Minding my own business – or not
Minding my own business is not always such a great idea. And sometimes, it is. As I sat at an intersection a few days ago, waiting to turn left, I noticed a woman on the opposite sidewalk. She was pushing a stroller with a small infant inside, carrying a toddler on one hip and had a slightly older toddler walking along beside her. As they approached the busy crossing, she put the hip toddler down next to the other one. But the little girl kept reaching out, crying to be carried again. The woman slapped the child’s hands away and started to walk on but eventually turned around and picked her...
Read MoreHonoring parents on Parents Day
The fourth Sunday of July (the 22nd this year) is Parents Day, a relatively young holiday to commemorate parents. President Bill Clinton signed it into law in 1994, based on a resolution introduced by Sen. Trent Lott (R-Mississippi). Though it’s young in the United States, this commemoration is rooted in a national holiday established by South Korea in 1956. At any rate, it’s another excuse to honor our parents, which is always a good thing to do. If they’re still alive, gifts and cards are in order. If not, a nice tribute will do. A favorite story about my parents is how they met. The...
Read MoreCelebrating 15 years of marriage
My son and his wife have been married 15 years this week. That is amazing. How does 15 years zoom by so fast? Just the other day, he was my little boy. Comic books, still in their plastic sleeves, covering most of the walls in his room. Clothes – clean and dirty alike – covering most of his floor space. Then before I could blink, he finishes school and sets off to join the Army. Next thing I know, he’s married. Thank goodness he chose well. They both did. They paid attention to what mattered to them and made sure they had a good match before heading down the aisle. A dog and two...
Read MoreOn becoming a writer
Several months ago, shortly after my latest book came out, one of the local book clubs invited me to speak at an upcoming meeting. I assumed it would be about the book and how it evolved. Instead, the organizer asked if I would talk about my writing career in general. How I became a writer. That got me thinking. I wasn’t sure what the answer was. How did I become a writer? So, I looked. It certainly was not something I intentionally pursued, although I always thought it would be cool to be a writer. I just kind of backed into it. Thwarted attempts to finding THE path I began my adult life...
Read MoreNothing to cry about
My 3-year-old granddaughter discovered a valuable lesson a couple of months ago – spilled milk is nothing to cry about. She had found a bouncy ball in the garage. It had a handle and a horse’s face that fit over it so she could bounce around pretending she was riding a horse. When it got too hot outside, Chloe brought the “horse” in the house. She bounced through the living room, into the kitchen, back into the living room – round and round. She had a look of sheer delight on her face, obviously having the time of her life. Bouncing, bouncing, bouncing. You would have thought she...
Read MoreFitbit keeps me moving
Fitness has become a high priority for me over the years, particularly since I’ve been keeping up with grandchildren. I know it’s not going to happen with me just hoping for it. It’s going to take moving my body – regularly, consistently and rigorously. That’s where my Fitbit comes in handy. Any tracker will work. I just happen to use Fitbit because it was a gift a few years ago from my son and daughter-in-law. If it weren’t for this clever little device, I’m sure I would be at least 10 if not 20 pounds heavier today than I already am. It talks to me – sort of. It lets me know...
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Jane Self, PhD, was assistant features editor for the Macon Telegraph and features editor for The Tuscaloosa News. She received her master's degree in secondary education from Louisiana State University in New Orleans and her PhD in education administration from the University of Alabama. 
Jane Self was features editor at The Tuscaloosa News when the Fallen Warriors series began. Although she left the paper, she continued to write these profiles on a freelance basis for The News until the series was stopped in May 2009. Jane has since updated and published them as an E-book. 
In 1991 "60 Minutes" aired a story that attempted to destroy the life and work of EST founder Werner Erhard. Award-winning journalist Jane Self suspected there was more to these allegations than being reported. She discovered an amazing plot of espionage, conspiracy, and sabotage.