I’m a member of one of those Facebook groups, “You know you’re from______when,” and in my case it’s the Chicago suburb of Itasca.  Recently we’ve been sharing photos and comments about our favorite, and least favorite, elementary school teachers.  My junior high science teacher, Mrs. Wolf, was far and away my favorite teacher who instilled […]

I recently had the honor and privilege to once again be a guest on Jane Asher’s wonderful podcast, The Next Room.  We talked about my new book, THE GAUNTT-CASE CLANS-The Stories, The Legend and the Lore.  I was on Jane’s show in August of 2021 and we talked about our first book, Suffering Is the Only Honest […]

We’ve been watching on Paramount + the new TV Series 1883. For those not familiar with it, it’s a prequel to “Yellowstone,” that stars Kevin Costner as present day, big-time Montana rancher John Dutton.   1883 follows John/Kevin’s great-grandparents, James and Margaret Dutton (played by real life couple Faith Hill and Tim McGraw) as they flee […]

As I discovered a few years ago and shared in the story of the amazing life of my 3rd great aunt, Mary Sawyers, in 1857 her first husband, Samuel P. Swan, was among the 436 men who died when the SS Central America went down off the coast of North Carolina.   The steamship had been […]

It is my deep belief that through connection we heal. David Lindsay-Abaire, Pulitzer Prize winner for his play Rabbit Hole As many of you know, my work and writings over the past several years have focused on connection and the significant role it can play in healing from the transition of someone we deeply love.  When […]

The family we live in has been together for many generations and we are just the most recent members. When we look at one another, we see the products of centuries of love. Today’s Gifts-Daily Meditations for Families (Hazelden Publishing) It is my deep belief that through connection, we heal.   David Lindsay-Abaire, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright […]

I had the privilege to be a guest on Jesse Brisendine’s podcast, HANDFUL OF HOPE. We covered a lot of ground including the power of connecting with and sharing the bond with others whose children have transitioned; how to know our loved ones are ALWAYS with us and accessible to us; and the importance of […]

Introduction Laura Ann Slinkard was a younger sister of my great grandmother, Elizabeth Jane “Betty” Slinkard.   Betty was born in 1857 to Solomon and Laura Glass Slinkard in Los Angeles.   She was the second of nine children: eight girls and two boys.   Laura Ann was the 7th born January 1, 1874, in White River, Tulare […]

I recently had the privilege to be a guest on Jane Asher’s podcast, The Next Room. Those of you from San Diego will undoubtedly recognize her voice. For several years Jane was a radio personality on KFMB and KIFM, among others. Her passion is now focused on helping others with loss, grief and healing. Here’s […]

Something pretty darned amazing unfolded over the past few weeks, and now I have to update the Postscript to the “When the Veil Comes Down” chapter of our new book.   For the three of you who have not read When the Veil Comes Down, here’s a quick recap of that chapter.  In February 2020, I […]