Random Connect Points:
Reba's Stories

As a self proclaimed “policy nerd,” I was excited to receive “A Concise Guide to SC State Government” by Vincent Sheheen as a Christmas gift. I found it easily readable – dare I even say a “page turner.” Sheheen comes by his expertise in state government loaded with credentials. He served in the SC House from 2001-2004 and the state Senate from 2004-2020. He hails from Camden where he now serves as mayor. His family is seeped in the politics and history of South Carolina. Sheheen also hosts a successful podcast with his friend and fellow retired state senator, Joel Lourie, where they interview political and policy leaders from both sides of the aisle. If I judged the book by its cover, I would almost guess it’s a textbook (and the author has noted in interviews that he hopes it will be used that way). But there’s plenty of vivid storytelling and well-written narrative to keep someone without my interest in politics engaged. For anyone who has heard the often ...

I do love the mess of a post-dinner dining room table!          It means favorite people in my life have lingered around this table. We enjoyed each other's company. We ate good food. We laughed. We may have stumbled down memory lane. We definitely had fun.  And that makes a mess worth every second of the little bit of extra effort it takes to bring out the "good stuff."  I do love setting a pretty table, bringing out the "good stuff" that may have belonged to a grandparent or been a beloved wedding gift. On a recent Saturday night, I brought out my mom's good china when we hosted a very last minute, very casual supper for dear friends. A fancy table didn't mean we had to dress up or plan a formal meal. David whipped up a lovely dinner using recipes he wanted to try out. I set out my mom's silver goblets alongside our wedding crystal. The place settings mixed and matched our silver pattern with David's grandmother's. Candles flickered. The...

I've loved writing for Columbia Metropolitan Magazine for some 30+ years. My favorite assignments are features about people whose work I admire.  This month, I got to write about Columbia native Barrett Smith who has gained national fame as a member of the Steep Canyon Rangers . He was an absolute delight to interview and has such an interesting story to tell about his path to success. He loves Columbia and the people here who believed in him.  For anyone who remembers the bluegrass jams at El Burrito, have been to BirdFest or took guitar lessons from Robert Newton, you may find some familiar themes in this article .  As a fun aside, I was thrilled to be one of the featured writers in this month's issue . And this month's cover photo is spectacular!

I celebrated my 65th birthday this week secure in the fact I’m not yet “old.” That’s because I continue failing to check the boxes that I believe would qualify me for that definition. When I was growing up, “old” meant looking, dressing and acting a certain way. That involved wearing pantyhose, keeping a weekly beauty parlor appointment, never sleeping late, and always wearing lipstick. If that’s the standard, I’m not old yet … and I really don’t plan to be. I haven’t bought pantyhose in 25 years. I go to a salon, not a beauty parlor - and only every couple of months for a trim and touch-up. The closest I get to lipstick is Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm stashed in every pocket, drawer and bag. And yes, I can still sleep late like a teenager. But hitting the Medicare-qualifying milestone of “old” in the eyes of the government prompted me to consider more deeply this whole idea of “aging.” What exactly is old? How old do you have to be before you qualify as “old”? Is it when yo...

  Third birthday party As I approach my 65 th birthday , the concept of age hits a little different this year because of all those pesky Medicare solicitations that hit my mailbox daily. But, as one who always loves a birthday, I wasn’t really thinking of 65 as old until I heard a news story on the radio that described someone as “an elderly woman in her early ‘60s.” Hmm . . .   definitely don’t think I’m ready for that descriptor. When I was a child, my definition of old was my parents and their friends. Anyone who had kids, went to work, drove a station wagon or kept a weekly beauty parlor appointment was old. I always assumed that when you "got old," you always wore pantyhose, never slept late and got your hair done once a week. I grew up with a frame of reference about age that revolved primarily around grade levels and ages of siblings. I went to the same relatively small school from seventh until twelfth grade. The caste system was strict among age groups and grad...

Getting a puppy a couple of months ago while also juggling our usual daily/weekly deadlines and personal/family/friend commitments has forced me into a place of patience and observation I wasn't expecting to find. Our Bertie is so much fun and oh so funny ( read her gotcha story here ).  But she's also a puppy who needs routine, lots of attention, lots of naps, lots of patience and lots of repetition. All of this has forced me into slowing down a bit. Taking walks at her pace. Throwing balls in the back yard (the one thing she can laser focus on). Adjusting our driveway parking patterns to accommodate her instinct to bolt. Working my days in different kinds of blocks to accommodate Bertie's routine. It won't be long before she won't need this level of attention and will be far more self-sufficient to stay alone longer, walk calmly off the leash, and stop chasing every squirrel that crosses her path. In the meantime, I've resolved to enjoy my slow time with her a...

