Series: Pennsylvania Women

  • Belle of the Bar

    The idea of six degrees of separation—sometimes called the “six handshake rule”—subtly shapes how I explore history each week. First imagined in a 1929 short story by Hungarian writer Frigyes Karinthy, it suggests that any two people on Earth are… Continue reading

    Belle of the Bar
  • Good Morning Heartache

    One night, not long ago, the weight of the world felt unbearable—as if I was sinking beneath the density of everything I couldn’t escape. It was the kind of heaviness that seeps into your bones, making it hard to breathe,… Continue reading

    Good Morning Heartache
  • Diamonds Are Forever

    As a teenager, I played for the Rangers, a scrappy Little League baseball team in my hometown. My heart was set on third base—the hot corner—but being a lefty made it a tough fit. Left-handed players at third are rare,… Continue reading

    Diamonds Are Forever
  • Always And Forever

    History is often shaped by the accomplishments of prominent men, whose legacies have been immortalized in the names of towns, streets, and corporations. Take, for instance, Schwenksville, my adopted hometown. The town was named after George, an early pioneer who… Continue reading

    Always And Forever
  • The Pretty Crazy Girl

    I was living in Astoria, a vibrant neighborhood in Queens, when I first discovered Roosevelt Island. Nestled along the East River, the slender island offered a stunning view of the iconic New York City skyline. At one end, an aged… Continue reading

    The Pretty Crazy Girl