Columns

Last week proved a time of celebration in the MacDonald house as my oldest son, Julian, came home to spend a few days with our family before going to Big Bend Ranch State Park for the summer. He successfully auditioned for his first paid acting gig in the show “…

My husband, Jared, is an avid eater. He’s especially fond of meaty dishes like pizza, barbecue, and steaks. He’d never pass up the chance to try a new restaurant, unique meal, or a different country’s cuisine. (No wonder he also loves to experiment in the kitchen!) There’s just one…

I spent some of the best years of my life at Galena Park High School in Texas. I participated in clubs only if they didn’t interfere with my work with band, and my grades were excellent. When I met my now husband in college, our drive to…

Clinical trials for hemophilia are essential to advance medical knowledge and develop treatments. But for decades, trials related to hemophilia enrolled only men, given the assumption that women were only carriers of the disease. Consequently, women with the disorder were denied the opportunity to participate in…

Last Friday, I had the honor of presiding over the funeral of my aunt Joyce. As I started to speak, I asked those attending to remember a particular date in 1973 when we, the family, celebrated the wedding of my uncle Pat. Everyone was dancing, and joy just filled…

The power of music cannot be underestimated. Its universality has the ability to connect people across places and cultures. Many people also find music healing. They can find solace in lyrics and melodies that evoke pleasant emotions or that mirror their emotional states. Why does this happen? Music activates particular…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with Mounjaro (trizepatide). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Confession time. Since November, I’ve been injecting the medication Mounjaro (trizepatide) once a week to help me lose weight.

My youngest son, Caeleb, and I recently saw an outstanding production of the musical “Hamilton.” As we watched the performers onstage, I glanced at my son and saw his face glued to the action. He appeared entranced by the dancers and singers moving across the stage with catlike precision.

My youngest son, Caeleb, is completing his junior year of high school. He’s excited about his senior year and his plans for getting in shape. But there’s something else he’s even more enthusiastic about. Caeleb is beginning to think about life after high school. It may seem late for…

Pain can alter people’s behavior, causing them to act out in unusual ways. People experiencing a severe degree of pain may hurt others emotionally or physically, often without meaning to. They might say demeaning things to their caregivers while in the throes of pain, even if they’re normally calm,…