By Sue Murphy I used to say that the worst job in the universe was being a hockey goalie. Besides the unattractive mask and cumbersome knee pads, there was the little matter of being the last defense against rock hard objects being hurled at you at very high speeds. Oh, and it’s very, very cold.  Now, however, I know that I was wrong. Go ahead. Slap shot that puck … [Read more...]

  By Sue Murphy I just signed up to take my dream trip to France … again. I tried twice before but had to cancel for various reasons. I hold out great hope for this go-round. It’s one of those guided bus tours, 13 days, and I can already see some of you rolling your eyes, but I’m a person who likes to have everything on the trip planned ahead of time. Winging it … [Read more...]

By Sue Murphy In the next few weeks, the air will be filled with hats, or more specifically, caps. Having been officially pronounced done and done, graduates will throw those silly mortarboard numbers in the air with glee. If the cap-and-gown set wasn’t designated disposable, parents will be scrambling around behind them to retrieve what’s left of their security deposits. … [Read more...]

By Sue Murphy I saw a T-shirt the other day that said, “I’ll always remember what Mama used to say to me … ‘What’s the matter with you??’”  I laughed, but I also cringed.  For better or for worse, my voice was part of the soundtrack of my girls’ childhood. The phrases, “Brush your teeth,” “Do your homework,” and “If I have to come up there one more time …” … [Read more...]

By Sue Murphy My granddaughter called last week to tell me that she had lost her first tooth. It wasn’t lost, actually, just relocated from her mouth to a plastic zippie bag that would be placed under her pillow in anticipation of the arrival of the Tooth Fairy. She was very excited about the prospect of such a visit, but some kids are not. The son of a friend stated, … [Read more...]