129 The Circus

The Circus--2016 or Where Can I Run Away To Now?

What a year we have just had! 2016, according to some pundits and dictionary editors, is going to become a word in its own right. 

“Wow! That was a 2016!” The nearest meaning I can give “ a 2016” is “surreal.” Synonyms for “surreal” are bizarre, uncanny, and strange. And, yes, I think 2016 was a bit of all three synonyms!

So far this past year, among my blogs, I have written about the deaths of so many noted people, about my favorite New York City places closing, and I am adding now the end of the circus after 146 years. Trump won the presidency; the Cubs won the pennant. It is a bit strange to me that all these events occurred in 2016. I recognize we are an aging population and that to everything there is a season, but I will remember this as a “surreal” year.

This photo of elephants at work is only one of the reasons that Clyde Beatty – Cole Brothers closed its tent flaps and why Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey announced at the end of 2016 they will finish their animal-less tour spring and close up shop, too. Some 30 elephants were killed “in the line of work” in the 30 years. 

Ferocious cats have lost eyes. Circuses have been indicted and found guilty and fined for lack of care of the animals, for improper handling, rampant TB among animals, no veterinary paperwork, and the use of these prods to make animals behave as the handler wished. [Nasty looking thing!]

One entertainment executive said that people no longer are thrilled by acts that were considered dangerous (“death defying”) – trapeze artists, and lion tamers, for example. 

Even if you never saw them perform, the Flying Wallendas were a recognizable name - a family of high wire artists from the 1920s until recently. Generation after generation became part of their family act. Each generation, however, lost 3 or 4 members by falling to their deaths. No nets, they said.

We can see these death defying actions on TV or our iPads at will. Watch America’s Got Talent and see all sorts of contortionists, acrobats, clowns, and high wire acts.

Another issue for the circuses is the railway costs. Moving from city to city by rail has been the tradition. During WWII, Franklin Roosevelt felt the morale of families needed the circuses in the towns and allowed them to continue using the rails. A prohibitively expensive transport now.

There have not been sideshows with freaks since the 1960s. Where they still existed, they were often shutdown or criticized in the local press. Freak is not a politically correct term – and it should not be. For sure, these folk were exploited.

I offer my guess that the circus is no longer relevant. It was the stuff of dreams. Small towns in the 1920s -1960s got the most entertainment they could possibly get from the “circus coming to town.” 

The circus was one of the first venues that gave women equal billing. Beautiful, bedazzlingly-dressed young girls swinging on trapezes, riding elephants, and jumping off and on the backs of horses was a whole new world. Ernest Hemingway said the circus “is the only spectacle …that has the quality of a happy dream.” No longer.

Along came the media age--TV, movies, video games, and the internet took precedence – enthralling youngsters as the circus once had done. Then there is the societal concern over the animals. No Jumbo--fewer circus seats filled. Lots of conflict about the ethical treatment of animals!

IF you still really, really want to go to a circus there are a few options left. California has its “steampunk” circus – Circus Vargas. It is said to be a plethora of goggles and gadgets. The Zoppe Family Circus is from Italy and the performers are sixth generation. Lots of clowns, jugglers, and audience participation. A family show! 

Finally, if one can afford it, follow Canada’s Cirque du Soleil. It is the global enterprise with touring troupes who perform in major cities. Each of the shows has a theme and/or tells a story. Pricing per seat is from $40 to $155. Oh, yes! If you are off to Russia, the Moscow State Circus is still producing two different shows – one with animals and the other is more a political story with acrobats, high wires, etc. 

In spite of these few offerings, there are still circuses - but, these to my mind, are not what we recall from our past or what we historically call the circus. “To everything there is a season….” 

FAREWELL! Glenne        

128 Mother-daughter bond

Debbie Reynolds & Carrie Fisher

A famous mother-daughter duo both passed away within days of each other. Shocking this country and probably the world. A documentary, “Bright Lights,” became available at the same time which sheds so much light on the relationship.

Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher were not the typical run-of-the-mill mother and daughter – both, of course, were famous in their own special ways as actresses, entertainers, singers, dancers. And they never stopped performing even to their dying days.


The bond between the two of them was inspirational as well as unbelievable. Most of us daughters don’t have the opportunity for such a relationship with our moms due to many circumstances. Often distance is a problem as the miles separating us can’t be overcome with a physical presence. Plus immediate family obligations take center stage as they should.


