The Final Caretaker….Funeral Director/Embalmer People who know me—or my writing—know I often focus on caretakers…the everyday heroes among us. The following is a young woman I first met when I was teaching. I liken her to Charon, the mythical guide in Greek mythology who ferried the dead across the River Styx to the Underworld, for […]
“I see Wayne occasionally glimpse through my soul and sometimes it breaks my heart” … Diane Woods Blansett Her Southern accent came clearly across the airwaves to me, just as certain as my Rhode Island “drop the r’s” did to her, I am sure, for Diane Woods Blansett is from Cleveland, Mississippi, a farming and semi-industrial community […]
Recently Kentucky Air Force Col. Mark E. Baran retired from the United States Air Force. He’d worn a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) wristband for 18 years, etched with the name of my brother-in-law, Col. Fredrick Mellor, a POW and Rhode Island’s first casualty of the Viet Nam war. My account about Fred being shot […]
“Essential Worker” We’re indispensable The necessary cog In a smooth-functioning machine Known as “the Caretaker Army” Our constant care Of loved ones Enables others To live care-lessly. We get no pay…no help Tho’ hours are long No days off Or vacation time. 16 million Americans? Provide 20 billion hours Of volunteer work each year To […]
I Write of Heroes You might Not Know I’ve always been impressed with the folks who accomplish wonderful things, mostly out of the public view. As such, I determined to give these heroes a spotlight. My mission started years ago when I began writing about my career as Teacher–relating the funny, touching episodes, as well […]