August 20, 2026
Thoughts from the Crossroads
Thoughts from the Crossroads – Weird words
The English language is - and I say this affectionately - weird.
Thoughts from the Crossroads – Animal parenting
Dear Readers, you may want get out your hankies before reading any further. This column is going to be heavy on the AWW factor. You’ve been warned!
Thoughts from the Crossroads – Laundry
Irecently saw the movie “The Odyssey” at the theater. As you are probably aware, the hero Odysseus and his fellow Greek soldiers fought the Trojan War for 10 years; it then took them another 10 years to travel home. It was a good movie, but I couldn’t help but wonder: “How did that group of men handle their dirty clothes while fighting and traveling, for 20 years?” After all, when I travel for a mere two weeks, I bring home heaps of laundry!
Thoughts from the Crossroads – Signs
Recently I saw one of my favorite Far Side cartoons, first published by Gary Larson back in 1986.
Thoughts from the Crossroads – Hollywood
It takes my husband and me forever to watch a movie at home. We’re forever pressing the pause button so we can get a snack. Or let the cat inside from the screen porch. Or go to the bathroom. Or get another snack. Or let the cat back out. You get the idea!
Thoughts from the Crossroads – Army Museum
Dear Readers, recently I visited the National Museum of the United States Army, located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Thoughts from the Crossroads – Monticello
Dear Readers, Independence Day has come and gone, but America’s semiquincentennial year continues! Famed Virginian Thomas Jefferson was pivotal to the colonies breaking away from England, and today I’m writing about his mountaintop home, Monticello. I’ve been there many times over the past couple of decades and it’s always a fun and interesting experience. The first time Rick took me to see Monticello, I remember he deliberately paid for our tickets in cash. That meant he was given back change, and part of his change was a two-dollar bill! How often do you see that? He promptly handed it over to me as a little souvenir of my visit, and I admired TJ’s portrait on the front of the bill. I thought it was so cool that Monticello did that. Of course, instead the twodollar bill, Monticello could give back 40 nickels, which sport a likeness of Monticello on their reverse side. But that would be much heavier and bulky!
Thoughts from the Crossroads – “Give me liberty or give me death!”
In honor of the rapidly approaching Independence Day holiday, today’s column is about the speaker of that famous quote - Founding Father Patrick Henry. We are all familiar with his famous line, delivered to the second Virginia Convention in 1775, but how much do you know about the man otherwise? I must admit until very recently my knowledge was woefully pitiful. But I’ve learned a bit, so here goes.
Thoughts from the Crossroads – Fort Bragg
Dear Readers, when I left you last week, Rick and I were departing our hotel in San Francisco and crossing the Golden Gate Bridge to head north. We drove the coastal highway all the way up to Fort Bragg, enjoying the scenic ocean views.
Thoughts from the Crossroads – Two Lafayettes
Today’s column is keeping in theme with America’s 250th birthday, but also in honor of the federal holiday Juneteenth. I’m writing about James Armistead Lafayette - a Revolutionary War Patriot. James was born into slavery on a Virginia plantation owned by William Armistead. He eventually met the Marquis de Lafayette (the exact details of which are lost to history, but presumably through James’ owner) and the two formed a unique and lifelong friendship. Thanks in large part to this friendship, James had an extraordinary life.