But these two ladies managed to stay co close until both their lives ended abruptly. It seems so tragic but after watching “Bright Lights” about their lives, it seems appropriate. Try to see this program as soon as you can.

The two lives were so intertwined in so many ways, and the son and brother, Todd Fisher, helped to keep them running smoothly in all their many escapades. They even lived next door on the “compound,” as they referred to it. It was a rather quirky place as it was depicted in the documentary which made their lives all the more interesting with historic items from the entertainment world a part of their everyday lives.

I wish I has seen the TV special before their lives ended, but maybe I wouldn’t have paid as much attention until their almost simultaneous deaths. The show added a depth of understanding of why the two were so very close. Both were so talented and so clever that it was a given that they were be revered and mourned after their deaths as they were before.

So many family relationships are depicted as quite the opposite, especially of the famous brand, where mothers, daughters, sisters, brothers, and others are estranged and hurl insults and nasty jabs at one another. 

One touching scene was when Carrie was taking care of her father, Eddie Fisher, who had left the family for another actress which made headlines many years before. She was very tender in her care of him even though there had been many difficult times with the family, involving drugs and addiction. Again that shows true love, forgiveness, and understanding of this family.

Debbie and Carrie appeared to say whatever they wanted to each other with a great deal of love and compassion. They didn’t sugar coat their feelings but had them out there for all to see.

It makes me miss my mom and wish I had more time with her to talk, laugh, and share, but my mom left this world in 1998 about this time of year. She was ready to go after an illness that she tried to ignore. There are many times I want to call and ask her about something she knew, and I wish I had paid a little more attention to the details.
I urge all of you if you still have the opportunity, find out all you can from your family members --- they won’t be here some day.

I am reminded of a local mother-daughter duo that were also very close—they ran a local restaurant and lived in the same house. It was very entertaining to see the interaction daily between the two at the local diner. Not sure of their exact ages but they nearing the senior citizen stage. They also died in a short time frame from each other – one in July and the other in September of the same year. There must be something about the bond that affects the life expectancy.

Debbie and Carrie were lucky to have each other every day for so many years in such a close relationship. It is fitting that Debbie followed Carrie in death for she probably could not have survived without her, and it would have been the same for Carrie. 

It is such a loss for the rest of the family especially Carrie’s daughter. Her memories of these two amazing women must sustain her in the days and years to come.

Can you imagine the havoc those two are causing in the afterworld! 

Keep it up ladies.

Frances

127 Ad questions

Advertising Questions

Just some recent ruminations . . .

Hoarding or Shopping?

I confess--I have stopped to watch a few seconds of the hoarding shows while channel surfing but cannot bear it for long because my skin starts to crawl. As someone who has confessed to occasional "recreational" shopping, these horrific scenes come back to me when I peruse the store aisles.

And TV commercials push shopping as gratification. Some are subtle; others are not. She's "NOT SORRY" she bought every boot offered on the online site.

And "Momma Needs Something New!"

Do adults really believe Santa is going to bring them a luxury car?

Ad Spokesmen

The new Dos Equis guy has no appeal to me! The Mexican beer company sent their last "most interesting man," 77-year-old actor Jonathan Goldsmith, on a one-way trip to Mars in his final commercial and brought in a new one.

That seems a bit more classy than KFC who seems to be playing whac-a mole with their spokesman Col. Sanders. I think they are now on number six. Different ones keep popping up all the time. Perhaps they see it as a running joke. Except there was a real Col. Sanders--Harland Saunders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. His statue is still in my store!

Hey you Toyota, AT&T,  and Progressive spokeswomen, you too can be replaced--just like the Maytag repairman. 

What about Aaron Rodgers?

The Green Bay quarterback has been the spokesman for State Farm for 6 years. But you will also see him on Pizza Hut and Dr. Pepper commercials. With all that moola, he must love the game to keep on taking the hits!

New Year's Weekend & Football

How can one survive watching all those collegiate and professional games in one very long weekend?

By watching the commercials!

                                Trish

126 Rest in Peace

Rest in Pease, 2016

Dear Friends (aka blog readers), 2016 is almost over. 

Frankly, I wish it would hurry up. I want the clock and calendar to read 2017 with hope for peace and wisdom in a new year. 