If you’ve ever considered trying to sail around the world with only your spouse, this book may make you reconsider. I discovered this book as a frequent listener to the NY Times and NPR book review podcasts . I heard the author interviewed twice within a couple of days and was intrigued (a good British accent will always draw me in). The premise of the book revolves around an oddly matched young English couple, Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, They have a dream in 1972 to sail from England to New Zealand with no directional or radio transmission devices, save a basic compass and sextant. While the story line follows the couple’s process to plan the trip, build the boat, set sail, get smashed by a whale and drift in the Pacific Ocean for 117 days, what I found most interesting was how the author integrated the couple’s marriage story into the sailing adventure story. Since both Maralyn and Maurice have died, the author relied on interviews with people who had known them, transcripts,...

Those ears! We got re-dogged! Meet Bertie! She’s our new 25-pound, 4ish-month-old some-mix-of-hunting-breed pup from Mississippi.  She has our hearts. Missing Flossie When our beloved Flossie crossed the rainbow bridge in March 2024 , I couldn’t imagine having another dog. The absence of her presence hung heavy over our house. We kept Flossie’s dog bed, her den blanket, her leash and her bowls in their places. It made her feel closer. Eventually, as grief will do, the daily pain softened a bit as I kept seeing little reminders why having a dog in the house just makes things better. Recently, I came up on the line from the lovely essay by playwright Eugene O’Neill in memory of his beloved dog, Blemie, written in the form of the dog’s last will and testament. “ One last request I earnestly make. I have heard my Mistress say, 'When Blemie dies we must never have another dog. I love him so much I could never love another one.' Now I would ask her, for love of me, to have ...

 Delicious! If a book could be a gourmet experience, The Paris Novel would be a sumptuous six course meal full of enticing tastes, aromas and textures. The author, Ruth Reichl, comes by the food writing naturally as the former Gourmet magazine editor and New York Times food writer. She’s also written five memoirs, a novel and a cookbook. Food is central to the engaging story that follows Stella, the main character, from her life as a young girl in New York City to her your adult Paris adventure that changes the trajectory of her life. Ruth overlays her culinary expertise with yummy storytelling to serve up this novel that leaves the reader tasting, smelling and touching every delicious bite. We meet Stella as the young daughter of a wacky, irresponsible single mother living in New York City. Stella grows up a shy, awkward kid exposed to all manner of situations that children have no business experiencing. As an adult, Stella becomes a meticulous and respected editor, livi...

For anyone who hates social media – and Facebook in particular – you’ll get a real satisfaction from reading this book and all the awfulness surrounding the people and international corporate shenanigans that went on in the company’s early years. Sarah Wynn-Williams is a former Facebook employee who wrote this tell-all after she was fired from the company in 2016 after 16 years. Sarah was a key member of the international policy team that worked with other countries where Facebook operated or wanted to operate. She had a front-row seat (literally on private jets and inner circle conference rooms) to Mark Zuckerburg and his elite leadership circle. Sarah’s idealism about Facebook’s potential to create good change by connecting people and interests with others prompted her laser focused attempts to get hired in 2010. A former UN diplomat who hails from   New Zealand, Sarah believed her diplomatic skills could be applied for good at Facebook. The book chronicles her path from id...

 Our June Iceland adventure didn’t disappoint. ... and yes, I definitely look like a tourist coming off an overnight flight ... It delighted. It surprised. It rained. It exploded (geysers did anyway). It charmed. It never saw a sunset. It far exceeded expectations. We explored Iceland with four friends - Neil and Deb McLean and Jim and Frankie McLean -   on a Viking Cruise that left out of Reykjavik and circumnavigated the small island nation of 400,000 inhabitants. We made stops in six diverse ports where we saw gushing geysers, still volcanoes, exquisite natural beauty, magnificent waterfalls, engaging local guides, changing weather and delightful stories. This post includes a few rambling thoughts and fun facts from what I learned and enjoyed between the lines of the history, geography, food, scenery, weather, culture and geological wonders. 1. It’s true what they say… if you don’t like the weather wait 10 minutes. Most days were low 50s with mist/light rain. We did hav...