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Homeschooled kids in class for first timeHomeschooled kids in class for first time

Kids across the region went back to school recently. Parents, grandparents, or guardians bought new clothes to fit not only a growing child, but also a school dress code. Children traded in their flip flops for socks and sneakers.Whole families from Grandpa Ned to baby Bonnie were seen congregating in the school supply aisle, searching through piles of notebooks, bins of glue sticks, and stacks of sale items. They are making tiny ticks to mark off a myriad of materials all in preparation for a year of learning.You can hear the distinct sound of school bus brakes and the brass and ...

Seek the courage to be brave, but it may take awhile

In June, when I turned 26, someone asked me the question I always ask others at their birthday: "What do you know at 26 that you didn't know at 25?"I'd encourage you to ask this question to your loved ones on their birthdays, regardless of how old they are.A newlywed friend of mine told me on her 24th birthday that she had learned that she was stronger than she thought she was. A young lady who had just turned 7 told me she knew how to do more math.When I turned 25, I said that I had learned how fast a $20 bill goes - because, let's be honest, once you break the thing, it's practically ...

Reflections on Robin Williams’ suicide

How shocking it was to hear of the self-inflicted death of Robin Williams, a comedian par excellence. To say that he was uniquely gifted, is an understatement. The genius of his performances has become a legend, taking comedy to a new level. His perpetual style of humor mesmerized audiences world-wide, almost placing him in some "saintly" category. Sadly, the mighty fall just like the rest of us. Why?Maybe the following anecdote will help. A man went to a psychiatrist seeking a cure for his depression. Well into the session, the psychiatrist recommended that the man attend the Barnum ...

Imagining some first local flights

I offer you this perhaps controversial column today, because I think it's a fitting time to provide a bit more lore for the Ernie Hall Aviation Museum which had its grand opening at Sloas Airfield Aug. 8 and 9. Let's call this column ''Imagine.''My dad was the manager of Warren Airways, Inc., for a time before World War II. Where Warren Airways was is now the site of Trumbull Plaza on Parkman Road where Big Kmart, Sparkle Market, Radio Shack, Little Caesar's and a few other stores are in business. At the south entrance to the plaza is McDonald's, across from the Lunar Module display ...

Everyone has a cancer story

Cancer sucks. In 2013, there were 66,610 new cancer cases in Ohio alone, according to Cancer.org. It touches our lives and tears holes in our hearts. We all know someone affected. Everyone has a harrowing tale that begins and ends with cancer.My own cancer story begins with my mother, Nancy Esposito. I was in the sixth grade when she was diagnosed. My first encounter with the deadly disease was viewed through the veil of childhood innocence. The whole experience is an unstable memory that is even further blurred with the passing of time.For much of my adult life, my mother was not my ...

Battle against depression more than platitudes

Sometimes the complexity of life requires more than many, if not most, of us can handle. For some, the complexity of their inner life becomes overwhelming, and begins a long, slow cycle downward into what the ancients called a ''dark night of the soul.''In today's medical vernacular, we call it depression.And, as too many of us know personally, and as all of us were reminded this week, depression is an ugly, albeit powerful, monster.After weeks, months and even years of bravely fighting the monster to no avail, some begin to realize that the only way to end the battle would be to remove ...