Donna Vickroy – Page 9

Residents embrace in front of a fire-ravaged property after the Palisades Fire swept through in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Jan. 8, 2025. (Etienne Laurent/AP)

Donna Vickroy: As the LA fires have shown, everyone needs a fire — and other disaster — safety plan

January 17, 2025 at 12:48 p.m.

It’s a long way from LA to Chicago, but the world is small if you have friends or relatives in Southern California, or if you simply have empathy for people...

Columnist Donna Vickroy poses for a photo with her sister Terese Langdon at Christmas in 2022, which was when Terese learned she had pancreatic cancer. (Donna Vickroy/Naperville Sun)

Donna Vickroy: What a year it has been since you left us

January 10, 2025 at 11:39 a.m.

It is better to hurt like hell because someone is gone than to never have known the joy that came from loving them.

These are some of the albums that had been collecting dust in a closet until columnist Donna Vickroy's husband gave her a Victrola record player for Christmas this year. (Donna Vickroy/Naperville Sun)

Donna Vickroy: Returning to my old record collection evokes myriad of emotions as it restores soundtrack of my life

January 3, 2025 at 11:07 a.m.

This Christmas, my husband gifted me a return ticket to my youth and to that great big collection of emotion that comes with it. He gave me a Victrola stereo.

It's not ususual that the pressures of the world and life can suck away the positive feelings we want to be experiencing during the holidays. A little self-care and analysis can help a lot to counter the negativity and depression, two experts say. (Tribune News Service)

Donna Vickroy: Not feeling so wonderful this holiday season? Make a plan to help yourself

December 19, 2024 at 2:35 p.m.

It’s not ususual that the pressures of the world and life can suck away the positive feelings we want to be experiencing during the holidays. A little self-care and analysis...

When the Trivial Pursuit game was brought out on Christmas Eve at columnist Donna Vickroy's house, the family competition could be downright cutthroat. (Donna Vickroy/Naperville Sun)

Donna Vickroy: Nothing trivial about the magical memories from good old-fashioned holiday board game competitions

December 11, 2024 at 1:14 p.m.

When the Trivial Pursuit game was brought out on Christmas Eve at columnist Donna Vickroy's house, the family competition could be downright cutthroat.

Audrey Sjobring, left, and Anne Quetua collect food items and household supplies for DuPage County refugees outside of a Jewel-Osco grocery store June 8, 2024 in Wheaton. (Courtesy/Anne Quetua)

Donna Vickroy: Wheaton teens dedicated to helping refugees resettle in Chicago area

December 8, 2024 at 6:46 a.m.

Anne Quetua knows that most Americans, including her father, have an immigrant story to tell. Some stories are more challenging than others but none are as moving as those told...

"The Wizard of Oz" is a film that's been loved by generations but what some might not know is the author of the books on which it was based, L. Frank Baum, was a Chicago resident and remains celebrated in the neighborhood where he once lived. (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayor)

Donna Vickroy: With ‘Wicked’ opening in theaters, not many know the connection ‘The Wizard of Oz’ has to Chicago

November 21, 2024 at 2:58 p.m.

As "Wizard of Oz" excitement gears up with the film release of "Wicked," not many know the connections the story and its author L. Frank Baum have to Chicago.

There's a method to the madness when birds flock together on power lines. Not only are they sometimes gathered to share body heat, but they're communicating about a variety of things, including the location of food and danger, experts say. (Antonio Perez/baiduhai)

Donna Vickroy: When everything seems to go against your nature, let nature itself be your restorative

November 15, 2024 at 12:41 p.m.

Birds are not only beautiful to look at but far more clever than we give them credit for when it comes to communicating about food and danger and staying warm.

Life throws us difficult, seemingly impossible challenges, but once you get through them, you will know for the rest of your life that you can do hard things. (Getty Images)

Donna Vickroy: When everything goes to rot, remember you can do hard things

November 8, 2024 at 9:25 a.m.

Life throws us difficult, seemingly impossible challenges, but it also provides others who are ready to help us get through it. And once you do, you will carry in your...

Luis Garcia, of Boynton Beach, is confronted in 2021 by Trump supporters as he holds a Biden Harris sign in West Palm Beach. (South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Donna Vickroy: Worried, scared, despondent about the upcoming election? Let’s hope our best selves emerge

November 1, 2024 at 8:34 a.m.

An election should pique your interest, raise concerns, propose opportunity, inspire a hopeful “what-if” kind of thinking. It shouldn’t make you feel like a cat on a hot tin roof.

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