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•A Rocker For All Ages
by Arleen M. KapturRocking chairs have survived the test of many generations and a million sleepless nights. They come in fine wood, soft supple upholstery and even woven and painted. Yes, they all, each and every one of them, find a way into someone's memory, a plesant moment of the past, and a safe refuge for the future. Rocking chairs have rocked new moms with day-old babies, healed broken hearts and wounded pride, and then eased the pains of getting old. Whether you place a rocking chair...
•Taking Care of Your Heart
by Arleen M. KapturOn Valentine's Day, we are proud to wear our hearts on our sleeves, on notebooks, gifts, and anywhere we want to add a touch of how we feel. Love is the word for the day and even children join in the fun with heart-shaped cards, candies with catchy phrases and boxes (heart-shaped, of course) that hold chocolates to give to mom, dad, grandparents, and everyone they love and care for. Valentine's Day is a wonderful opportunity to show our feelings, our hopes for the future,...
•The Truth About Santa Claus
by Arleen M. KapturChristmas carols evoke visions of holiday cheer and wonderful, tender family moments. There is I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas, a classic that has spanned the time of many generations. There are numerous books and articles written about Christmas, such as Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus. A letter written by an 8-year-old New York girl received a national response from the newspaper she sent it to - The Sun. Many young children struggle with the thought of Santa...
•THE RIGHT TO MEND
by Arleen M. KapturWhenever you drop a glass or a plate, it shatters into pieces. There they lie, all jagged and in different shapes and sizes. There are even some pieces that are so small that they could never be glued back into place and can only be swept up and thrown away. When we encounter a great loss of someone we care about, or an unfortunate event in our lives, our heart and soul shatter into pieces. There they lie, right there in front of us. The pieces are there - just not all...
•CELEBRATE A CHILD
by Arleen M. KapturThis month we celebrate CHILDREN’S DAY. We already have a Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and a Grandparents’ Day. Why should we have a Children’s Day? Don’t we give the young ones enough attention in everyday life? We cater to their needs, give up needed sleep and relaxation so we can spend quality time with them. The media exalts their deeds, whether good or bad. They are featured in magazines, books, newspapers, and on television. So why a Children’s Day?Those of us who are...
•A Sprinkling of Magical Dust
by Arleen M. KapturAs the Holidays approach, cooks everywhere have visions of the perfect pumpkin pie or the most mouthwatering beef roast or turkey sitting on a platter that has been used for generations. The tender crowning glory meal entree was also prepared in a roasting pan that can do no wrong. It has, and it will make you proud no matter what you decide to make as the main course. It's the very same with baking. You may have twenty wooden spoons in a drawer but you inevitably reach for...
•EVERYBODY S GOT ONE
by Arleen M. KapturWhatever kind of writing you do - whether it is non-fiction, fiction, or a combination of everything and a little bit of this or that, all writing has one thing in common. This common thread weaves its way in and out of all our written words. You can’t see it or touch it but you know its there. It wakes you up in the morning and it gives you rest at night. You can’t leave it at home and you can’t run away from it. This phantom shadow will be your companion from the first...
•Living the Simple Life
by Arleen M. KapturThe trend of today for many people is to live the simple life. However, what exactly is the simple life? There are as many answers to this question as there are individuals looking to find the peace and contentment that seems so evasive. Yet, in their hearts there is a void, an empty spot that modern consumption just cannot fill. So,people sit there pondering what they can do to live the simple life, while the television's volume is on high and the voice mail fills up with...
•WHEN SAFE IS NOT THE BEST
by Arleen M. Kaptur“Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is.”(Mark Twain)Safe is a word that many people use every single day. Safe is also a place where everyone wants to be. We are then secure and nothing will hurt us. The truth is that while nothing will hurt us, we are hurting ourselves. Going out on a limb as Mark Twain so aptly put it can be stressful. There may be dangers lurking in the corners and we might stumble and fall. Yes, these possibilities do exist. It does not...
•Put Up Some Stop Signs
by Arleen M. KapturWe rush to and from work or other activities. Appointments and commitments fill our daily hours and we fall into bed exhausted but find sleep hard to come. Our nerves are tensed because there is so much more to do and so little time. Tempers flare and the news media calls it “road rage” or “domestic violence.” Our children feel stress at an early age and many of our older adult population never get to find and enjoy their “golden years.” Exactly what is happening to our...
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