Author’s Note: Facing the Crow A rooster came to my house one mid-morning a few months ago. I’ve always been scared of roosters. When I was a little kid, ours used to chase me every time he saw me outside, intent on spurring me. But that morning, I chose to face that fear. I picked
In meeting rooms across towns and counties, civic organizations gather with a shared purpose—at least, that’s how they started. There are agendas to review, projects to discuss, and names on the membership rolls. Some arrive early, setting up chairs or organizing materials. Others slip in quietly as the meeting begins. In nearly every group, a
Before I start, I want to thank a longtime friend of mine who inspired me to write this article. She recently posted a long list on her Facebook page, which she saw in a Green Cove Springs Facebook post, showing where people over a certain age can get discounts. It caught my eye, and I
“Not Everything Is What It Looks Like in the Produce Aisle” The idea for this article didn’t come from a science book or a walk through a farmers’ market. It came from my dentist’s office. I was sitting in the chair, making small talk, when a dental assistant casually mentioned that strawberries aren’t berries—bananas are.
It happens on ordinary days—a quick stop at the grocery store, a short errand at the pharmacy, with a child or a pet waiting quietly in the car while someone runs inside “just for a minute.” The parking lot seems calm. The day doesn’t seem very hot. But inside a closed vehicle, the temperature can
As spring arrives in Northeast Florida, it’s common to see a snake quietly slithering across a driveway, resting along a pond’s edge, or moving through tall grass. After the cooler winter months, snakes start to become more active as the land warms up. Many people who grew up in the South heard the same warning
An ABC of Community Etiquette At a gathering or community event, people usually expect a predictable environment—a place where conversation flows easily and everyone understands the general boundaries of the setting. Those expectations can change quickly when someone arrives with a pet and assumes the room will welcome it happily. Many of us love animals,
At a fundraising event a few weeks ago, I tried to tickle Mike in the ribs while we were taking our picture (which I hate doing). It was just a quick, playful poke like teasing a giggling five-year-old. Nothing. Not a flinch. Not a squirm. Not even a startled jump. He stood there, calmly smiling
Most people see rabies as an outdated disease — rare, distant, and unlikely to impact daily life. In many ways, that view is correct. “Dogs and cats must receive their first rabies vaccine at four months of age, followed by a booster one year later,” said Dr. Elizabeth Vodevic of Plantation Animal Hospital in Fleming
Millions of people groggily change their clocks twice a year, muttering complaints about Daylight Saving Time (DST) as they rush to get extra sleep. Parents struggle to wake their children, who are late for school, while tired students wonder whether they are safe as they wait in the dark for the bus. Although DST was
