SPILLVILLE, Iowa – Here, the fields of corn and soybeans go on forever, and here the road into town makes incongruous turns in a territory whose byways are defined by 90-degree angles. Here, in the mere course of a magical summer 132 years ago, a community, a composer and classical music were transformed.
ASK THE DOCTORS
DEAR HARRIETTE: I’ve always admired public speakers. I have a desire to sit on a panel and share my thoughts, but a part of me struggles with courage, and another part of me questions the authenticity of this desire. Is it OK to aspire to be a speaker, or is that a role that should be granted to someone based on their professional or academic experiences?
Headline for the Washington Post reads “Trump’s honeymoon is over.” “At Testy Town Halls, Republicans Take Heat for Trump’s Bold Moves,” reports the Wall Street Journal. Certainly, the president’s honeymoon is not over with his loyal supporters; most Republican lawmakers remain so intimidated that they have approved all of his cabinet choices, including those who are undeniably unqualified.
I asked my husband Peter, “What is the cat doing?”
DEAR HARRIETTE: My family has never taken my acting career seriously, and it’s starting to wear on me. I’ve been dedicated to acting for 15 years, performing in multiple plays and constantly working to improve my craft. However, I’ve never landed a leading role, and because of that, my family sees my passion as more of a hobby than a real career path. No matter how hard I work or how much time I invest in auditions, rehearsals and performances, they always make dismissive comments like, “When are you going to get a real job?” or “Maybe acting just isn’t for you.” It’s frustrating because I know success in the industry takes time and persistence, but their lack of support makes me feel like I’m not good enough.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m worried about my husband. We recently moved to a new town for my job, and I can tell he’s having a hard time adjusting. We lived in our previous town for 15 years, and now we’re halfway across the country. While I knew the transition would be difficult, I don’t think either of us fully realized just how much it would affect him. He misses his family deeply, and not having that familiar support system nearby has been tough. He’s always been a social person, and in our old town, he had built strong friendships and routines that gave him a sense of belonging. Here, he feels isolated, and even though we’ve been trying to meet new people, it’s just not the same. I can see how much he’s struggling.
Dear Doctors: Our son had some of the symptoms of appendicitis. His lower right side was aching, and he was throwing up. At the emergency room, it turned out that he was passing a kidney stone. He’s only 13 years old – isn’t that much too young? How does he stop from getting more?
In 1781, the Articles of Confederation were ratified.
30 YEARS AGO