Author Archives: Helen Baldwin

The revelation that my husband, Randy, and I were becoming newborn parents again called for a comprehensive to-do list. Our other children, Matthew and Katie, were in elementary school. With no intention of needing baby items…

In September 1995, my parents began running the family’s newly acquired lodge on the stunning Blue Ridge Parkway. My husband, Randy, our two children, Matthew and Katie, and I lived about an hour away at the time.

My husband, Randy, and I moved our family to the North Carolina mountains in the final hours of 1995. Adventures in our old farmhouse commenced immediately. We considered a newsworthy blizzard and the escape of two…

I learned my vision needed assistance in fifth grade. Although I unwittingly squinted at the chalkboard, my report cards never indicated a problem. I was a model student because I adored my teacher, Mrs. Chandler. I…

I’ve mentioned before that I don’t always know what I’ll cover in this column when the time comes. It sure eases the anxiety level when I have a clue, though. Our SMA assignment with our third…

“Wicked” is the musical movie superstar of the moment. I loved “The Wizard of Oz” growing up, and while I haven’t seen the wildly popular adaptation on stage or screen, it’s impossible not…

Our baby Jeffrey, who was diagnosed with SMA in July 1997, made the most of his brief earthly stint. I’ve mentioned before that our SMA duty, which lasted mere weeks between Jeffrey’s diagnosis and his death, enabled us…

It’s somehow already time for Thanksgiving, the designated day for us to give thanks for our blessings. Ideally, we should designate a few more days each year to doing that — like, say, the other 364 — but one day a year…

I consider myself an optimist, at least most of the time. Life has hurled more than a few lemons our way over the years; thankfully, I like lemonade. In 1997, when my husband, Randy, lost his job mere…

Incredibly, October is almost history. A month ago, our mountain county and others west of us here in North Carolina were left reeling from the surreal aftermath of Hurricane Helene, considered a once-in-a-thousand-year storm. Out of the proverbial ashes…