Author Archives: Halsey Blocher

Maybe you’ve noticed from my past columns that my family enjoys traveling. We’ve been blessed to visit a variety of destinations together, but we’re repeatedly drawn to locations with scenic coastlines and warm climates. My mom books all of our family trips. With a lifetime…

(Note: This column contains spoilers for the movie “Five Feet Apart.”) The 2019 movie “Five Feet Apart” focuses on a young couple, Stella and Will, who fall in love while receiving treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF). Their love is dangerous, though, because coming within 6…

For kids, February tends to entail a Valentine’s Day party for every activity, club, or team they’re a part of. Our mom used to take my brother and me to plenty of these parties when we were little, as we were actively involved in church, disability organizations, and our…

It seems there are hacks for everything now — little tips and tricks designed to help us get the most out of life while saving time, energy, or money. The internet and media are full of hacks for interior design, organization, cooking, budgeting, traveling, fashion, mindfulness, and just about…

When rumors began circulating years ago that a certain blue police box time machine might be getting an accessible makeover, my interest was more than piqued. Would a ramp truly be added to the TARDIS when the British sci-fi show “Doctor Who” returned to the air…

As Mom and I browsed the bookstore searching for gifts and travel guides for our summer vacation destination, we amused ourselves with the wide selection of books on offer, most of which we would have gladly purchased. Among the myriad titles and genres, we noticed one…

A few years ago, I rolled into the local disability center, as I often did at the time, for a day of exercise, crafting, and volunteer work. But because it was Christmas, I’d brought something extra. My nurse carried a stack of cards I’d made for…

Throughout my life, the doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel who have cared for me have filled out a collective mountain of paperwork. I’m willing to bet that far more of my days have been documented than not. Most charting is electronic now, but there are certainly boxes full…

Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a family favorite around here, with my brother being the biggest fan of us all. He even dressed up as the movie’s main character, Jack Skellington, for Halloween one year. This beloved stop-motion animated movie has become a pop culture…

Growing up, I loved the library’s summer reading program. I’ve always been a bookworm, so logging hours of reading and being rewarded for my hobby was a highly satisfying endeavor. My favorite prizes were, of course, new books. Last year, I was thrilled to learn that this program from…