We thought Sanford was different

July 6, 2009

We thought we'd found true love.

Recent columns

• Will NOW leader bring movement new focus?

  June 29, 2009

  At a moment in political history when feminists have a friend in the White House (and her husband might be a friend as well), the National Organization for Women begins the task of trying to reclaim ground lost during the long, dark night of the administration of George W. Bush.

• Conspiracy theories sprout in D.C.

  June 22, 2009

  It looks like the White House vegetable garden - First Lady Michelle Obama's effort to model healthful eating for the nation - is infested with a pest previously unknown to horticulture. It's the boll weevil of the blogosphere: the conspiracy theorist.

• Remembering when health care system was built on relationships

  June 15, 2009

  I was sitting on an examining table, waiting to meet the new doctor my insurance company had assigned me to, when she blew in the door, offered her hand and shook mine energetically.

• A little empathy for the white males

  June 8, 2009

  These are tough times for the middle-class white male.

• Overcoming 'Impostor's Syndrome'

  June 1, 2009

  Anna Quindlen, minus 50 IQ points."

• Susan Reimer's column has moved

  June 1, 2009

  Susan Reimer's Monday column now appears on the Commentary page, which is Page 9 in today's Sun. Her gardening column will continue to be published in the Thursday Live section.

• Michael Phelps' mother is going for the blue

  May 11, 2009

  For all those August days in Beijing, Debbie Phelps was the mom in the bleachers, her face a slide show of emotion as her son, Michael, moved determinedly toward the goal of eight gold medals.

• Instead of moving up, college graduates are moving back in

  May 4, 2009

  As soon as our college graduates throw their caps in the air this month and next, they will be throwing their clothes all over the house.

• In families' tragic deaths, a hint of paternalism

  April 27, 2009

  It wasn't the economy. It wasn't stress. It wasn't mental illness.

• The voice of the Invisible Woman

  April 20, 2009

  As women age, we begin to fade from view, moving from vibrant, to translucent, to invisible.

• A White House clothesline for the Obamas?

  April 13, 2009

  President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, are trapped in role model hell, what with her off-the-rack dresses, his new international humility, their intact African-American family, the rescue dog search and, of course, the vegetable garden.

• A hard week for Michael Phelps – and for Mom

  February 9, 2009

  Last week was a tough one for Michael Phelps. I am betting it was equally tough for his mom.

• Writing dovetails with life's phases

  August 17, 2008

  I was a sportswriter when my bosses asked me if I wanted to be a family-life columnist.

• Scolded by all, but not sorry

  August 10, 2008

  Staying young, growing old and what happens in between

• Looking at living longer with less

  August 3, 2008

  Not long ago, I wrote that "near retirees," as we are now known, should consider working past the ages of 62 or 65 for all sorts of economic reasons, and we should salve our disappointment by doing some of the things now that we thought we would do in retirement - golfing in Florida or traveling in Europe.

• Coming soon, to a wedding near you

  July 20, 2008

  Connie and Nancy, my best friends since the seventh grade."

• Videos of beatings a lesson for kids

  April 15, 2008

  The harassment of teachers and the intimidation of students by classroom bullies is nothing new.

• The deconstruction of Harriet Miers is filled with sexism

  October 11, 2005

  When the first news stories about Harriet Miers' nomination to the Supreme Court all used the same quote from President Bush describing her as "a pit bull in size 6 shoes," I decided I would listen carefully to this debate.

• Youths sound off on sex, advertising and athletes

  July 26, 2005

  DURING THE Summer Olympics in Athens, the eyes of the world were focused on Baltimore's Michael Phelps, and sometimes it was because his swimming suit rested so low on his hips, it looked like there might be a wardrobe malfunction at any moment.

• Clinton redux revives that sense of betrayal

  June 22, 2004

  SEEING BILL CLINTON in the spotlight again is like - forgive the analogy - seeing an old lover after not enough time has passed.

• Stewart's attitude was on trial, too

  March 9, 2004

  MARTHA STEWART's conviction in federal court last week must stand as a warning to all future Marthas.

• No reason to recant support for Arnold

  October 7, 2003

  ACOUPLE OF weeks ago, I wrote a column saying that if I were a Californian, I would vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger.

• Schwarzenegger's zest for American dream counterbalances past of sex, drugs

  September 16, 2003

  IT MIGHT COST me my feminist membership card, but if I were a California resident, I'd vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger for governor - even if I'd have to wait a few more months to do so.

• Word war: `Marital' becomes `martial'

  December 10, 2002

  MY HUSBAND and I lead the split-shift, tag-team, crisis-du-jour lives so common among couples with teen-age children, and our paths are guaranteed to cross at only one moment: Sunday night at 9 o'clock for the latest installment of The Sopranos.

• Sniper is wrecking the games students play

  October 22, 2002

  The killings by the sniper in the white van have thrown the athletic lives of children and families into a holy mess of official overreaction and bureaucratic indecision.

• With everyone a target, fear is hard to avoid

  October 9, 2002

  IT IS DIFFERENT this time.

• Parents feel high school angst again, through teens

  October 6, 2002

  IT APPEARS THAT I am not popular in high school. Again.

• Lindh rage gives way to sadness

  July 23, 2002

  THE CASE OF John Walker Lindh has been resolved to the apparent satisfaction of both parties.

• Mourning loss of son's competitor

  March 19, 2002

  KEVAN Fletcher, a top-notch wrestler for Patterson High School, was found shot to death inside his East Baltimore rowhouse earlier this month, and a pair of teen-age acquaintances have been arrested and charged with his murder.

• All we can do for safety is embrace each other

  September 30, 2001

  IN THE IMMEDIATE aftermath of the World Trade Center and Pentagon explosions, I had one thought, and I bet it was almost universal.

• Our routines will keep us busy, but the sadness will stay with us

  September 14, 2001

  IN THE AFTERMATH of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks, we are being told that we must recognize that life in this country will never be the same.

• And now, for a -- of local flavor, we bring you a taste of Art Donovan

  January 31, 1993

  Hey, Jim Kelly! Try some warm olive oil on top of your head, ya big crybaby.