Clips & Samples

"Family Learns that Diabetes Can Fit into any Child's Lifestyle"

What does it mean when your five-year-old daughter's breath smells like an . . .

Our Town, Nov. 2007
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"Changing life as we know it"

Around bedtime one night last week, I once again found myself yelling at my 12-year-old to brush her teeth. I confirmed for her that, yes, she needed to floss between each tooth, not just the ones in front, and no, she wasn't allowed to do the uppers on even days and the lowers on odd days.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, November 19, 2006
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"Kids? Chaos? Mom must be fixing dinner."

Set thank-you cards and colored pencils on the kitchen table. Ask daughters to write thank-you notes to Pops for the snail racing game and in-line skates.
Christian Science Monitor, October 25, 2006
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"Flying Through Thin Air"

My chest tightens as I escort my 10-year-old daughter to her scuba diving lesson. I don't know why my husband wants our daughter to scuba.
Diabetes Forecast, May 2006, reflections column, page 88.
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"A Pressing Need for a Plumber"

I was making a pot of coffee when I opened a letter from my astute, always alert water company. Apparently my water meter wasn't measuring the amount of water I was using.  They didn't outright accuse me of running an illegal bottling plant out of my garage, but did insinuate that if I wanted my toilets to continue to flush, I'd better let them install a new meter.  I made the appointment.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sunday, March 19, 2006.
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"I Want a Cookie"

"I want a cookie!" Claire wriggled into her booster seat between overfull grocery bags in the backseat of the car. The bags flutterd and rattled as we drove out of the parking lot.  She rummaged through the sacks, scattering apples, cereal boxes and cans of frozen orange juice.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Diabetes, ed. J. Canfield. (Health Communications, Inc. 2006), pp87-90.
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"A fragrant denial"

"Let's go for a bike ride," I said to my nine-year-old, Claire. "We need some fresh air." Claire was watching Cartoon Network like an eagle tracking a mouse. A vacuum cleaner robot with pointy teeth gobbled a cleaning lady's apron before sucking her bald.
The Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine (Cleveland, Ohio), Sunday, July 13, 2003, page 8.
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"Reclamation"

Your 4-year-old daughter and an entourage of medics explode from the emergency department into a hospital corridor.  She sits crossed-legged on the gurney.
Diabetes Forecast, July 2003, reflections column, page 128.
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"A dog of a party"

"Your alma mater chapter wants YOU. Join your alumni friends and watch The Bumbling Blues play football on television." I am reading this on a postcard while trudging to the house from my mailbox. Hmm, I think, maybe I should expand my circle of friends beyond the two I have....
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 17, 2002.
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"Clicking into the convenience of online shopping"

I'm doing all my Christmas shopping online this year. The future is here, and I am savvy to it. I have a cable modem for high-speed Internet access. The computer will be fast and it won't tie up the phone line. My two daughters have made electronic wish lists on BigWhoppingToyKingdom.com. Plus, I have coupons. I can hardly stand myself....
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, December 2, 2001.
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"Nature scores big in autumn action"

I need to buy a leaf blower, yet I am hesitant. Leaf blowers whine, annoy neighbors and pollute. Raking is environmentally friendly but gives me blisters, achy muscles and sticks in my shoes. I can't decide....
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, October 21, 2001.
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"If the shoe fits, wear it to the airport"

...As I begin putting Claire's socks on her feet, she finally notices me. "Nooo!" she wails, "I want my birthday shoes!" The birthday shoes are a pair of $3.98 purple on the bottom, pink on top, plastic, slip-on high heel shoes from Toy 'R' Us....
Focus Magazine, Tribune-Review, Sunday, Feb 4, 2001 (page 3).
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