“From the blackness of nothing to the brightness of everything. The sun came bursting over the horizon and a new day was here.” – Paul Hancock, The Writings of HANCOCK, September 1975 The Northfield School of the Liberal Arts has a year-end program called, Americana. It is an opportunity for students and faculty to summarize […]
A Disturbing Yet Familiar Story Of Healthcare And Dirty Politics
Expression: Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose Meaning: the more things change, the more they stay the same. Literal translation: the more it changes, the more it’s the same thing. Disturbing Yet Familiar Story are a reality of rescuing lost stories. In some sense, each story has these familiar seven elements. This is true of […]
How A Long Colorful Road Trip, A Civil War Book Launch, And Family Relate
As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see. — Vincent Van Gogh When one thinks of the upper Midwest, the American Civil War does not immediately come to mind. However, a few weeks ago, we embarked on a five day road trip that […]
My Grandfathers’ Rocking Chairs – What They Represent
There is a peacefulness, an air of reflection, about a rocking chair that attaches to no other moving object. – Wallis Simpson We are fortunate that two rocking chairs, one from each side of my family, the Hancocks and the Rightmeiers, remain in the family. We do not know much about them, except they were […]
How To Rescue Lost Stories – Write For Your Child Heart
“Passion is a feeling that follows action. It tends to be created or discovered, not predicted or planned. You don’t find your passion. It finds you as you get in the mix and try things.” – @JamesClear The child heart. We all have one. It may be buried, forgotten, or simply asleep, but one’s child […]
How Family Is A Stunning Link To Our Past
“In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.” —Alex Haley, author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family When one thinks of the upper Midwest, the American Civil War does not immediately come to mind. However, in the fall of 2022, we embarked on a five-day road […]
Laying Our Loved Ones To Rest With Honor And Dignity
“The first night in Morotai, the Japanese sent over a bomber on the north end of the island. The next day we went out and dug a deeper foxhole.” – Lt. Joseph F. Cullen, Personal Diary My husband went to rent a car for a trip to the west coast. The occasion: A memorial service […]
The Writings of HANCOCK – A Private World
“when the inner garden is under cultivation and God’s Spirit is present, harvests are regular events. The fruits? Things like courage, hope, love, endurance, joy, and lots of peace.” ― Gordon MacDonald, Ordering Your Private World I self-published a book through Amazon in 2015. The book was compiled in 2000 a few months after my father died. […]
How DNA, Curiosity, Speculation And Imagination Become Brilliant Allies
“Closing my eyes to connect to my roots. I sense the wisdom of my ancestors and my grandmother smiles.” ―The Gossamer Path “Understanding your heritage, your roots, and your ancestry is an important part of carving out your future.” A few years ago, my spouse and I had our DNA tested simply out of curiosity. […]