bookmarks

At an outdoor wedding, a guest set off her car alarm, which then caused a chain reaction of multiple car alarms erupting in a symphony. A groom mispronounced his own name, leading the bride to giggle uncontrollably for the rest of the ceremony. A grandmother with dementia was left behind at a hotel and found sitting in the lobby 45 minutes later, just waiting for her ride.

“Promising Promposals,” took look at the creative and over-the-top ways that teens ask their dates to prom. It included scavenger hunts, costumes and lots of planning and surprises. One of my favorite funny columns focused on wedding proposal stories as told by local jewelers who had an inside scoop. The highlight was a hot air balloon ride that nearly ran out of fuel and had to land inside the walls of a women’s correctional facility!

Thought-provoking

As a writer, it’s gratifying to take quiet time to reflect and share thoughts on simple actions. I also enjoy in-depth research on parenting ideas and asking advice from Dubliners of all ages who can share their wisdom as we traverse each chapter of life. My column on helicopter parents who hover closely while their children try to spread their wings was eyeopening for me. The sandwich generation column described those of us who are still parenting our children but also taking care of aging parents. My mother had a stroke and moved into our home in August. We are living this firsthand and I recently reread that article to study my own advice.

I am blessed to have watched and written about Dublin’s expansion as well as the growth of my own family. In 2005 when my first article for Dublin Life was published, my children were 5, 8 and 11 years old. I shared our exploits with picking high schools, managing sports and travel, and choosing colleges and careers. Now our youngest, Catie, is graduating from Ohio University and starting medical school in August. Courtney lives in Los Angeles when she isn’t on tour performing, and Christopher is married with a house in North Carolina. Time passes quickly, my friends. Hug your family, look out for your fellow neighbor and I’ll see you in 2022!

Colleen D’Angelo is a freelance writer who lives in Dublin with her husband and several small animals. She enjoys playing tennis, walking the Dublin bike paths and traveling. From the Dublin Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library

By Guiseppe Fricano, Youth Learning Specialist

Manywhere: Stories by Morgan Thomas A collection of flourishing stories spanning centuries, Manywhere explores genderqueer experiences and relationships from colonial-era Jamestown to the modern world. Thomas writes with exceptional depth, warmth and richness, diving into gender identity and queerness throughout history. Smart, empathetic, and lush, this fiction collection presents stories of vibrant characters pushing through the beauty and pain of identity and self-discovery.

Carry on: Reflections for a New Generation by John Lewis Even in his final living months, Congressman John Lewis worked tirelessly to compile his memories and advice for generations to come. Organized by a selection of topics covering mentorship, justice, faith, protests and more, the steadfast leader and paragon of social justice leaves us with his reflections and wisdom for working toward a better future together.

The New Breed: What Our History with Animals Reveals About Our Future with Robots by Kate Darling For generations, speculative fiction has largely shaped society’s perception of human and robot relationships. MIT Media Lab researcher and technology policy expert Kate Darling presents a new perspective, one that suggests robots will not take our jobs or replace us, but like animals, they will supplement our skill and support us. Developing relationships with animals is a skill humanity has long honed, and Darling suggests humanity must approach our relationship with robots and technology the same way moving into a more advanced future. Fascinating and illuminating, The New Breed envisions a future where humans continue to connect with non-humans, and by doing so, develop a stronger understanding of ourselves. Being You: A New Science of Consciousness by Seth Anil Understanding human consciousness is an ongoing mystery for scientists and philosophers alike. Anil Seth, a leading British neuroscientist, flips human perception on its head by posing a new theory guiding us to see ourselves as beings that are a part of nature as opposed to beings apart from nature. Incredibly accessible and eye-opening, Being You will challenge what you know about yourself and transform the way you think about the “self.”

Dublin Life Book Club Selection

Editor’s note: To be added to the Dublin Life Book Club mailing list and for more information, email Brandon Klein at bklein@cityscenemediagroup.com. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. at North High Brewing, 56 N. High St., Dublin.

The Cape Doctor by E.J. Levy

The fascinating novel based on Cape Town's renowned Dr. James Barry, born in 1795 as Margaret Anne Bulkley, an Irish girl who changed her name, lived as a man and revolutionized medicine in the Western world.