Articles

Although Addams hoped for independence and a medical school education, graduation from Rockford sent her into the waters of duty, tragedy, and a nervous breakdown. In compelling narrative Knight spells out these events. More critically, she places Jane’s illness in the context 1880s medical and moral thinking including Jane’s belief "that she lacked the goodness of character to be truly self-denying." more »

My pre-vacation resolutions to eat sensibly invariably dissolve at my first sight of a palm tree stirring in balmy breezes, or the bright lights of Picadilly, or the sound of the gurgling waters of the Trevi Fountain, or the melodious tinkle of a Swiss cow bell. I usually lose my first skirmish in another battle of the vacation bulge when I board a plane and a flight attendant serves dinner more »

Everytime I read of an elderly woman (60!) who (amazingly) fended off a purse snatcher or competed in a marathon, my stomach turns. I wanted to let journalists know that women over 70 could start, re-start, and succeed (fingers crossed) in entrepreneurial pursuits. more »

The plan was that once a week I would write about some aspect of nature that I saw around me. I called it Ferida’s Backyard. I figured that should make it easy. All I had to do was look out my kitchen window to find a subject. But, as happens with most things that seem simple, it soon became apparent that there was more to this than I had expected. more »