The reflections at the end of the year make me remember my mother (you know--the one the minister called “our own Bea Arthur” at her funeral) who, in her late 70s and 80s said her new hobby was attending funerals. In her 90s, she gave them up. “Just too tired of black,” she said.

I am thinking she was exactly right as I read the many lists of those who have died this year. No, I was not invited to any of these funerals, but the deaths of these famous folk leave both a legacy and a void in their chosen fields. In my mind, I’ve created my own funeral service.

Begin with the religious leader giving a greeting to those attending and giving words of grace. This is where I ask you to go to YouTube or Pandora or wherever you listen to music for free and pull up Leonard Cohen’s (1934-2016) “Hallelujah.” 

This song is, to me, the nearest to a hymn written in modern times. Next think of familiar prayers and scripture. Each death will have its own eulogy. Then close with the last song Leonard Cohen, aged 82, produced just before his death this fall. The song is called “Treaty.” Look for the string reprise/treaty as a string quartet plays the music, ending with the singer-songwriter’s own gravely words. This is on his last CD titled “You Want It Darker.”

If you don’t know his music, please give a listen. Predicting goose bumps.

While you listen to the glorious and dark words and music from Cohen, here is a gathered list of those who died in 2016. The names and notes are gathered from all over the internet, popular and news magazines, and from the NYTimes (my daily read).

January

David Bowie, musician, 69; Alan Rickman, actor (Harry Potter), 69; Rene Angelil, music manager and Celine Dion’s husband,73; Dan Haggerty, actor (Grizzly Adams), 74; Abe Vigoda, character actor (Barney Miller, The Godfather), 94; Paul Kantner, musician (Jefferson Airplane), 74; Glenn Frey (Eagles co-founder- think “Hotel California”), 67; Georgia Davis Powers, first African-American woman in Kentucky’s state senate and served for over 20 years, 92; Bill Johnson, Olympic skier, 55.

February

Maurice White, musician (Earth, Wind, & Fire founder), 74; Edgar Mitchell, astronaut Apollo 14, 85; Antonin Scalia, U. S. Supreme Court, 79; Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Egyptian U.N. secretary-general, 93; Harper Lee , author (To Kill a Mockingbird), 89; George Kennedy, Academy Award actor, 91; Umberto Eco, author (The Name of the Rose).

March

Pat Conroy, Southern author (The Prince of Tides), 70; Nancy Reagan, first lady, 94; George Martin, music producer of the Beatles, 90; Frank Sinatra, Jr, singer, 72; Rob Ford, troubled Toronto mayor, 46; Joe Garagiola, baseball player and announcer, 90; Bud Collins, tennis commentator, 86; Garry Shandling, comic, 66; Earl Hamner, Jr., Virginia author (The Waltons), 92; Patty Duke, actor, 69.

April

Merle Haggard, country singer, 79; Doris Roberts, actor (mom on Everybody Loves Raymond), 90; Chyna, pro-wrestler and reality star, 46; Prince, singer, 57.

May

Morley Safer, 60 Minutes reporter, 84; Alan Young, actor (“Mr.Ed”), 90.

June

Muhammad Ali, boxing champion, 74; Gordie Howe, “Mr. Hockey," 88; Pat Summitt, women’s basketball coach at Tennessee, 64; Michael Herr, screenplays (Apocalypse Now), 76. Bill Cunningham, NYTimes photographer, 87; Buddy Ryan, NFL coach (Bears), 82; Alvin Toffler, author (Future Shock), 87.

July

Elie Wiesel, humanitarian and holocaust survivor, 87; Sydney Schanberg, NYTimes Pulitzer-winning reporter (Killing Fields), 82; Youree Harris, actress/psychic Miss Cleo, 53; Garry Marshall, tv writer/director (Happy Days, Odd Couple, etc.), 81.

August

Pete Fountain, jazz clarinetist, 86; Harry Briggs, Jr., center of the lawsuit that outlawed segregated public schools, 75; Lou Pearlman, boy band producer (NSync) and convicted Ponzi schemer, 62; Kenny Baker, actor, voice of R2-D2, 81; John McLaughlin, conservative tv show host, 89; Sonia Rykiel, French designer whose sweaters helped replace suits for working women, 86; Gene Wilder, actor/comedian, 83.

