the background and still is at Schar Center
https://twitter.com/i/status/1061082322391437312 When University of North Carolina men's basketball coach Roy Williams agreed to bring his nationally ranked and highly popular team to Elon for the opening game in the university's brand new Schar Center a lot of thoughts probably went through his mind. Typically coaches in major conferences don't like to go on the road … Continue reading Maurice Koury was always comfortable in the background and still is at Schar Center
Checks and balances, balances and checks: Just where are the adults?
I wrote this two years ago for publication in the Burlington Times-News on Nov. 8 2016 -- the date of the last presidential election. I think most know what happened there. And the folks who don't know haven't paid attention to much of anything in a long time anyway -- print, TV, online, family, friends, … Continue reading Checks and balances, balances and checks: Just where are the adults?
Tasty adventures in North Carolina’s downtowns
A few weeks ago -- way back in October -- we celebrated my 58th birthday. Oddly enough, I turned 59 on Aug. 12, 2018. Not quite the norm. So how did we come to be enjoying what was basically my birthday present from 14 months ago on a fall afternoon more than a year … Continue reading Tasty adventures in North Carolina’s downtowns
Madison's Avenue 