It’s 11:11 a.m. on the Fourth of July. I’m still in bed, relaxing in my pajamas. I can’t remember the last time I was able to just sit in bed and mindlessly peruse through social media, watch TV and do nothing.

Usually on the Fourth my husband and I enjoy our city. We’ll walk around, check out fun things going on, and end the evening watching the fireworks. There’s a radio station you tune into here in our city that plays synchronized music to the show.

I’m sure you know the list. It’s your “Born in the USA,” “All Summer Long,” “Rockin’ in the Free World,” and of course, “Proud to be an American.” Continue reading →

As I was turning 16 and preparing to get my driver’s license, I had to get a job to cover gas and car insurance. My parents didn’t care what I did, but I had to cover those two things before getting the keys to my 1992 blue Chevy Corsica.

I knew I didn’t want to work retail, so my mom drove me around to different businesses and I asked if they needed any clerical help. She stayed in the car while I went in to ask.

One of the places I went to was a Buick dealership on the east side of Indianapolis. I remember walking in to what I would later learn was called “The Tower.” Continue reading →

When I was a junior in college, I had an assignment in one of my journalism classes to find a meeting on campus and cover it.

That was it. Easy enough.  Continue reading →