September

Hugh O’Brian, actor (Wyatt Earp), 91; Phyllis Schiafly, conservative commentator created with defeating the Equal Rights Amendment, 92; Lady Chablis, transgender performer (The Garden of Good and Evil), 59; Arnold Palmer, golf, 87; Shimon Peres, former Israeli president and prime minister, Nobel prize winner, 93; Edward Albee, Pulitzer-prize playwright (…Virginia Woolf), 88; Jose Fernandez, baseball, outstanding rookie pitcher Marlins, 24.

October

Dennis Byrd, NFL, 51; Tom Hayden, 1960s antiwar activist (ex-wife Jane Fonda), 76; Bobby Vee, pop singer of the 1960s, 73; King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand (longest reigning monarch), 88.

November

Janet Reno, first woman U.S. attorney general, 78; Leonard Cohen, singer-songwriter, 82; Grant Tinker, TV/NBC chairman, 90; Robert Vaughn, actor, 83; Gwen Hill, co-anchor of PBS NewsHour, moderator of v-p debates, 61; Ralph Branca, Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher (look up baseball - “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” for a great story), 90; Florence Henderson, actor, 82; Fidel Castro, Cuban prime minister and president, 90.

AND FINALLY, December

Fulton Walker, NFL, 58; Joe McKnight, NFL, 28; Rashaan Salaam, NFL (Heisman winner), 42; Konrad Reuland, NFL, 29; Dennis Byrd, NFL, 50; Craig Sager, NBA reporter known for his flashy suits, 65; George Michael, singer, 53; Zsa Zsa Gabor, actor, 99; Henry Heimlich, surgeon, 96; Alan Thicke, actor, 69; John Glenn, astronaut and senator, 95; and Carrie Fisher, actor (Princess Leia) 60, and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, 84, the following day.

What a list, my friends! Farewell, 2016.

Stunned, but still a little bit savvy, Glenne   

126 Baseball caps?

Only at the beach!

What is it about baseball caps!!

When did baseball caps become the hat of choice for millions of Americans? I don’t remember when it happened, but there has been a fashion (and I use the term loosely) shift from hats worn for style or a purpose--shading, warmth, hiding bad hair, scalp protection--to the ever-popular caps that appear anywhere and everywhere at any time.

No rules seem to apply--when it is appropriate or allowed. They are seen indoors, at the dining table, in restaurants, doctor’s offices--all places that used to be taboo for head coverings. Men would immediately take their hats off at the door---but no more.

Always the baseball cap!

My husband who is in the midst of his retirement career as a woodworker and cabinet maker wears a baseball cap every day whether he needs it or not. Sometimes he even has it on when he settles in his easy chair and starts his snoozing routine as he watches TV, off and on between the short naps.

Really, he needs that hat on in the house to take a nap! I often look at him in disbelief and remind him between snoring to take it off. The retired school teacher never wore a hat in the classroom and demanded that students remove them when entering the building. Things have really changed.

My father (who was born in 1912) wore a hat his whole life --- a fedora for cold weather and a beige cap with no writing on it for warmer days (it was not a true baseball cap). But he never wore either in the house or any other inside venue. The hat was immediately taken off when entering the door.

There are even shops that sell nothing but the popular caps. I remember hat shops in bigger cities when I was growing up, but all types of headgear was sold – some shops carried only women’s hats, which were required for some religious settings and social gatherings. These shops disappeared as men and women no longer needed a hat to complete their ensemble or for etiquette requirements.

So where did this obsession originate? Research reports that the caps grew in prominence in the 1970s and are often bought as souvenirs when traveling. The billion-dollar industry has prevailed as a more formal fashion scene has evolved, and sports fans show their preferences with the caps that they wear.

Here we are in 2016 and women only wear hats for a purpose often dictated by the weather while men have taken to the baseball cap in droves with no resistance. Some even wear them backwards which appears to defeat the purpose of the hat. Again baseball players are the exception and have reasons for using the caps.

Possibly if spouses, partners, children, or anyone else important in the lives of the cap lovers insisted that they wear a baseball hat, maybe it would reverse the trend--I doubt it but it could be worth a try!

Of course, this could upset the economic stability of the country since many males of all ages have at least a dozen or more of these head coverings. I do have to admit I help the economy by sometimes buying a cap, but I only wear one when there is a real need – glare, bad hair, wind, etc. But I shop for ones that are unique and often have a bit of bling.

