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Category: My Ever-Changing Family

Scott Newhall — Herb Caen Reminisces and So Do I

Ruth Newhall, Scott Newhall, Barbara Falconer Newhall and her new husband Jon Newhall. Photo by Jerry Telfer

San Francisco columnist Herb Caen wrote that Chronicle editor Scott Newhall believed “the mad world of journalism could be madly entertaining.” Read more.

Office Romance in the #MeToo Era — Is It Worth the Risk?

Office romance at Zodiac News Service office party. 1970s, San Francisco, CA. Nancy Selvin, Steve Selvin, Barbara Falconer, Jon Newhall, Barbara Falconer, Barbara Newhall photo

Jon looked at me sheepishly and asked, “Was I guilty of sexual harassment?” He was thinking, and I was thinking, of the early days of our office romance. Read more.

When Your Sick Kid Is 28 Years Old and 2000 Miles Away 

Grown-up 30-year-old man says goodbye after a Thanksgiving visit home. Photo by Barbara Newhall

What do you do when you’ve got a grown-up kid in the hospital half a continent away? Jump on a plane? Stick by the phone? Read more.

I Took His Name. Isn’t It About Time He Took Mine?

I took his name and so did his daughter. Man carries 5-year-old daughter. photo by Barbara Newhall

I took his name when we got married. Would my husband like to return the favor by adding my name to his? Read more.

A Totality Disappointment in St. Joseph, Missouri

A totality disappointment: An eclipse chaser lies on the ground for a better view of the total eclipse August, 2017, St. Joseph, MO. Photo by Barbara Newhall

We traveled 1700 miles to see the eclipse. The moon came between us and the sun, as promised. But so did a big fat cloud. A totality disappointment. Read more.

With a Little Luck You’ll Live Long Enough to Breed Flies in Your Attic

Dead flies caught on sticky fly paper. They didn't live long. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Back in 1987 old age seemed a long ways away. It still does.  Read more.

A Case of the Human Condition: When Your Six-Year-Old Wants to Talk Money

A six-year-old boy dressed as a cowboy for halloween. Photo by Barbara Newhall

A six-year-old talks money. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Our 6-year-old wanted an allowance. Jon and I debated: 50 cents a week? 75? “Let’s not talk in cents,” said Peter. “Let’s talk in dollars.” Read more.

Kids and Money: A Six-Year-Old Learns the Art of the Deal

Kids and money. Our six-year-old had his eyes firmly on the money. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Some kids dream of growing up to be an astronaut, a vet or a rock star. Our kid had his eyes on the bottom line — on the folding stuff. Read more.

The American Flag Is Flying in My Liberal, Elitist, San Francisco Bay Area Neighborhood Today. Here’s Why.

Stars and Stripes. A man hangs the American flag on the front of his house. Photo by Barbara Newhall

‘The right wingers don’t own the American flag flag,’ I said as my husband hung the Stars and Stripes from our garage. ‘It’s my flag too.’ Read more.

A Case of the Human Condition: Would My Husband Like to Add My Name to His?

Jon whose middle name is still not Falconer after 35 years of not being Jon Falconer Newhall -- cooking dinner for my birthday in 2011. He's still comfortable in the kitchen and at the supermarket. Photo by Barbara Falconer Newhall

When Jon and I married, I wanted to share a name with him and our future children. I took his last name. Would he like to take mine as his middle name? Read more.

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