Welcome to PhylPhacts!

Hello All, Every now and then I just want to read/hear feel good stories. Stories that are uplifting, awe inspiring, and just plain happy. These stories help me on days that are tough or dreary. They also remind me about all of the good things in life. So I thought you might like some too! I absolutely fell in love with Zaila Avant-garde, the first African American to win the Scipps National Spelling Bee. The 14-year old from New Orleans won after correctly spelling murraya (a type of tropical tree) and before that, words I had never even heard of, querimonious, solidungulate and Nepeta. (I had to look all of those up!)…

Hello All, Over these past two weeks my heart has been so sad over the events in Surfside, Florida. I can hardly fathom the events of that fateful night when the building literally collapsed. The valiant rescues – the incredible work of the first responders, firefighters, emergency services, the police – the civilians who head a cry and helped a young boy. And since then, the around the clock work of the search and rescue teams, including the search and rescue dogs and cadaver dogs (from here in the United States and abroad) – the architects and engineers who have worked to be sure that all were safe as the responders searched…

Hello All, My sincere apologies for my impromptu vacation from Phyl Phacts! I haven’t missed a week, much less two, since I started writing in October of 2019. I really have a good excuse – I was brought to my knees by 3 millimeters and 5 millimeters kidney stones – for what I hope was my first and very last time! Bob said I don’t get sick often, I just like to go big when I do! What an experience. I visited two emergency departments, in two different health systems, in five days – one with an overnight stay – and the urologist office. Had two CT scans, lots of urinalysis tests,…

Hello All, What a difference a year makes! I am so grateful that we appear to have turned the corner on this pandemic. I know we will still have ups and downs – new variants will continue to appear (it is just the nature of bugs, they mutate to stay alive – so now the delta variant has entered the scene) – we still have to take care of our younger citizens with their vaccines. But some sense of normalcy has returned. Well, except that I still I am a creature of the new habits I developed this year! I still am having trouble giving up my mask. If it…

Hello All, Do you wonder sometimes when we lost our wonder? In other words, when did our desire to be curious or to know something disappear or get minimized, and in turn, limited our ability to be surprised, awed, astonished. When did our imagination take flight? Do you think it is age? Do you think we just forget to laugh daily, even though laughter has remarkable restorative factors? Do you think we have become so serious that the silly can’t survive? I don’t know the answer, but I do know when I get my wonder back – when I spend my time with our great-nieces! G. K. Chesterton, English writer and philosopher said…

Hello All, I know everyone is looking forward to the holiday weekend. An opportunity to be with family. An opportunity for grilling out. The unofficial start of summer and vacations. Please sometime during this weekend, just pause – breathe deeply – and send thanks to the many men and women of the United States Military who died serving our great country. They gave their all for the freedoms we enjoy today – they served with incredible bravery – they performed incredible heroic acts. One of my favorite definitions of heroism is that it is “a position of the heart” – “connected with humanity, guardians of their welfare, with love for God…

Hello All, Looks like we have turned a corner with the pandemic! I am praying that this good news continues. Though I will be the first to admit, I have not quite graduated to taking off my mask yet, even though I am fully vaccinated. And neither has little mom. Took me a year to get it straight – LOL! I expect I will be a bit cautious for a little longer. It may also be my new habit to mask up during flu season, because all of these processes definitely made an impact on the flu! The reason I am writing about the future being bright is because of…

Hello All, I love the first two weeks of May. Not only because I love Spring (my second favorite season), but because it is also when three important recognition weeks occur. Three weeks where we celebrate people who have chosen professions that make a difference across the nation and the world – teachers, nurses and all of the professions in the hospital – all who are beacons of hope, light and love. As John Kennedy said, “We must find time to stop and thank people who make a difference in our lives.” Teacher Appreciation Week was May 2nd through May 8th. John Wooden said “I think the teaching profession contributes more…

Hello All, Rumi gave us this wonderful quote: “We are born of love; love is our mother.” Rumi, a Persian mystic and poet, was born in 1207 and died in 1273. To this day, centuries later, he remains one of the world’s most read poets. His wise words about life and love are just as profound today as they were in the 13th century. One of my favorites of his quotes is one I try to live by: “Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love.” And the one that is appropriate for this blog is “Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for…

Hello All, I love the Academy Awards. You never know what is going to happen – like Glenn Close twerking! (Some things you can not un-see! But props to her for doing that!) The fashions are usually fabulous, sometimes interesting. This year new records were set with the most diverse winners ever. What I really love? Award show speeches! They are often funny – thought provoking – touching – educational – inspirational – relevant. And this year’s speeches did not disappoint. Chloe Zhao became only the second woman and the first woman of color to win the Best Director Academy Award. She offered her advice on her way of coping “when things get hard.” She shared…