Xtra Xtra
I have this memory; it’s more tied to a scent than a visual memory I hold. It’s so simple I may not have recalled it at all if I didn’t fall in love with this Hello Kitty hand lotion I found like a diamond in the rough
Why Physical Fitness Matters — In Daily Life, and Emergencies
Physical health is a personal responsibility. Physical health is a civic responsibility. Staying physically fit isn’t about appearance. It’s about function: how well you move through daily life, how you respond to unexpected challenges, and how much strain your body can handle without breaking down. Daily Life: The
What Could $67,000 Have Done for Montgomery?
Montgomery to Test Downtown Ferris Wheel as Part of Riverfront Revitalization Effort | News List | City of Montgomery, AL Montgomery is trying to revitalize — but revitalize what? And at what cost? Sixty-seven thousand dollars were spent on a temporary, three-day Ferris wheel installation at the Riverfront, as a trial run for
From Celtic Origins to Cajuns: A Detailed Historical Timeline
1. Celtic Migration to Armorica (5th–6th Century CE) * After the collapse of Roman authority in Britain (~410 CE), Anglo-Saxon invasions pushed Celtic Britons to flee. * Many settled in Armorica (modern Brittany), merging with local Gaulish Celts. * Cultural inheritance included: * Language: Brythonic Celtic, ancestor of modern Breton * Maritime skills: Coastal
The French Naná
She passed in the year of 2020 still alone, her French quieted. Her story remained unbeknownst to her, maybe even her mother, not knowing why they hid their language, not knowing why they had layers of shame undefined by acknowledgment. She passed in the year of 2020, still alone, her
The Call
Through various stages of destruction, I watched my sister’s addiction grow—to the point that she hit our Nana. An unexpected phone call came at work from a police officer I knew from high school: “Kris, can you get here now? It’s bad. Your sister hit your Nana.
America, a Nation of Addicts
America is a nation of addicts No one is excluded, myself included Everyone is in a different phase Trying to make it through it Most are in complete denial Unaware of the cause of all their trials. Others out roaming aisles, long ago they lost their smiles The largest of
For Riley
We took our time saying our goodbyes— first, to the moments tied to seasons we both knew we wouldn’t see pass again. Then to the toys that no longer held your interest, or that the pain and fading energy wouldn’t allow. Then slowly, to our daily rituals, the
Marie Barbara (Arsenault) McCarthy
Note: This is the original version I wrote in 2020 after my nana passed. Much of it was changed in the final version shared publicly at the time. I wanted to preserve and share this one here, as I wrote it, in her honor. Marie Barbara (Arsenault) McCarthy June 27,
Jeanne Marie O'Keeffe
Note: This is the obituary I originally wrote for Jeanne Marie O’Keeffe in 2016. It was published in Legacy Remembers but is republished here in its full version as I wrote it—honoring her memory and legacy. Jeanne Marie O’Keeffe (Minkle) Topsfield, MA | Formerly of Malden July 1962
Molasses in Hot Water: A Feminine Tonic for Aging Gracefully
Molasses Beauty Tonic Steeped in tradition and intuition, this simple recipe is more than a drink—it’s a reclamation. A slow pour of minerals, sweetness, spice, and citrus, designed not to fight age but to nourish the body as it changes. The Ritual This tonic brings together all four
Baths Are the Simmer Pots for the Soul
Pouring in, pulling out. Intentions and healing ingredients go in; the unwanted is drawn out. Water becomes the carrier. Salt becomes the boundary. Oil becomes the seal. And the herbs become the whisper. Each bath a living ritual—part science, part spell—designed to nourish the body, unburden the spirit,