If you ever listened to your grandparents’ music, chances are you heard the Andrews Sisters. Their music marks the World War II era with songs like Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (of Company B). They performed with Bing Crosby and Glenn Miller and traveled overseas to…
In our family, infections and viruses seem to like our lungs, and we've had more than most cases of pneumonia, from the littlest ones to the oldest ones. (An 8-month-old in my extended family is now recovering from pneumonia.) So I didn't hesitate getting a…
Right now in my life, I am worried about several people. My close friend, Chris, is going through chemotherapy. Another family friend, in her 80s, is now in Hospice care and will pass soon. Another friend had sudden, unexpected abdominal surgery and is recovering. These…
Last Monday in a blog post about the conversations that come up during chemotherapy (my friend Chris faces a year's worth for breast cancer) I mentioned how quilts made by Methodists make their way around the country, church by church. We knew this because a…
As I left work last week, my friend sent me a text: “Sorry to read your grocery store is closing.” WHAT??!! She knows that store is where we meet (Starbucks at the entrance), where I shop, where we run in to get cheap treats before…
Earlier this week our family was awakened when the hallway smoke detector went off at 2:34 a.m. My husband and I jumped up, stumbled around, our son came into our room with his hands over his ears yelling our names, I tripped over Bella, our…
In our society now, we idolize the sun. Good days for weathercasters are sunny days. Bad days are filled with snow. We escape from Spokane in the winter in search of sun. With climate change, however, will we someday idolize snow the way we now…
As baby boomers glide into their 60s and remain in their jobs a lot longer than their parents did, I predict a fairly macho attitude toward sick days. Older workers are more prone to the ailments that can afflict older people in general. Back troubles,…
Today at noon, rich and poor alike will gather near downtown Spokane to dedicate a housing complex for the chronically homeless, named after Father Frank Bach. I wrote a profile of him Sunday. I've known Father Bach about 15 years, and I had no idea…
Yesterday, while sitting with my friend Chris at her chemotherapy treatment, she wrapped herself in a prayer quilt made by her sorority sister Kass and Kass' Marysville United Methodist Church group. The quilt has pieces of thread throughout, representing prayers said for the person snuggled…
Yes, it was simply a second inauguration for President Obama. And still, remarkable. Remarkable because our country transfers – or in this case sustains – power peacefully. No violence, no uncertainty. Today was a festive and poignant day with President Obama sworn in on Martin…
As Boomers age, employment challenges increase. Many of us are losing jobs, or are being replaced by young, eager – and more inexpensive – employees. Our magical thinking may have taken us to a place where we believed we would live out our first or…
Some "big fat liars" (to use a term we did in childhood) have been exposed this week. First, the Notre Dame scandal where many people likely are lying, not just footballl player Manti Te'o. And now Lance Armstrong finally admitting to what everyone knew. He…
On election night, 2004, my young son went to bed saying, “Wake me up when Chris wins!” referring to Chris Gregoire. As friends of Mike Gregoire’s family, my son felt connected to her given our paths had crossed a few times at weddings, funerals and…
Who would you trust to make end-of-life decisions for you if you could no longer speak? A family member might not be best, as we discussed in our EndNotes column today. Here's an excerpt: The person you choose to be your agent doesn’t need to…
Sometimes wisdom is all around us, in unlikely placed. I spotted a wisdom bit this morning on the license plate frame on a care in front of me on Francis Avenue. Get in. Sit down. Shut up. Hold on. (S-R archives photo)
I have never heard of him, but his death feels profoundly sad: Aaron Swartz, 26, who co-founded Reddit – a social news website - was also an activist who fought to make online content free to the public, has hanged himself in his Brooklyn home.…
When I lived in Chicago for three months this fall, I often took walks from the loft where I lived toward the river, toward downtown. The scenery was tall Chicago buildings, stunning at night. The river is wide and fast moving but you have to…
In the workplace we often find martyrs: “I feel so crappy, but – sneeze, sneeze, cough, cough – I have so much to do, I just came in anyway…” With the flu season almost epidemic in our country, many hospital emergency departments exceed their capacity…
Mary Garvin, Holy Names sister and Gonzaga University religious studies professor, died Saturday. When I worked on my master's degree in pastoral ministry in the early 2000s, Mary was my advisor and mentor. I loved her style of firm-but-kind. When I would wring my hands…
My story ran today about my three-month sabbatical in Chicago at Rush University Medical Center in its chaplaincy internship program. Here's what I'd like to highlight here. The importance of understanding your vocation (or vocations) in life. From the article: People are not their roles…
This morning I accompanied my friend Chris to her chemotherapy appointment, and we noticed a basket of knitted hats and scarves. They are free for patients undergoing chemo. They were beautiful, handmade items. They filled their corner of the room with color. At least some…
ABC’s Diane Sawyer recently sat with the 20 women elected to the US Senate. She asked them what advice they have for children. People of any age can benefit from their wisdom: “Read, read, read” advises Senator Kay Hagan from North Carolina and “Once you’ve…
Jim Romenesko, author of a popular media matters blog, reported yesterday that "there were 30 front page New York Times obituaries in 2012 versus 14 the year before. Why? One reason is that managing editor Dean Baquet believes that a well-written obituary belongs on Page…
I have a New Year's resolution that I started in December and have had no trouble sticking to. I am throwing away -- or giving away -- 10 items each day from my house. Last summer, I did a story on a woman who helps…
Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.
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