In 1960, the average family in America had 2.33 children. By 2019, that number had fallen to 1.9, with an increase of single-child families. August 12 is middle child day, but as the trend is to have fewer children, the middle child is rarer these days. Think back … How did birth order affect your life or your children’s lives? Do you agree with the stereotypes of diligent and driven firstborns, people-pleasing, peacemaking middle children, fun-loving, sociable lastborns, or spoiled, lonely only children? Share your birth order stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

Most of us remember swearing we'd never do things our parents did. It might have been something small, like a habit you found annoying, maybe laughing or talking too loud. Or it might have been much larger, like a political or social view. Maybe it was obvious, like being hypercritical; or perhaps it was subtle, even passive aggressive. Think back...what have you done that you swore you'd never do? Share your I Swore I'd Never stories forward. Start Writing

One person’s junk can be another person’s treasure, especially at a yard sale. Whether before a move or because of the urge to purge, many of us have cleaned out our possessions and sold them on the lawn or from the garage. And, we might have combed through other people’s items looking for that unappreciated gem. Think back … What have you sold or bought and why? Are you a yard sale junkie? Did you ever make an exceptional find? Share your yard sales stories forward. Start Writing

In the future, Andy Warhol (famously) predicted, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes. Think back ... What's your claim to fame? Been on TV or in the news? If you've been famous, what was it like? If not, would you like to be? Have you had brushes with fame or the famous? Are today's celebrities "famous for being famous?" Share your fame stories forward. Start Writing

We boomers have lost many things on our journey to this phase of life. Of course, possessions, but also jobs, relationships, opportunities, people we loved, and on occasion our way. But we have also recovered some of those lost relationships and possessions, started new relationships, and have found new opportunities, dreams, insights, and paths forward. Think back… What have been some of the losses in your life? What have you found despite or because of these losses? Share your lost and found stories forward. Start Writing

In An Essay on Criticism, Alexander Pope wrote the famous words, “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” International Forgiveness Day is August 2nd. Yet so many of us struggle with forgiving. Think back… Have you forgiven an old hurt, or do you feel forgiving would be letting someone off the hook for real harm done? Do you long for forgiveness from someone you have hurt? Can people really forgive and forget? How has forgiveness or the lack of it impacted your life? Share your forgiveness stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

It’s the end of July, almost five months since COVID-19 entered our consciousness and upended our lives. In March we asked you about how your community and activities were being shut down. In May we asked how you were grappling with the changes that had occurred. Now businesses have reopened in many parts of the country, and a lot of people are refusing to wear masks. Tell us how things are where you live. How will you approach the future? Do you think life will resume as it was before, or do you envision a new normal? Think back … what do you miss most from the “before times”? Share your pandemic summer stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

Most elementary schools no longer include cursive penmanship in their curriculum. The thinking is that printing by hand is sufficient, and with digital technology, typing is faster and more easily and quickly read. Think back…when was the last time you received a handwritten letter, wrote a letter by hand, or even took notes by hand? How does handwriting play a role in your everyday life, or does it? Share your Cursive stories forward.  Start Writing Read Stories

Protests were a part of our lives in the '60s and '70s, whether we participated in them or not. Civil rights and Vietnam were the issues back then. For the last three years there have been protests against the current government. Now there are protests by Black Lives Matter and allies, because of the police killing of Black people, catalyzed by the murder of George Floyd caught on witness video. Think back . . . Did you protest in your teens or twenties? Why or why not? What is your take on the current wave of protests? Share your protests stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories

Thomas Wolfe's novel tells us You Can't Go Home Again. Whether or not you agree, you undoubtedly have memories, good or bad, humorous or serious, of your hometown. On this Fourth of July, think back … What was your hometown like? What did you love or hate about your town when you were young? If you have moved away, do you ever wish you still lived there? How does it compare with the place you live now? Share your hometown stories forward. Start Writing Read Stories