My husband, Bill, recovering from minor surgery, slept in the downstairs bedroom. Rather than bother him during the night, I slept on the sofa a few feet from the door to the bedroom so I could hear …
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Phyllis Henry
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2/1/23
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I can’t walk anymore, so I move around in a power wheelchair. One young friend was surprised to learn that the chair must be plugged in at night to recharge. Because she had never seen me move …
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Phyllis Henry
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11/30/22
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The summer when I was 6 years old, I spent hours hanging from the big oak tree behind the garage. Between me and the oak branch were two ropes, each tied to a suspended 16-inch ring. If I hung onto …
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Phyllis Henry
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6/1/22
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Three meals a day are served in the dining room at the independent living facility where I live. Recently at lunchtime I noticed a new resident sitting alone. After I asked her if I could join her, I …
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Phyllis Henry
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1/28/22
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Colleen was sitting on the steps in front of her brick house when my dad parked our green Dodge, and I rushed to see her. Her house was the biggest and nicest one in Lincoln, Iowa, very grand when …
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Phyllis Henry
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10/28/21
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Promises are not written in stone, or even wet cement. They are soft and squishy and easily manipulated into shapes that only slightly resemble the original. When I Googled “promise,” the …
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Phyllis Henry
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8/28/21
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In the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol at the memorial service for William (Billy) Evans, the Capitol policeman who was recently killed, the U.S. Army Quartet sang “Like a Bridge Over Troubled …
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Phyllis Henry
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4/28/21
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When I Google “alone” I find a bunch of synonyms: single, friendless, solitary, lone, lonesome and more. I’m alone a lot these COVID-19 days. Today I spoke six words. Each time a …
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Phyllis Henry
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2/24/21
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One afternoon back in the late ’70s, my husband Bill and I were resting on a little bench that used to be situated inside the Panda House at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Through the big …
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Phyllis Henry
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12/30/20
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The first time I swam in the Atlantic Ocean — actually, I never swam in the Atlantic Ocean or any other large body of water.
When I was 6 years old a bunch of relatives on my mother’s …
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Phyllis Henry
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10/29/20
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My 4-year-old and I were talking about running and I was telling her about different sports she can try if she wants to one day, like track, swim team, crew team, volleyball, tennis, softball, …
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Phyllis Henry
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8/27/20
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I’m 89 years old. I’m doing fine. My apartment is pleasant and my balcony has a nice view. Three meals a day and snacks are delivered to my door. Packages appear …
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Phyllis Henry
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5/1/20
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Some words change our lives. “You have a full scholarship.” “The cancer is in remission.” “You will be giving birth to twins.” The words loom in our …
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Phyllis Henry
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12/6/19
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