AS I SEE IT: Along Party Lines Ellen Brafford McCroskey February 1, 2020 There were two types of girls in the ’70s — those who had their very own telephones in their bedrooms, and those who did not. Some incredibly fortunate girls even had a private “children’s line” with a separate...
AS I SEE IT: Cat Tales and Tupperware Ellen Brafford McCroskey October 12, 2019 I pull the ancient yellow Tupperware container from the drawer. The sight of my mom’s writing that spells out “CATNIP” on the lid makes me smile. That old container is one of my favorite things remaining from ...
AS I SEE IT: Reading — Soul Food for the Heart and Mind Ellen Brafford McCroskey September 14, 2019 “You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected ...
AS I SEE IT: Mourning the Loss of My JITH Traditions Ellen Brafford McCroskey July 21, 2019 Editor’s note: Here in the Ohio Valley, the third weekend in July has meant an annual pilgrimage to Jamboree In The Hills for a lot of local country music fans. But for the first time in over 40 years, Jamboree...
AS I SEE IT: Animal Instincts Ellen Brafford McCroskey May 4, 2019 Work responsibilities, aging parents, motherhood, menopause — I don't know about you, but for me, midlife can be stressful at times. When my world gets overwhelming, and I need to stop and take a moment to rela...
AS I SEE IT: The Devastating Diagnosis of Dementia Ellen Brafford McCroskey March 2, 2019 Mom’s dance with the devil named dementia began around 2004. Dementia is a cunning fellow when he first appears — a forgotten word or two, a misplaced set of keys, a question repeated once too often — all these...
AS I SEE IT: Cold Hands Helped by Warm Hearts Ellen Brafford McCroskey January 12, 2019 If you happened to be in the area of 20th and Eoff streets in Center Wheeling recently, you may have spotted something heartwarming through the falling snow showers. Attached to the fencing of the bridge spanni...
AS I SEE IT: Farewell, Red D — Jamboree In The Hills ‘Hiatus’ Marks the End of an Era Ellen Brafford McCroskey December 22, 2018 For the first time in many years, Santa will not be leaving four-day passes to Jamboree In The Hills in my family's stockings, and for this reason, I feel certain that LiveNation is near the top of Santa’s Naug...
AS I SEE IT: Lessons Learned From the Trump Administration Ellen Brafford McCroskey October 7, 2018 Anyone who knows me is well aware that I am not a fan of President Trump. But as my husband keeps reminding me, he is my President, regardless of whether or not he has my support. I attended the recent Morri...
AS I SEE IT: Acknowledging the Addicts Among Us Ellen Brafford McCroskey September 22, 2018 By now, most of us are well aware of the enormity of the opioid crisis in our state. But I've noticed that plenty of people believe that their lives haven't been touched by it personally. I would argue that we ...
AS I SEE IT: Love Is Love — Especially Between LGBTQ Youth and Their Parents Ellen Brafford McCroskey September 1, 2018 It was announced last month that former Vice President and long-time LGBTQ advocate Joe Biden is launching a campaign to promote family acceptance of LGBTQ youth. The Biden Foundation, with the help of Grammy A...
AS I SEE IT: Adventures of the Dog-Catcher’s Wife From the Shotgun Seat Ellen Brafford McCroskey August 11, 2018 People either love my husband or hate him, depending upon the circumstances of their introduction. Doug has been the Ohio County Humane Officer and Dog Warden for over 20 years now, so plenty of local residents...
AS I SEE IT: It’s All Good in the Neighborhood Ellen Brafford McCroskey July 28, 2018 When I was in first grade, I spent what seemed like an eternity home from school recovering from chicken pox. It was during those long days of boredom that I first discovered the gentle wisdom of Mister Rogers....
