Category Archives: History

Monday Musings: What Memories of My Mom Have To Do With COVID

Posted on February 1, 2021 by dbjackson

My mother’s birthday is this coming Friday, February 5. I’ve written about her before in this space. I’ve marked past birthdays with Facebook posts and the like. But somehow this year, with her birthday approaching, I find myself thinking of … Continue reading →

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Monday Musings: The Legacy of Hank Aaron

Posted on January 25, 2021 by dbjackson

Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron died last week. He was, of course, a baseball legend, the former home run king. He was also a civic leader, a philanthropist, and a Civil Rights activist. And he’s been an idol of mine since … Continue reading →

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Monday Musings: This is EXACTLY Who We Are

Posted on January 18, 2021 by dbjackson

“This is not who we are.” Comforting words that have been trotted out repeatedly in the days since the Capitol Hill insurrection that left six dead and scores injured, and that shook to the core our faith in the strength … Continue reading →

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Monday Musings: It’s Not Like We Didn’t Know

Posted on January 11, 2021 by dbjackson

“Is it possible to be astonished and, at the same time, not surprised?” — Jed Bartlet (Peter Noah, The West Wing, Season 7) It’s not like we didn’t know he was capable of this. It’s not like we haven’t known … Continue reading →

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Creative Friday: From the Archives

Posted on January 8, 2021 by dbjackson

Back in January of 2019, Nancy and I spent a weekend in Washington, taking advantage of the fact that she had a conference there, and had traveled from another professional event that placed her in the city a few days … Continue reading →

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Monday Musings: Tempering Optimism with Reality

Posted on January 4, 2021 by dbjackson

In my New Year’s post last Friday, I wrote about my optimism for the coming year, my resolve to anticipate good things instead of expecting the worst. And the world responded with a hefty dose of reality — a new … Continue reading →

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Monday Musings: 2020 is the New 1968

Posted on December 26, 2020 by dbjackson

Putting on my historian’s cap… There are certain years in modern history that stand out as significant all on their own. They are so fraught, so filled with resonance and import, that they become both microcosms and embodiments of the … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: Ten Books You Should Read

Posted on December 23, 2020 by dbjackson

Early in the year — even before the pandemic hit — I wrote a post in which I basically said that all writers should read. There are certain “rules” about the profession that are actually negotiable — writers don’t really … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: Holidays As Part of World Building

Posted on December 9, 2020 by dbjackson

I have written about the holidays a good deal in the past few weeks, but I have yet to address holidays as a topic in a Writing-Tip Wednesday post. Now, you’re first response to this might be, “Well, why would … Continue reading →

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Monday Musings: He Lost. Get Over It Already. Rome Is Burning.

Posted on December 7, 2020 by dbjackson

“You fool! As if the way one falls down matters!” “Well, when the fall is all that’s left, it matters a great deal.” — The Lion In Winter He lost. He knows it. His lawyers know it. His enablers in … Continue reading →

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