-
38th Annual Wine & Craft Festival
A long day at the Virginia Wine & Craft Festival brought balloon mishaps, dirty soda discoveries, live music, Ghostbusters encounters, community conversations, sudden rain, and the familiar exhaustion that follows a full day spent volunteering, wandering downtown, and reconnecting with people. Read More
-
Family Fun Day, Crawfish, and Candlestick Phones
Family Fun Day brought crawfish, music, dancing, juggling clowns, and antique telephones. Between community conversations, gallery visits, and unexpected dog drama, the day became a reminder of the quirky traditions and connections that make small-town events memorable. Read More
-
The Day After Royalty
After the royal visit, I returned downtown for a Chamber of Commerce meeting where business leaders shared stories about meeting the King and Queen. With the barricades gone, discussion shifted toward workforce development, economic growth, & the future of the region. Read More
-
Royals Visit Front Royal
I spent the day navigating security checkpoints, crowded sidewalks, and exhaustion as King Charles III & Queen Camilla visited Front Royal. Between helicopters, sheep, media crews, and improvised celebrations, my quiet Shenandoah Valley town briefly became the center of international attention. Read More
-
Front Royal Prepares for Royalty
Front Royal transformed almost overnight for the royal visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Between security fences, parking restrictions, and excitement, the community turned an international event into a uniquely small-town blend of chaos, AI comedy, and curiosity. Read More
-
My First Open Mic
A quiet afternoon turned into an unexpected creative journey: finishing a felted clown, stepping into an open mic for the first time, and joining a circle of music, story, and shared expression at the Stone Branch Center for the Arts. Read More
-
Coffee & Conversation: The Phoenix Project
A reflection on The Phoenix Project and how past relationships shape boundaries, trust, and distance. Not all healing happens in public or structured spaces—sometimes it’s built quietly, through awareness, experience, and the choice to protect your peace. Read More
-
Peace Walk, Personal Reflections
A quiet walk for peace became something more—a personal journey through discomfort, reflection, and unexpected connection. Inspired by a traveling Buddhist monk, I found myself questioning, observing, and discovering that sometimes the hardest steps aren’t physical, but deeply internal. Read More
-
The Shape of Familiar Kindness
A funeral, a missed connection, and a familiar kind of kindness. In showing up to say goodbye, I found myself reflecting on guardedness, memory, and how certain people echo the warmth we once knew but struggle to fully receive. Read More
-
Nine Musicians Behind 12 Angry Men
An exploratory music jam invited musicians to abandon structure and follow sound wherever it led. Armed with a briefcase of strange instruments, I joined eight others in creating music that will never be heard again—except in memory. Read More