CAMBRIDGE, Mass.: A midsummer morning’s dream

Maybe it’s the influence of reading Gothic literature during the first week of summer school… Or a byproduct of wandering streets in a quirky, historical town… Or perhaps, the after-effects of completing a circuit on the labyrinth (it was at a divinity school, after all)… I’ll give my granddaughters credit. Their beliefs have cast a spell,…

Yellowstone is Beckoning!

Hey Susanna! Would you have wanted to be a geophysicist if you hadn’t seen the geysers and mud pots at Yellowstone? We traveled for a month accross the country seeing beautiful vistas and marvelous sights. But my favorite spot on our McGlew family camping trip was Yellowstone National Park. While playing in streams and looking…

The magic of play

If there are children in your life, how magical is their childhood? Are they outside playing and creating or does their playtime consist of an early introduction to technology? It can be easy to rely on digital media to entertain children, but it may prove a short-term solution with social and learning ramifications. After spending time…

Almost Time for: Adventures on Vacation

I am so looking forward to this year’s family vacation.  Another wild foray into the woods, where we get to mellow out and renew our spirits, enjoy each other’s company and have fun. In some years the vacation arrangements work well —  lots of exciting things to do and see, lots of adventure. In other…

Do you want to be happy? Find out how.

Does having more money increase happiness? Apparently winning the lottery doesn’t assure long-term contentment.  I know you’re saying, “I’d like to see for myself.” After good fortune of any sort, whether winning Power-ball or getting a pay raise, happiness levels spike for a short time, but return to previous levels after a few months. We seem to…