Articles written by Swanee Ballman

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About me - Swanee Ballman

After Swanee Ballman graduated from Moravian College (Bethlehem, Pa.), she taught English in high schools in Pennsylvania and Maryland, where she initiated a high school literary magazine. When her husband was transferred to Florida in 1984, she became the

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Relationships & Family > Tips for Marital Happiness Tips for a long lasting marriage: 6 of 89

TEN WAYS TO KEEP YOUR LOVER I've been married for 37 years to the same man! Has it been a bed of roses? Hardly. Roses come with thorns.Our longevity is attributed to ten basic areas, in no particular order. 1. HAVING HONESTY AND TRUST Often couples begin with secrets. If you're sharing a bed, you should bare your soul, as we...
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Winter walk: 3 of 24

The Dance of Winter The heavens darkened as thick clouds shrouded the wintry night. On the upper side of the clouds, moon-glow illuminated the icy formations, covering them with endless sprinkles of light. The winds strengthened as clouds grew like helium balloons filling to capacity. Cloud after cloud enlarged until all bec...
Creative Writing > Novel Excerpts Novel excerpts: Mystery: 26 of 124

excerpt from The Monster of Boggy Creek "Grandpa! Grandpa!" The wooden rocking chair creaked as the silver-haired man leaned forward. Two small forms, their bodies silhouetted against the setting sun, scurried along a well-worn path from Boggy Creek to the clearing where the house stood. Every few steps they stopped and set ...
Relationships & Family > Family Bonding How to make the most of family time: 2 of 7

Smelling the Roses If I removed all of the hours I spent driving our children to sports practices and events, sitting through band concerts, and being a band/chorus/ sports booster Mom, I could add three years to my life. And that doesn't count ballet and piano lessons, Scouts, or vacation Bible school! As an American Mom, I...
Health & Fitness > Alzheimer's and Dementia Where is the funny side of sad in Alzheimers: 2 of 7

Fear of Cremation Anyone who has dealt with someone suffering from Alzheimer's knows just how frustrating an experience that can be. But long after some of the embarrassing situations, recollection seems amusing. Such was our case with my mom. After dad died, she began exhibiting unusual behavior. When I knew she needed supe...
Creative Writing > Humor Humor: Let's outlaw the weather: 6 of 20

Monster Mash Surviving a Hurricane Or Two or Three "We've done all we can." My husband's words offered little comfort. I knew we could do no more. Still, I felt helpless, vulnerable. The last opening was sealed. I felt claustrophobic, trapped within our home, ignorant of what was happening outside. Minutes drowned in an endl...
Religion & Spirituality > Christianity (Other) Personal testimonies on belief: 31 of 74

Peace, Love, and Joy In the early morning light, I feel safe. The day's activities have not yet beckoned me, and a peace envelops my world. It's what I imagine as heavenly peace. And though this is temporary silence from a world that is about to explode with noise and human activities, I know the present stillness is a gift ...
Education > Education (Other) The best school fund-raiser ideas: 7 of 14

An Alternate School Fundraiser Idea As both a parent and a teacher, I can tell you that fund-raising, though necessary, is a royal pain. Just how many closets do we need to store all of that wrapping paper, posters, and hard candy that is annually begrudgingly bought by neighbors and relatives? With today's dangers potential...
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Losing a loved one: 81 of 150

Grateful Memories We sat in Mom's room, as we had so often. She always felt most comfortable on her turf where she held her memories. The blinds were parted slightly. With a mere twist of the cord, the sun's brilliance could have flooded the room. But this was not her desire. Not then. The television softly droned meaningles...
Society & Lifestyle > Social Values & Norms How society treats the homeless and displaced: 13 of 24

How Society Treats the Homeless One afternoon as I waited in line to exit our children's school parking lot, I saw a woman fall to the ground by the highway. I wasn't sure what had happened, but I jumped out of my car and ran to her side. Another mom, who was not looking to her right as she pulled out of the parking lot, had...