“It was an amazing experience,” she said. “Really moving.” “She” is Heidi Kretser, who’s always a joy to talk with. She’s bright, funny, well-informed, and always alight with enthusiasm and joy unbounded. “It” was something that happened to her at a big city ...

Although a lot of people complain about old age, I’m not one of them. Now, well past the three-quarter-century mark, I find this life stage fascinating. It has all the discoveries and changes of adolescence — just in reverse. In youth, you’re growing bigger, stronger, more aware, more ...

One of my 5,000 or so pet theories is that every adult male has a scar on his chin. If not every male, then at least every one who was once a real boy, a “Look, Ma, no hands” boy, spelled B-O-Y. I have a doozy of one, but because it’s obscured by my facial plumage, I never think of it. ...

Traditionally, the informal and affectionate term for a mayor is Hizzoner. Unfortunately, there’s no equivalent term for an ex-mayor — at least not till now. Yes, that’s right folks, here’s an original honorific for former mayors, coined in My Home Town by none other than yers ...

To say I’m a creature of habit is world-class understatement. If I had to explain it by analogy, I’d say I can make a monastery chockful of Benedictine monks look like escapees from a Fantasy Faire. You don’t believe me? Well, here’s my daily schedule. Read it and tell me what you ...

The 80s introduced us to many wonderful new cultural fads. Among them were Cabbage Patch dolls, leg warmers, sickeningly-sweet hair gels, parachute pants and graphic novels. Mercifully, the first five died out, but graphic novels seem here to stay. If you don’t know, graphic novels are no ...