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It’s tough to be a young adult!

In the twenties, humans develop their sense of personal identity, set some of their goals for life and begin to find their place as adults in a topsy-turvy world. Sociologists generally list 5 markers that indicate an entrance into adulthood: (1) completing school, (2) moving out, (3) financial independence, (4) marriage and (5) having children. But today’s “twenty-somethings” are sometimes ridiculed for “prolonged adolescence” because they are pushing these markers further into adulthood. For example, in 1980, the median age for marriage was 24.7 years for men, and 22.0 years ...

The challenge to forgive and overcome evil with good

An old Chinese proverb says, “One who pursues revenge should dig two graves.” Anger and the accompanying desire for revenge poisons the life of the angry person, and this is true even when other words like “hurt,” “frustrated” or “irritated” are used because we don’t like to describe ourselves as “angry.” Psychologist Paul Meier says that 95% of the cases of depression that he treats in his clinic come from repressed anger at oneself or others. Anger is a normal reaction to being hurt, and it’s also quite normal to wish ill upon those who hurt us. Even some of ...

Hunting and fishing in early Marietta

Marietta’s first settlers had to find their own food. No supermarkets or convenience stores then. Some foodstuffs could be brought in from the east but not enough to survive on. Fortunately, the new territory was a hunting and fishing paradise. Colonel Joseph Barker’s journals provide ...

The Backyard Gardener: Rhubarb — the tangy ‘pie plant’

Hello Mid-Ohio Valley gardeners and farmers! Mother’s Day marked the beginning of warm season gardening. We are now setting out tomato, pepper and many other vegetable transplants. Remember, squash, sweet corn and cucumber can be direct seeded into the garden. Don’t forget about container gardening! If you have an apartment or don’t have a lot of room, many vegetables can be planted in containers including salad greens, spinach, Swiss chard, beets, radish, carrots, peppers, bush beans, tomatoes, bush varieties of summer squash, cucumbers, green onions, and many herbs. ...

A foundation of faith has eternal significance

Some folks cringe when Mother’s Day comes around. For them, “Mom” conjures up images of irresponsibility, insecurity, abuse and neglect. “Mom” might have played a biological role, but she had no warmth and no nurturing instinct. For these folks, Mother’s Day is a painful reminder of what they’ve missed, and they’d just as soon never remember, thank you! One friend often skips the Mother’s Day service at her church. If I’d had her mother, I might skip, too. Others, of course, believe they won the “Mom” lottery. Mom was a constant force for good in their lives, ...

Backyard Gardener: Dianthus for Mother’s Day

Hello Mid-Ohio Valley gardeners and farmers! A blessed happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there in the valley. West Virginia has a special connection with Mother’s Day, as the first official celebration was held May 10, 1908, at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton. Anna Jarvis sent 500 white carnations in honor of her mother to the first formal Mother’s Day service. Over the next few years, Jarvis worked to make Mother’s Day a national holiday and President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day in 1914. Carnations became an integral ...