May 2026

The Most Unforgettable Person I’ve Ever Met:My Grandma Bennett Although the descendant of Scotch-Irish Christians of the sterner variety, my maternal, Appalachian grandmother, Clara, knew how to smile. There she is in that 1902 family photograph of some 25 members of my familial forebears, from my great-great grandparents on down to my grandmother’s generation. It […]

MAY 2026 EVENTS 1-3 Bravo! Theatre Experience the enchantment of CineMusic at The BRAVO! May 1, 2 and 3 at 4PM. Some of Lakeside’s best singers and instrumentalists will lead you on a tour of iconic theme songs and Oscar award winning songs throughout the history of film, as you watch the movie’s scenes onscreen.

How the Materials We Write on Shape the Rise and Fall of Knowledge The story of Western civilization goes something like this: Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Dark Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution. Along the way writing spreads, literacy grows, knowledge accumulates, and humanity gradually learns more about the world and how to

Small Steps, Big Impact: Actionable advice for a positive environmental effect. My carbon-lean lifestyle fits me well and makes me feel good. Several studies have shown that most actions that lower our environmental impact make us more happy, not less. Having the feeling that we’re contributing to something bigger and more important than ourselves can

As told to Glenda Martin Roman by Jesus Lopez-Vega Walking the cobblestone streets of my village when I was a boy of seven, I passed the old house that once was my grandmother’s. From behind the walls, I heard the laughing of children. I peeked through the gates. I could see nothing. So I sneaked

Dementia is not a Four-Letter Word There was a time—not so long ago—when certain diagnoses and identities were whispered, hidden, or avoided altogether. Cancer was once referred to only as “the C word,” spoken in hushed tones, as if saying it aloud would somehow make it worse. In much the same way, homosexuality lived for

Operation Feed San Juan Cosalá Something remarkable is happening on Thursday mornings in San Juan Cosalá. There’s no whistle. No one barking orders. And yet, everything moves smoothly, rhythmically, almost musically. Bags are filled, produce is sorted, staples are portioned, and within a short span of time, nearly 150 families will walk away with a

Birding at Lake Chapala Here at Lake Chapala, we enjoy the perfect climate, which the birds like too. We have excellent birding opportunities available. In our village plazas, we see the same common species found in city centers around the world, such as Feral Pigeons, Eurasian Collared Doves, House Sparrows and Monk Parakeets. In our

Fidora Fidora sits on my lap as if this is where she has always belonged. There is no negotiation in it, no asking permission. Her weight settles, warm and certain, and soon the purring begins—low, steady, a small engine of contentment. Her paws knead as if the world were still soft enough to shape, as

When traveling, chance encounters with strangers sometimes become instant personal connections if you have places, people, or experiences in common. My husband and I felt that familiarity halfway around the world, while cruising on a small ship adventure from Mumbai, India to Mombasa, Kenya. Crystal Cruises engaged world-renowned speakers to educate and entertain passengers, as