One alternative that looks rather dashing is the flat cap often made of tweed material--it is also called the newsboy hat, British cap, or golf hat. It is more appropriate for colder months since many are made of wool. But I don’t think this will hit the market like the baseball cap.

I am not advocating total annihilation of the very popular baseball caps--they are needed for the sport itself—but could we at least cut back on when and where they are worn. Definitely not in the house, in restaurants, churches, theaters, meetings, or other indoor settings, especially formal gatherings, should be a few of the restrictions.

Possibly these few restrictions could restore a little of the decorum and civility my father and his generation practiced and perpetuated by taking off the hat when coming through the door to enter the house or any building. I was recently encouraged at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.--not one baseball cap had entered the premises-–maybe there is some hope!!

Hat savvy Frances      

125a Anniversary compilation

An anniversary compilation

Yesterday, December 18, was our 45th anniversary. 

When you google 45th anniversary, the results seem to be gifts to buy. The gem, by the way, is sapphire. This year is also the 45th anniversary of the Magic Kingdom

When I reflect upon our life together, we have shared so much. And, why not, we have been together 70 percent of our lives! It is amazing.

Over 45 years, we have . . .

Lost four parents.

Had ten different jobs.

Moved seven times.

Renovated six times. 

Went to at least 12 bowl games, two in which our teams battled each other--my Seminole beat the Hokies both times. 

Went to the emergency room three times and had six surgeries.

Had seven dogs, our children!

Opened, operated, and found a new administrator for a museum.

Went through all kinds of hobbies—jogging, sailing, toy trains, flying private planes, coin collecting, Civil War relic collecting, jewelry making, and a few more.

Have not been apart for more than ten days.

So what does it add up to?

We could not have lived through the good and bad without a strong faith in each other and in God.

Not only is our love strong, but we are best friends who enjoy each other’s company and our mutual wacky sense of humor. We have learned to tolerate (and sometimes appreciate) each other’s differences. 

We are looking forward to our years yet to come!         

        Trish

P.S. Many blogs ago, I messed up the numbering of the blogs so 125a reflects a correction to the numbers. We have written 125 blogs!

125 Alternative Christmas Flix-Picks

Christmas Movies

My Alternative List

Well, dear friends and Facebook fans, I am tired of seeing the same old holiday movies year after year after year as good as they may be. 

Yes, they bring back memories, but I know the stories and I know what happens at the end. I am not much of a fan of reruns of any sort. Therefore, I have taken it upon myself to make another list of movies set during the holiday season. Some of you will question these choices. That’s fine. These are just some movies that I believe do have settings and themes that embody the season along with the traditional holiday listings.

Okay, here goes:

Love Actually 

– starring Hugh Grant along with a famous ensemble cast, it is a countdown to Christmas as Grant’s gloomy character cheers himself up by thinking about Heathrow Airport arrivals for the holiday season and how lovingly they treat each other. (2003)

Trading Places 

– an R-rated (I’m not sure why) story starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. The wealthy Duke brothers make a bet on whether nature or nurture determines a person’s life. Why a Christmas movie? One of the best scenes is a disgruntled Santa at the investment firm’s Christmas party. (1983)

Die Hard 

– this, to me, is the epitome of a man’s man Christmas movie - fighting, guns, blood, and ammo. It also is about a father trying to get home for Christmas. And the clever Grinch villain is Hans Gruber (very clever since Franz Gruber wrote “Silent Night”) and it’s filled with Christmas music. Just replace the chimney with an elevator shaft. It stars Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson and a slew of other known names. (1988)

The Shop Around the Corner 

– this is my oldie, but goody entrant on the list. A 1940 romantic comedy starring Margaret Sullavan*(yes, this is correct) and James Stewart which takes place in a general store in Budapest. At the store, the two constantly butt heads, but each is enamored of a pen pal. Little do they know they are both each other’s enemy and romantic interest. This movie is also the inspiration for the Judy Garland film In the Good Old Summertime, the Broadway musical She Loves Me, and the Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks movie You’ve Got Mail. (1940) [*Sullivan is a journalist.]

