Merry West Side Christmas
Grandma was happiest surrounded by loved ones on Christmas.
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My Mad Crush on Commander Tom
Alas, though Commander Tom was charming and kind to everyone, he never paid any attention to me, even when I won a giant Tootsie Roll.
The Dog Chapel
Have you ever lost a beloved pet and wished for a place to grieve?
Islands without Cruise Ships
“Wow, look at the belly fat on this one!” Up until that moment, I had not known that birds could have fat bellies, let alone that you can actually see the fat. Tom, the bird bander who was leading a team of researchers, showed me how, if you gently move their stomach feathers, you can […]
“A City within a Park”
I spent many childhood days in Buffalo’s city parks. Little did I know then they were designed by America’s first and greatest landscape architect.
The Bodacious Gardens of Buffalo
When I was growing up on the West Side, little did I know that my crowded, urban neighborhood would one day host the biggest, most beautiful Garden Walk in America.
Dreaming of a View of Lake Erie
Is it any wonder that I long to return, this time to my own cottage with a view of my beloved lake?
Love, Heartache, and Transistor Radios
Like every generation of teenagers, we believed our music was far superior, truly unique, and more profound, than any music that came before it.
Who Speaks for the Trees?
I lived through one of our nation’s most devastating tree pandemics–Dutch Elm Disease–and I hope I never witness another.
Buffalo’s Wabi-Sabi
Like old structures, it is the flaws and imperfections that tell our stories and make us interesting.
When the Saints Come Marching
The March celebrations honoring St. Patrick and St. Joseph couldn’t be more different.
When Nuns Ruled the Roost
If you went to Catholic school in the ‘60s or ‘70s, the word “nun” undoubtedly conjures up strong emotions.