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Come From Away is a Story of Magnificent Humanity

  On Sunday we are going to see the play "Come From Away" at the McAllen Performing Arts Center.  I have wanted to see this play since visiting Newfoundland a few years ago.  The following is a column I wrote after spending a day at the Gander, Newfoundland Aviation Museum.  I am proud to say that this was one of three columns that were eventually nominated for the AP Op-ed award for small circulation newspapers.    Gander Newfoundland Keeps the Faith I picked up the headset and held one side to my ear.   There was the voice—calm, methodical, every tone measured and precise.   In the Gander Aviation Museum I was listening to recordings of air traffic control.                 “Delta one five heavy, this is YQX approach, squawk zero seven seven niner.”               “United two two three heavy, this is YQX, descend to 5500 and hold for approach.”               “American four six heavy, this is YQX, you are clear to land zero three.”               The term “hea
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Predisdents and Progeny

  There are five Presidents who never produced biological children.   George Washington, James Madison, James K. Polk, James Buchanan (our only bachelor President and only openly gay President) and Andrew Jackson.   Warren G. Harding had no children in wedlock but did father a daughter prior to becoming President.   There are also several Presidential blood lines that have been ended.   Those are Franklin Pierce, Millard Fillmore, Abraham Lincoln, Chester A. Arthur and William McKinley.   Other lines, like those of John Adams, both Roosevelts and John Tyler seem to go on forever and that leads me to a fascinating story. On August 30, 2018 a ninety-three-year-old man, Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr., walked into the White House.   Lyon’s grandfather was President John Tyler, 10 th President of the United States.   Lyon is the grandson of a man who was President 180 years ago!   John Tyler was Vice President under William Henry Harrison in the 1840 election.   Harrison died one month
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Taylor Swift and Becoming a Football Fan

  Taylor Swift has done what I thought was impossible.   The totally spontaneous and unlikely love story between her and Travis Kelce has turned me into a football watcher.   Now, I did not say I was a football fan.   I still am constantly confused by the endless rules.   [How, can a clock that says there are five minutes left before I get to tune in Heidi still be clicking off time 20 minutes later?]   Nor does my watching of several games this season mean I can figure out which player has the ball.   Usually, I am watching the wrong man after the quarterback and his henchmen play their shell game before someone starts running forward.   But, since Swift and Kelce have finally added a little humanity to a sport that has too much grunting, too much sweating, too much violence and waaaaay too many tattoos, I have decided that this is my year to study, understand and become conversant in football.   A bit of background is in order.   There were no sports played, discussed or pr
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