: About Me

I grew up on a tobacco farm in North Carolina, the child of a country dentist and a school teacher who had come through the depression with an appreciation for God, the innate goodness of this country and reverance for the means that kept both concepts alive and flourishing. Truth, not perfection, would keep us all free they told me, and they gave me the tools to see truth; they did not push their concept of it on me. That I ever left my home town and nearly idyllic life-riding ponies, swimming in ponds and flying with Daddy-still surprises me. That's where I was told, long before faux feminists came along, that I could do or be whatever I wanted. They also instilled in me the common sense to see that I would achieve the most in cooperation with men and women vs. in combat with either.

As a "woman of a certain age" I claim some insight into having survived the loss (MIA)of a husband in SE Asia, remarriage to another military member, and rearing three children to be tough, smart, decent and charitable achievers. I've written regular columns for small weekly newspapers and published articles in major professional (military) periodicals. Presently I do part time writing for a company that addresses safety issues in American transportation.

Though my spouse is now retired, I still consider myself an advocate for military families; my oldest son is active duty Marine and my daughter-once active duty navy-is now married to a senior naval officer. They help keep my perspectives fresh and while I see the "progress" made on many family issues, I also see some of the solutions/quality of life issues embraced by the military as double-edged swords, encouraging softness and whining rather than tenacity, strength and the ingenuity to rise above with less...in both family members and military personnel. But, that's just the view from one old broad who loved being a Navy- and then a Marine Corps -spouse "back in the day...'

I write from conservative, liberal and independent perspectives because I am all of those things by today's definitions. I am most pleased with my writing when it's infused with humor, even in a world that is scarily unfunny much of the time. Any former POW will tell you that good ole Yankee humor had alot to do with their survival. When you stop laughing, you die for all practical purposes.

As with anyone, there's alot more to me than this bio portrays. My writings are my revelations.

Parenting & Pregnancy > Pregnancy Designated parking for pregnant women: Excessive or equality?

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I respect Handicap Parking spaces; I don't park in them because I'm able bodied and have concern for those who aren't...and I don't park in them because it's against the law. But smoke pours out of my ears everytime I drive into a parking lot and see six spaces right up front that say "Reserved for Expectant Mothers," equating-in my mind at least-pregnancy with handicap. In that case, I was handicapped by pregnancy three times in my life and didn't even know it. I didn't know because my doctor did NOT tell me to park as close to the store as possible. To the contrary, he told me to take ni...

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