25 NEW YEAR WISHES Author Lucille Cortese more flowers, less weeds more sunshine, less rain more listening, less talking more dancing, less watching more laughter, less tears more love, less hate more peace, less war more faith, less apathy more

I’ve told you the story before, haven’t I? If I remember correctly, I don’t think l told y’all the whole story. Every one remembers the old Pat Boone song, “Running Bear and Little White Dove?” This song was about White

From the earliest age, I fought to remain in an upright position. I blame this handicap on unfortunate parenting. Mama never allowed me to crawl. As soon as I boosted my infant body to all fours, she would hoist me

TRIAL AND ERROR Lucy Cortese “Members of the jury, have you reached a verdict?” Judicial words prompt my heart to race, my stomach to lurch, my bladder to activate. I grew up watching Perry Mason defend the undefendable, acquitting  every

MEMORIES AT THE BEACH You can have your snow! Nope, don’t want it! You can have your impassable streets, snowplows, heavy coats and boots and your hibernating freezing weather. I’ll take the palm trees, the palmettos, the sandpipers, sea gulls,

Lucy Giardino Cortese MEMORABLE FIRST KISS Who doesn’t remember their first kiss? A peck from a junior high beau? A passionate smooch from a high school sweetheart? Did you practice puckering up before a bedroom mirror in anticipation?  My rite

My hairI want it long, straight, curly, fuzzySnaggy, shaggy, ratty, mattyOily, greasy, fleecyShining, gleaming, streamingFlaxen, waxenKnotted, polka-dottedTwisted, beaded, braidedPowdered, flowered, and confettiedBangled, tangled, spangled, and spaghettied! (HAIR! The American Love-Rock Musical) Those lyrics from 1967 are my mantra. My hair

Lucy Giardino Cortese TICKET TROUBLES The dreaded blue light flashes in the rearview mirror. Sweaty palms choke the steering wheel. Heart skips a beat. Breath comes in gasps. Tummy growls like onset of Montezuma’s revenge. Here it comes. “Do you

Are you the sister that sings or the other one? This question reverberates throughout memories of my childhood. Living with a sibling who rivals Sarah Brightman in reaching high Cs, my voice remains a consistent B flat. Blessed with an

Lucy Giardino Cortese ORANGE PICKER BLUES Think Florida; think oranges. This showy citrus shouts from tourist ads, travel brochures and license plates. I longed to grow the juicy fruit so plentiful to my state. Year after year, I planted orange

WALKERS By Dee Coleman A varied and special breed….Walkers.  They come in many forms, all sizes, all ages, and all shapes.  They are the dog walkers, the aerobic walkers, the slow walking parents with children, the casual walkers, the lovers’