Articles written by Patricia Tatum

What is Helium

About me - Patricia Tatum

I read a lot. I think a lot. I learn a lot. I write...sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. I am wife, mother, sister, daughter, grandmother, friend. I dig in the dirt and play with my dogs. I grow flowers - lots of flowers. I love music - listening, singing,

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Creative Writing > Essays Essays: Why I write: 2 of 254
So many beautiful words have been written about the beauty of the written word, I marvel at my own audacity to add my own words, written as well. Beautiful? One can only hope. Honest? Most assuredly. This is why I write. "To discover a wordsmith who can cause me to catch my breath in awe the way a master magician can hold his... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: My first period: 1 of 14
My story of adolescent angst began the summer of '69. My lofty goal that summer was to read every Louisa May Alcott book in the library. I was eleven years old, ready to start sixth grade and "on the cusp of womanhood", or so said my mom. At the time, I thought she had said "cups of womanhood" assuming she was talking about b... More..
Relationships & Family > Cheating Spouses & Affairs Why secretaries are responsible for breaking up so many marriages: 1 of 8
It's a classic cliche - the boss falls in love with the secretary. It is a scenario that has been played out many times, and it is almost always blamed on the poor secretary. The truth is, there are three responsible parties in this drama: the boss, the secretary and the spouse. Knowing the reasons why it happens goes a long ... More..
Home & Garden > Home & Garden (Other) Outdoor heating products: A buying guide to patio heaters, chimineas, and fire pits: 1 of 6
With the growing popularity of outdoor living spaces, patio heaters, chimineas, fire pits and even formal fireplaces are getting more attention. With all the options available, how can a decision be narrowed down to just one or two? Knowing some basics about the different products is a good beginning.Patio HeatersPatio heater... More..
Relationships & Family > Dating Dilemmas Why are some women afraid of commitment?: 2 of 9
It is generally assumed that there are two types of single women: the ones who are desperately seeking a husband and the ones who have given up desperately seeking a husband. The label "commitment-phobic" is most often used to describe men. There are plenty of women, however, who are single because they are afraid of commitme... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Remembering grandparents: 2 of 8
I watched Grandma walking towards the kitchen. She moved slower than the last time we were here, but she still moved with a purpose. I looked for signs of disorientation or forgetfulness, but no, she knew exactly what she wanted and exactly where to find it. At ninety-two, she was one tough cookie. I looked over at my sister ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > News (Other) The cause of the economic crisis in 2008: 2 of 7
I have to make a confession. I own 37 pairs of shoes. I know, because I counted them. I am not particularly extravagant, and I can be downright thrifty at times. So how, then, did I end up with 37 pairs of shoes? The answer, I think, lies in the perception of a large part of our society that "accumulating as much stuff ... More..
Personal Finance > Stock Market How to protect yourself from the Bernard Madoffs of the world: Ponzi schemes revealed: 6 of 19
Bernard Madoff managed to scam billions of dollars from wealthy business owners, savvy investors, and even international banks. A classic Ponzi scheme, the return on investments was all smoke and mirrors: early investors were simply paid with later investor's funds. The problem is that eventually it all falls apart and invest... More..
Sports & Recreation > Skiing Taking your children skiing for the first time: Tips for parents: 12 of 30
Driving to the mountain on our first family ski trip, I had a mental picture of our next Christmas card. There we are, standing on sparkling white snow, a pristine blue sky as the backdrop.The four of us, looking dashing and adventurous with skis pointed towards the next downhill run, leaning forward on the poles as if eager ... More..
Relationships & Family > Marital Conflicts Resilience to conflict in relationships: 4 of 9
Conflict (noun): a disagreement or clash between ideas, principles, or people (Encarta Dictionary). Conflict, particularly in a committed relationship, is inevitable. No matter how much we love each other, no matter how much we (usually) understand each other, we are going to disagree eventually. It can be a minor irritation,... More..