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Rose Madeline Mula writes: Every weekend, cousins, aunts and uncles-all well-intentioned-would nobly try to help me overcome my abject terror of the deep (hey, it was up to my knees!) by trying to teach me to swim. They all invariably employed the same method. Each, in turn, would coax (spelled d-r-a-g) me, screaming, into the frigid water, force me over onto my stomach and absolutely swear they would not let go of me. But they always did. And I would sink choking and panic-stricken to the bottom-only two feet down, but the bottom, nevertheless. more »

Joan L. Cannon writes: I confess to a psychic shiver of guilt about investigating what I realized was apt to be personal, but there was no question of resisting such a temptation. I sat back on my heels and lifted the dozen or so envelopes out, closed the trunk lid so I could set them down, and opened the one on top. more »

Elaine writes: To ease a potential departure from a city I have lived in nearly my entire life, and from dear friends and relatives, I'm considering the move a gift and opportunity which I never got with Min — to assure there are no scenes or stings left over from my daughters' childhoods that they lug, or drop on a therapist's couch. And although I believe, and you likely do, too, that my daughters and I have an enviable and uncommon bond, do we really know their truths? more »

"It will be the first of an expected pair of announcements directing Mr. Pruitt to begin dismantling the major pillars of Mr. Obama’s environmental legacy. In the coming week, Mr. Trump is also expected to sign a similar order directing Mr. Pruitt to begin the lengthy legal process of withdrawing and rewriting Mr. Obama’s signature 2015 climate change regulation, aimed at curbing emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases from coal-fired power plants."New York Times more »