Then I came of age. Absolutely terrified of driving, I clung to the steering wheel next to my white-knuckled Mom who gasped and shrieked with every move.…
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THE PARTIAL OBSERVER by ERNA MORGAN MCREYNOLDS Be Afraid, But Do It Anyway Why did I say yes? How could I have let myself be persuaded to compete to be the guest conductor of the Catskill Symphony Orchestra? Especially for the Cabaret concert, which is the symphony’s biggest fundraiser. Thinking back to my experience in the late 1990s, I can’t help but reflect and recall that without the extra money from this annual event, the symphony would have folded and…
Be afraid but do it anyway: Changing Countries Changing countries? Are you always afraid to do that? Or do you learn to take big moves in stride? Do you become starry-eyed over the next adventure? Maybe. Stars sure danced in front of my eyes when a former partner lured me to move from New Zealand to London. One of the most exciting cities in the world and one where English was the native language. On top of that, all of…
Opinion by Erna Morgan-McReynolds Be afraid – choices The road not taken. You might have heard or read the poem which Robert Frost wrote more than a hundred years ago, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled and that has made all the difference. “ Has someone ever asked you for advice? Should they move from this company to that one? From one career to another? From one city to another? A…
Be Afraid, But Do It Anyway Our family secrets still feel haunting Nature or nurture is a question I keep asking myself. Why have I always been afraid? Did I learn fear? Why did my parents keep to themselves? Kept us close to them? No overnights with other kids. Or other kids sleeping at our house. Maybe not just because our house wasn’t as nice as the other kids? My family lived secrets. Were Mom and Dad just shy? Or…
LETTER from ERNA MORGAN MCREYNOLDS Moving horror stories bring back memories Moving? Whether you have changed countries or states or cities or streets you probably have some stories? Hearing a tale from a friend brought to mind some of the terrors. One of the scariest moves I made was back to upstate New York after years working in cities — first in New Zealand, then London and, finally, in Manhattan. It was a frightening move from my big-time journalism job…
LETTER from ERNA MORGAN McREYNOLDS Experiencing ‘Rashers’ To ‘Baps’ Just leaving Belfast to go to London was scary. Soldiers dressed in camouflage gear held machine guns and guarded barbed wire topped fences which ringed the airport. I kissed my family through the fence. Security whisked my suitcase away and sealed my handbag in cling wrap until we landed in London. After 10 days in Northern Ireland, I loved the security. I imagined my plane blown up in mid-air, hurtling to…
LETTER from ERNA MORGAN McREYNOLDS …But I Wasn’t Afraid Of ‘The Troubles’ You already know that I have been afraid to do almost everything I ever did, but that never stopped me. But then there were the times when I should have been afraid but wasn’t. Why did I think I could head off around the world at 21? Emigrate to New Zealand from a small Upstate dairy farm? From New Zealand there was no easy way to call home…
LETTER from ERNA MORGAN McREYNOLDS The Joys, Challenges of Retirement Mom told me that they promised her the “Golden Years” but she got the “Rust Years.” She had dreamed of retiring. Yet after a couple of weeks into retirement her litany changed from “can’t wait to retire” to telling me: “Don’t do it’’. My Mom was born when women were supposed to stay home, while their husbands supported the family. But, my Dad, Mom’s husband, lost their farm and his…
BE AFRAID, BUT DO IT ANYWAY Fearsome Retirement Mom told me that they promised her the “Golden Years,” but she got the “Rust Years.” She dreamed of retiring. Yet after a couple of weeks into retirement her litany changed from “can’t wait to retire” to telling me – “don’t do it.” • My Mom was born when women were supposed to stay home, while their husbands supported the family. But my Dad, Mom’s husband, lost their farm and his health.…
