Tales Of An Educated Debutante
on life, loss and the joy that rules the day.






























The future is far away and scary, but today is lovely.
Adrian H. Wood, PhD
The Senior Walk
A tradition in our small town. Late May, the seniors try on their caps and gowns for the first time and then, they take a walk through their old stomping grounds White Oak Elementary. DF Walker Elementary. Chowan Middle. My own four children are dispersed between those three schools and they came home, eager to share who they had seen and the high fives that had been dispersed. One hundred and forty three shining faces, young men and women, who have been raised ..
Read moreBishop Curry
We expected tradition. Stiff British upper lips. Fascinators. We did not expect to be taken to church. But I’ll be damned if The Most Reverend Michael Curry, the first African-American Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, didn’t take us right there. His sermon quoted from St. Paul and Martin Luther King, Jr., and centered around the redemptive qualities of simple, selfless love. The love between Harry and Meghan, the love Jesus had for the world and the power ..
Read moreThis Woman
Oh, this woman illustrates grace and strength in the path of adversity, kindness in the path of righteousness, joy in the path of heartbreak and love as the path that guides her journey. I’m so thankful to follow behind her. Much love to you, Mama. Adrian & Adam ..
Read moreHappy Birthday Daddy
Adrian Thorpe Harrold A moment ago a baby but now much stronger How I wish it could have taken longer A toddler with a blankie and then new math Childhood lights your own path Don't forget those who loves you and were left behind No matter what, you'll always shine At any early age you knew strife Let them be a milestone for your life Now, don't look back but forward to the sky Lift your head and countenance high The future is bright and cle ..
Read moreFive Reasons Teachers Shouldn’t Pack Heat
1. Teachers say NO. All major teacher, principal, school employee and security organizations in our country oppose guns in schools, except when carried by a police or security officer. The National Education Association polled thousands of American teachers and found an overwhelming majority of educators (78%) do not support the idea of arming educators in the classroom. 2. Armed teachers are a poor match for school shooters. Research shows that even highly trai ..
Read moreTo the Boy that Made Me a Mother
To the Boy that Made Me a Mother I dreamt of you, you know. I was a slip of a girl when I wrote about the baby I hoped to have, a blond hair girl baby. Only I got you, a dark headed son, five pounds, one ounce and five weeks early. My heart would never be the same. I feared for you, you know. I cradled you in my arms and thought to myself as we got ready to take you home, this just doesn’t seem safe. For good reason, our big old furnace had run out of oil and I held y ..
Read moreThe Man & the Hotel Room
Come to my hotel room, he says. And she does. Before. The gray area between pursuit and assault is a tricky one. Perhaps coy behavior worked well coupled with college and keg beer, maybe an innocent suggestion that garnered success, maybe a person who brims with confidence and no one was ever stern or said no. Simply, a person does what they have always done and been allowed to do, not necessarily related to sex, the issue is in the ever so broken chain of command. During. ..
Read moreI Hate Politics
I just don't get it. The thoughts I share are born from my mind and heart, not spawned from allegiance to or disdain of a particular leader. Then again, we arrive to this place of adulthood, each laden with our own baggage, a quite personal set of suitcases. Our suitcases are often heavy, filled with tales that may include wealth and privilege or a childhood spent sleeping on a cold floor, hard working parents or those who were raised by relatives, parents battling their own demons ..
Read moreDear Liz the Librarian
I was interested to hear your story of unrequited love at Cambridgeport Elementary School. To commemorate National Read a Book Day, First Lady Melania Trump sent one school in every state a parcel of ten books by Dr. Seuss, along with a letter she penned in which she detailed reading “Oh, the Places You'll Go” with her now 11 year old son Barron. Easy peasy, a simple gift. You’re quite a librarian, named Hero of Family Outreach in 2017 by the School Library Journal. Clearly, you ha ..
Read moreTwenty-Five Reasons Moms Need Camp
1. Camp would be a vacation. Even fat camp sounds fun, all that sleep and exercise with no planning on our part. 2. No cars allowed. No errands, no carpool, no grocery store, no limit to alcohol consumption. 3. You could register for activities like: Put the School Calendar In Your Phone or Sorting One Million Pictures. 4. People spray you with sunscreen. Yep, just stand there like you're going through security. 5. No cooking. Not one bit, unless you ..
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