Opening Up
Lois Darbonne

Opening Up

For the last 14 months we’ve all been playing a pretty intense game of “keep away” from others. Physical distancing, face masks, working from home, social bubbles, Zoom meetings, and live streaming have all meant that we’ve had limited personal contact -- sometimes even with people we have close relationships with, and certainly with neighbors, acquaintances, and particularly strangers. (For those of us who are introverts, this, perhaps, hasn’t been all bad.) :) Read more...
Politics and Religion: What Happened in Conversation with “Cookie”
Walk the Way

Politics and Religion: What Happened in Conversation with “Cookie”

The first time I met “Cookie” at our coffee shop, he asked me if I was a famous violinist, which made me erupt with laughter—I am not musically talented! Over time, I had many other “chance” encounters with Cookie. Our talks were always brief and light.

Then one day in the coffee shop, Cookie sat down right at my table, which wasn’t typical. He started ranting about politics and religious people. Read more...

Why I Joined a Roller Derby Team
Walk the Way

Why I Joined a Roller Derby Team

Several months after my husband of 29 years suddenly passed away, I moved from the Chicago area back down to southern Illinois. We had lived in this town eight years prior, and both of my kids still lived there. Since we had been very active in the local community and church, I expected to have a good support group there. However, after several months of no one checking up on me, no one inviting me anywhere, and no one to do things with, I realized I had been wrong. Read more...

Flapping your tongue?
Walk the Way

Flapping your tongue?

I've been thinking about our conversations—you know, the ones we have in person, over the fence with our neighbors and on our mornings commutes---as well as those we have over social media when we don’t have the benefit or reminder that there’s another real person “out there.” Read more...