The year-end holiday marathon—the 40 days between Thanksgiving and New Year—has finally exhausted itself—and exhausted me along with it. On Jan. 2, I celebrated my own favorite holiday—National Introvert Day (yes, that’s a real thing) by finally getting some peace and quiet and recharging my batteries. I wasn’t depressed; I was just being myself, an introvert. Continue reading Looking Sideways – Introvert/Extrovert …Couples learn to thrive

We are entering the season of love and kindness. For some, this means God’s gifts to us while others take a more personal and humanistic approach. But a common factor seems to be an emphasis on providing the gift of good deeds to others.

There are dozens of examples of “Ordinary Angels” who quietly provide simple acts of goodness in Sylvania. This happens throughout the year, of course, but deserves special recognition during the holidays. Continue reading Looking Sideways – The quiet work of ordinary angels

Lost in the funeral coverage following the passing of Elizabeth II last month was a small sidebar that proves one more time that it was good to be queen.

It involves famed jazz musician Duke Ellington, who in 1958 was at a high point of his long career when he had an audience with the 32-year-old monarch—just seven years into her reign. Continue reading Looking Sideways – Queen’s gift shows perks of position

One hundred years ago, a young couple stepped off the train at Toledo’s Union Station and into their future. The journey that brought them here – by cart, ocean steamer, and rail – took more than two weeks. They had no home, job, or ability to understand the English language. With them was an infant daughter: my mother.
Grampa did odd jobs until he found employment in the huge auto parts factory that eventually became Dana. Gramma took in laundry to make ends meet. Over time, they bought a small house, became citizens, and saved enough money to send mom to college. Continue reading Looking Sideways – Hope makes our nation work