When I was growing up, my mom (Joy Washburn Gillis) cooked very healthy meals for our family dinners. She had to put thought and care into each recipe because my dad (William Gillis, Jr.) had a heart condition. Breakfast was often cereal and fruit. Lunch was usually a sandwich. But she insisted that we enjoyContinue reading "Thursday Nights and Libbyland TV Dinners: A 1970s Memory"
My Handkerchief Shirt
In elementary school in the late 1970s, I made my own handkerchief shirt. It was for the Junior Girl Scouts sewing badge, called the Needlecraft badge. I had never tried to sew before, but I wanted to earn every badge. My mom, Joy Gillis, an expert seamstress, was determined to help me. My mom andContinue reading "My Handkerchief Shirt"
Chicken Pox in Warsaw
In the summer of 1987, I studied as an American college student in Poznan, Poland. I was in a group of about 10 American students. We lived in the dorm with Polish students. One of the Polish students had a three-year-old boy who loved visiting our room. He was especially fascinated with my makeup. DoorsContinue reading "Chicken Pox in Warsaw"
Meeting Dad at Dinner Key
When I was growing up in Miami, one evening every year, my mom (Joy Washburn Gillis) and I packed a picnic dinner and drove to Dinner Key Auditorium. My dad (William Gillis, Jr.), an avionics engineer for Eastern Airlines, would drive from his office at Miami International Airport and meet us. Located on Biscayne BayContinue reading "Meeting Dad at Dinner Key"
Flashback to 1977: Snow in Miami
Today is a very cool anniversary—no pun intended. On this day back in 1977, it snowed in Miami, Florida. I was there. I was in my math class at Miami Shores Elementary. The side of the classroom was covered with a wall of windows, and suddenly this white fluff was floating down. Snow flurries! IContinue reading "Flashback to 1977: Snow in Miami"
Memories of Learning Russian with Rita
My favorite memories of living as an American in Russia in the late 1990s include the early evenings I spent in the kitchen, sharing in Russian conversation with Rita, the mother of the family I lived with. All these years later, I remember it like it was yesterday. Rita spoke a little English and aContinue reading "Memories of Learning Russian with Rita"
When Taffy Cat Adopted Us
When I was in kindergarten, an orange-and-white striped tabby cat showed up in our yard. She sat on the porch with me after school and showed no inclination to leave. I patted her, and she just hung out. My mom told me not to give the cat water or food because then she wouldn’t leave.Continue reading "When Taffy Cat Adopted Us"
Remembering My Cousin Sandra
With the Christmas season approaching, I remember my cousin, Sandra Kay Jackson Miller Comisky Dugan. She always made our family Christmas celebrations memorable with her tins of homemade sweets. These treats were creative and delicious. Imagine miniature stained-glass windows made of chocolate and marshmallows, and that was just one of the variety of sweets sheContinue reading "Remembering My Cousin Sandra"
The First—and Last—Thanksgiving Turkey I Ever Cooked
In the late 1980s, I moved from Florida to Massachusetts for graduate school. It was my first Thanksgiving away from home, and I was expecting visitors: my fiance, my niece who was a college student in a nearby town, and one of her college friends. I was determined to do the full meal deal forContinue reading "The First—and Last—Thanksgiving Turkey I Ever Cooked"
Future Generations Will Treasure Your Words
You may feel called to record your life story for future generations. But you might wonder sometimes whether anyone will want to read that story. I have struggled with those same thoughts. On the flip side, as someone who is researching my family’s history, I can assure you there will be family members in futureContinue reading "Future Generations Will Treasure Your Words"
Exploring Generations 