Author Archives: sheilawill

From regret to revolution

Posted on December 8, 2012 by sheilawill

Reducing the stigma of mental illness should be the next civil rights movement. I’ve always been fascinated by “diseases of the brain,” as some of the writers at my Our Place Clubhouse writing workshop call mental illness. From the early … Continue reading →

Posted in Mental illness/civil rights | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

New England Proud…Arizona not as much

Posted on November 17, 2012 by sheilawill

It’s 11 days after the election and Arizona’s Second Congressional District race has finally been called for Ron Barber. It was a close race between Barber and Republican Martha McSally, but that’s not why it took so long to count … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Matters, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Born to Run

Posted on October 29, 2012 by sheilawill

Gabby looked tired. She looked sad although she smiled and subjected herself to hundreds of people taking pictures. She was born to run. U.S. Rep. Ron Barber, who won a special election to take her place in the House, noted … Continue reading →

Posted in Baby Boomers, Bopping Around Tucson, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

George McGovern: “My Conscience is Clear”

Posted on October 21, 2012 by sheilawill

I met Democratic presidential nominee Sen. George McGovern in 1972, when I worked in his campaign in Montana. I didn’t know what to say. “Just keep telling the truth,” I blurted. And he did, that year, and in all the years … Continue reading →

Posted in Fight wimpiness, For Love of History, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Politics is small, life is big

Posted on October 14, 2012 by sheilawill

Driving home from Sunday grocery shopping I was glued to a Radiolab story on NPR. Twenty-one-year-old Alan Lundgard refused to give up on his girlfriend, Emilie Gossiaux, after she was hit by an 18-wheeler truck while riding her bike in … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Matters, Fight wimpiness, The Rest of the World | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vulture Capitalists

Posted on October 13, 2012 by sheilawill

I’m worried about the election for the first time in months. Could a disastrously passive 90-minute debate have lost the election for Obama? Did Smokin’ Joe Biden bring us back or hurt the cause in the VP debate on Thursday … Continue reading →

Posted in politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movies I can dance to

Posted on October 8, 2012 by sheilawill

If you enjoy movies that make you think about the big picture, “Beasts of the Southern Wild” is one. “Tree of Life” was hyped last year as the consummate film about the mystery of human history. I found it boring, … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, Visual Entertainment | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Dear Barack: I’m Flabbergasted

Posted on October 6, 2012 by sheilawill

Plenty has been written about your less than lackluster first-debate. Frustrating and depressing for sure. I figure you were so angry you couldn’t speak, and anything you said Romney would respond to with a lie. Of the 67 million people … Continue reading →

Posted in politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Motherhood moments

Posted on September 25, 2012 by sheilawill

Thirty-five years ago tonight I only had to wait another day to see Brook. Bet I can remember every detail of those 24 hours. Trust me. Memories are hard to come by these days, but I’ll bet any mother can … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Matters | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

“Next to Normal”

Posted on September 22, 2012 by sheilawill

A rock musical about bipolar disorder? “Next To Normal” roared into Tucson to the Arizona Theatre Company last night. It’s worth seeing. For me, which is more compelling — politics and President Obama’s re-election or helping to reduce the stigma … Continue reading →

Posted in Mental illness, Neuroscience needs me, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments