(And an Eye Patch) — While most kids were beginning after-school sports, I was picked up for a different sort of “athletic” endeavor: eye training. In a continued effort to strengthen my eye muscles, I went to a recommended specialist. Beyond his florescent-lit office, there was a dark inner sanctum surrounded by stations. …

Making it easy-peasy for those you leave behind — It was an uneventful Thursday until my best friend called to say her mother had died unexpectedly. My friend and her brothers were in shock and totally in the dark about what to do. Their mother, who had divorced years ago, left no instructions, plan, or direction for her final…

Eavesdropping at the hair salon — It was an ordinary Saturday at the hair salon. Sounds of scissors snipping and the scent of shampoos and hair sprays filled the air. The overhead track lighting cast downward shadows, making my nose look huge and the circles around my eyes dark. …

Words From a Former Addict — My name is Bonni. I am a recovered gel nail manicure addict. After several years of falling into this beauty trap, my fingernails sent me a message, loud and clear: They wanted to breathe. No doubt, the durability of the gel nail procedure is remarkable. With it, you can confidently use your nails and not feel worried about scraping the crud from the bottom of dirty pots or even slamming your nails when you reach for the car door too fast. …

My husband and I went out for dinner last week. During the conversation, I reached across the table, held his hand, and told him how grateful I was that he was in my life. Andrew sat there so handsome and responsible. He told me he understood what a “broken heart”…

A social code to live by — Lip-flapping, idle prattle, muck-raking, and tittle-tattle. In other words, gossip. It’s the kind of discourse that creates small-mindedness, and it touches all ages — from children’s whispers in the playground to grown-ups looking askance when you pass them in the supermarket and you thought they were your friend. I’m still…

When it’s late afternoon and the white, uncooked pallor of the turkey mocks you — Why am I so panicked about hosting Thanksgiving at my house? Because one year I didn’t put the bird in the oven long enough. It was after 6:00 p.m., and the bird still wasn’t finished. …

Major case of foot in mouth: Yammering away at a cocktail party with ne’er an obstacle in sight. I studied visual arts and communications in college and graduated early. After only 2 1/2 years, I finished my Bachelor of Arts requirements. Big deal. I should have spent more time enjoying my college years, taking more courses, and bonding with my professors. Jump years after graduation, and my college…