Black and Blue Ribbons
— Karen Del Vecchio

I recently was able to escape the Southern heat for a few days and visit my grandparents and extended family up in New England. My dad has six siblings, and each summer and Christmas, everyone does their best…

To remove any doubt that summer is in full force, all you have to do is step outside. Like elsewhere across the country, temperatures here in Virginia have soared into the upper 90s, with the heat index…

As some of you may know, outside of being a high school teacher and college counselor, my life primarily revolves around animals. I live on a small, private farm where I help with chores and maintenance. That part-time job,…

Last fall, I repeatedly woke up quite sore, and it finally dawned on me that I needed a new mattress. Great! Easy fix, right? Well, it should have been — if I hadn’t forgotten to do it. You…

Every summer, I face the same conundrum: Do I wear shorts and skirts, or not? My answer tends to vary, but this year, I bought myself a few new pairs of shorts that I’ve already worn several times.

Now that this crazy school year is out and I have a few weeks off, I’ve tried to come up with a plan for the summer to help me reset and recharge so that I can be ready…

Hello, readers! I’m so glad to be back with you all. I realize that I suddenly vanished from my column last fall, but now that the school year is finished, I’ve returned. This past year of teaching was the…

I must have slept funny last week because I woke up one day with stiff and sore muscles in my neck that turned into quite a headache. I sometimes get referred pain in my neck because of a…

When I look back at all the physical activities I used to do growing up, it’s hard to believe I was never scared of injuring myself. I can no longer imagine myself in the thick of a physical soccer…

Anyone who rides a horse knows that no matter how careful you are, sometimes you’re going to fall. I had my first fall in a year a couple weeks ago. Cherry has been an exceptionally well-behaved and safe horse…

Well, we’re back to school and we’re rolling! It’s hard to believe that students have been back for nearly three weeks, and I’ve been back for nearly six. I really enjoy my job teaching history and doing college…