August 19th marks National Aviation Day, a national holiday commemorating the birth of Orville Wright. The day celebrates the genius and tenacity of Orville and his brother Wilbur – two bicycle mechanics from Dayton, Ohio – who against all odds launched the modern era of aviation and transformed the world. My first real introduction to flying came from my favorite aviator, my husband, First Lieutenant James L. Hull. His life’s dream had always been to be a pilot, from the time he was a … [Read more...]
Musical Memories: The Byrds’ “Turn! Turn! Turn!”
When I was a teenager in the 1960s, I became pregnant. In those days, one lived away from home until the baby was born to avoid scandal. Once my daughter was born, I quickly gave her up for adoption. Although I knew it was the best life decision for both her and me, at the time, it made me sad and depressed. After I returned to my hometown, I attempted to resume my former life, but things were never the same. My teenaged-self experienced life with the emotions and maturity of young … [Read more...]
Musical Memories: Ballad of the Green Berets
With all the heightened rhetoric these days about the potential for armed conflict between the U.S. and North Korea, it seems especially fitting this week to commemorate National Purple Heart Day on August 7. This special day honors all of the brave men and women over the years who have been injured or given their lives for our country. This post specifically honors my husband, 1st Lieutenant James Larry Hull, and father to our daughter, Laura. Larry was posthumously awarded the Purple … [Read more...]
Storytelling and Life Lessons: Writing to Heal
For many of us, our most memorable stories come from family folklore. These are the stories that inform us about who we are and where we came from. We’ve either lived these moments or had them passed down from other generations, and have filed them in our memory boxes marked, Important Life Lessons. These lessons can be drawn upon throughout our lives, whether we are seven or 70. My very best and earliest storytelling teachers were Ida Mae, my next-door neighbor, and my grandfather, … [Read more...]
Musical Memories: Morning Has Broken
The song “Morning Has Broken” (listen here) introduced me to Cat Stevens in the 1970s. Since then, he has been one of my favorite musicians. “Morning Has Broken” was first published in 1931. An English author, Elanot Farjeon, wrote the words and they were set to the music of a traditional Scottish Gaelic tune known as “Bunessan.” This song reached number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and, in 1972, number one on the U.S. Easy Listening chart. This song was soothing and supportive … [Read more...]