Gremlins 
– a gadget salesman is looking for a special gift for son and finds it in Chinatown. The reluctant shopkeeper sells him “mogwai” but with the warning that it should never be exposed to bright light, water, or be fed after midnight. Of course, all of this happens and a gang of gremlins wreak havoc on Christmas Eve. Gremlin voices include Howie Mandel as Gizmo and a cameo by Steven Spielberg. Listen for “Do You Hear What I Hear” and “Silent Night.” (1984)

Rent 
– one of my favorite shows of all time. This American musical drama is an adaptation based on Puccini’s opera La Boheme. The film depicts the lives of NYC’s East Village bohemians and their struggles with sex, drugs, paying their rent, and AIDS. On Christmas Day, two of the guys are visited by their friends and told they could live rent free for a year. Much pathos and sadness ensures from Christmas Eve 1989 til Christmas of 1990. (2005)

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang 
- a Los Angeles crime caper set at Christmas. Thief Robert Downey, Jr. is robbing a toy store for both cash and for a toy for his child’s Santa list. This is an irreverent comedy in a twisted buddy-cop film with enough Santa hats to qualify for a holiday movie. (2005)

So, my friends, here are seven alternative movies you might consider during the holidays.

Others you may want to research yourself are Edward Scissorhands (Johnny Depp!!), Lethal Weapon (look for the coke bust in the Christmas tree lot), Batman Returns (set at Christmas by Tim Burton who has more dark stories about Christmas to come later), and, finally, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in which Harry is given the invisibility cloak for Christmas.

Wishing each of you a happy and safe and healthy holiday. 

Savvy Glenne       

p.s. my sardonic humor can’t wait to see Bad Santa 2!

124 Questions

Questions, questions, 

        and more questions ?????

I never realized how many questions I could ask on any given day or during any conversation. My family has recently made me realize my constant questioning was far more than the average person.

All my life I have asked questions to satisfy my natural curiosity to find out all the important information and then determine how it all made sense and fit together or didn’t.

I decided at a young age that news reporting was one area that proved successful for this obsession of always asking the details. You could ask any number of questions, and it was perfectly acceptable. The problem is when you are off the clock (which I don’t think you ever truly are), then the questions may seem excessive.

A simple social encounter can turn into an intensive interview before you realize it! Often you start to get strange looks and raised eyebrows, and you start to back off a little but not completely. You just have to know the details!

Teaching also afforded me the opportunity to feed my obsession. Questioning is a vital part of any classroom, so the students were my unsuspecting targets. I loved when they returned the favor with inquiries that spawned more questions from me.

Retirement from both of my professions brings this home to roost as you realize you want to find out more, get the whole scoop, or interrogate wholeheartedly. But you have to suppress it and ease into meeting socially accepted norms like not interviewing at a cocktail party.

Being inquisitive is an asset in most situations but can be viewed as prying in others. Sometimes answering questions is not what some people want to do especially in situations regarding public issues, when the answers are vital to making good decisions. I have to ask what are they hiding or don’t want the citizens to know. Okay, I will get off my soap box.

When respected journalist Gwen Ifill died recently, a quote was circulated on why she got into the news profession, which really sums up my feelings.

“I wanted to be a journalist, because I like to ask questions,” Gwen said in interview for the Explorations in Black Leadership Series, posted on PBS website. “And I like the idea that someone might feel responsible for answering them.”

My first questioning assignments began as a reporter in seventh grade when I helped organize a school newspaper. Our science teacher was forward thinking enough to turn us loose with the motivation to fulfill our goal – a newspaper for the entire junior high school.

This direction stayed with me--high school newspaper, local community newspaper, and then college where I majored in journalism and was on the school newspaper. I kept working at the local paper in the summers during college. The questions just kept coming!

I moved in the direction of public education, but I stayed close to journalism --founding and advising high school and middle school papers, working part-time at the local paper, writing for education journals, always thinking how events, people, and experiments would be great stories with many questions to be asked. 

When my career veered into school administration, questions became crucial especially when getting to the bottom of an episode that no one would claim credit or blame. Again I had the drive to ask many, many questions. Often the students and parents were not fond of this drive when the answers were sometimes incriminating.

My grandchildren have given me hope for the future. One of my granddaughters recently had a sign on her bedroom door that warned to knock first. If not, you may be subjected to answering questions!

My son, and sometimes my daughter, will call me out for asking too many questions--saying I have used up my quota! I will cool it for a while until I feel I can squeeze in a few more.


Just keep in mind when someone like me greets you with how’s it going, what have you been doing, or any interrogative greeting, they really mean it and want details!

Savvy Questioner Frances