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I continue to be Thankgivingly-grateful for my recent return to the familiar atmosphere where I am accustomed to organizing the garble from my brain throug

And here is what THEY wrote … Boomer Blog - Shirley Scott Since joining Facebook 10 years ago to keep track of far-flung family and friends, I have also used the platform to share my weekly column. I post little else besides occasional congratulatory comments. I pore over family pictures and enjoy photographs of sunsets and flowers. I ignore lots of political foolishness and hide anything smacking of misinformation or conspiracy theories. However, I especially look forward to comments by my F...

Happy Halfway Day to All! Boomer Blog - Shirley Scott Thursday slipped through last week’s lineup with little fanfare. But for me, July 15 has often been more significant than simply the middle day of the seventh month. First and foremost, my Tennessee sister celebrates her birthday on July 15 – whether she wants to or not! Lesser known, however, is a day of distinction I personally created during my teaching years: Halfway Day. For years, my birthday wishes to my dear sibling followed this...

The inspired and the inspirational Boomer Blog - Shirley Scott I can’t help myself. When ESPN airs its promos for the National Spelling Bee, I feel compelled to tune in. Mostly happy childhood memories from my own inborn spelling talent make me the perfect audience member for any event involving correctly arranging the letters of words – just for the sport of it. There is, however, a frequent niggle in my brain that the 21st century version of this traditional academic competition differs v...

The sunny side of the week! Boomer Blog - Shirley Scott My parents were the quintessential power couple when it came to grumpy kids. My father would accuse us of “bulling around,” and Mother would chime in: “scratch your mad place and get glad!” Living up to that heritage, I do my best to manage periodic occurrences of crabbiness. Although nothing of deep, dark import has happened recently to rile me, I have been a bit cranky around the edges. The panacea: adjusting my view of the prove...

But what about the caissons? Washington Week. They also especially enjoyed the National Memorial Day Concert and Capitol Fourth presentations, holiday traditions I have continued during the almost 10 years my parents have been gone. My favorite part of these concerts is the military music, particularly the “Armed Services Medley.” The official anthems of the Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Army are performed with all the military pride and pomp that cause lumps in throats and so...

The only reason I even noticed the cicada mating call in my backyard last week is that recently lots of people have been pointing out the presence of these

In the very early 1950s, I viewed what I assume were my first two television programs. I remember the solidly-built soprano, Kate Smith, belting out some m

Follow-ups and postscripts Boomer Blog - Shirley Scott Recently I waxed nostalgic about the traditions of the last day of school and graduation. I shared my recollections of each school year winding down and GHS commencement exercises through the years. Surely it is time to move on from these two side streets just off memory lane. And yet, I found myself watching the students, staff, and parents of 2020-21 celebrate these classic American traditions – and I just have to share! Lisa Siegenthal...

I almost gave up on May during her continual string of freeze warnings. In the nick of time, however, the May flowers predicted in the annual April showers