Author Archives: sheilawill

‘Better to have our crazy straight up,’ says Maureen Dowd

Posted on March 15, 2017 by sheilawill

“I love your hair!” That’s how Maureen Dowd began the conversation. I was surprised to see her sitting at the Mostly Books autograph table at the Tucson Festival of Books on Sunday, with only a few people hanging around. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Journalism/Writing, politics, Tucson Festival of Books/good books | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The next chapter…’Say yes to opportunities’

Posted on March 9, 2017 by sheilawill

Who knew that people 82 to 85 score higher on happiness scales than millennials? I’m not there yet, but I am happy. My super adorable grandson Foss was born on Jan. 21 in Minneapolis. I’m in good health, as is … Continue reading →

Posted in Baby Boomers, Mount Desert Island/Maine, Old friends, The Rest of the World | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

From citizen journalism to fake news…

Posted on February 11, 2017 by sheilawill

I knew it wouldn’t end well. From my first blog post six years ago to the current reality of 1984, where lies become truth, science is suspect, and a blowhard president sits in the White House. I’m obsessed with George Orwell’s 1984. … Continue reading →

Posted in Fight wimpiness, Journalism/Writing, The inconvenient truth about education | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“Make new friends and keep the old…

Posted on January 16, 2017 by sheilawill

One is silver and the other’s gold.” Little did I know at age 6 that belting out rounds of “Make New Friends…,”while on the school bus to girl scout camp, would foretell how essential dear friends would be 60 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Baby Boomers, Bopping Around Tucson, Mount Desert Island/Maine, Old friends | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Success=3x a week

Posted on December 31, 2016 by sheilawill

Today I bought a bottle of Prosecco to kindly usher out 2016. The year included Sheila’s Excellent Adventure to the other side of the world back in May, as well as tons of political slime. If I dredge up the … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Matters, Fight wimpiness, Journalism/Writing, Nature Girl, politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Standing on the corner in Tucson, Arizona

Posted on December 22, 2016 by sheilawill

Dreadlocks. A young guy holding a sign. Seeing him from across the street, I figured his sign said something like, “Need to get to Santa Fe by Christmas day.” I was wrong. Instead, drivers or walkers leaving the El Con … Continue reading →

Posted in Bopping Around Tucson, Mount Desert Island/Maine, Tucson Festival of Books/good books | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Sitting in my car, listening to Barack Obama (*please read to the end.)

Posted on December 18, 2016 by sheilawill

I had meant to go grocery shopping. As NPR came on the radio, I heard Barack Obama’s eloquent voice, and a realization struck me: This could be his last news conference as president. I started taking notes on my shopping … Continue reading →

Posted in Bopping Around Tucson, politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

They’ve all come to look for America…

Posted on November 12, 2016 by sheilawill

St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church was the polling place where I was assigned to work on Election Day. Thirty people lined up in the dark before we opened at 6 a.m. I would spend the next 13 hours at the “Special … Continue reading →

Posted in Bopping Around Tucson, For Love of History, politics | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A student of U.S. History tries to understand

Posted on November 6, 2016 by sheilawill

  Try walking in another person’s shoes, I always told my students. Two days before the most outlandish presidential election in my lifetime, I’m trying to understand how any decent human being could vote for Donald Trump. I’ve been reading. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Baby Boomers, Fight wimpiness, For Love of History, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The arc of history — and misogyny — is long

Posted on October 22, 2016 by sheilawill

I’m feeling more emotional than I expected with just two more weeks between history and the election of our first woman president. In my lifetime! What a thrill! Oddly enough, her opponent’s misogyny may be what finally makes women — … Continue reading →

Posted in Fight wimpiness, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments