© 2007 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine A mentor is someone who stands out in your mind as a model for your own behavior. If you find yourself thinking “What Would Sally Do?” then Sally is a mentor. Here is the story of my Sally. In 1979, my boss askedContinue reading “Learning How to Land a Job”
Author Archives: Brooke Allen
Past Love
© 2007 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine I won’t tell you her name, but I will tell you when and where it hit me. It was in Latin class during the spring semester of the eighth grade. She was beautiful and smart. What a wonderful smile. What a cheerful laugh.Continue reading “Past Love”
Science Takes a Look at Love
© 2007 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine In June of 2006 I had dinner with a young newlywed couple in London, England. They had just read my story, How Grandmother Won Granddad in a Beauty Contest, in the May issue of International Family Magazine. The young bride asked me, “HowContinue reading “Science Takes a Look at Love”
Advice for Grandchildren
© 2010 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine After my dad died, I went through his hard drive and found this in a folder named: adviceforgrandchildren Title: Boys and Girls Until about 2 years old I have noticed that children at this age carry onContinue reading “Advice for Grandchildren”
The Magical Power of Imagination
© 2007 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine As an undergraduate I went on a date to see a famous “mentalist”. I find magicians entertaining. My date was eager to show me proof of the supernatural. I was entertained and she found her evidence. His first feat was to control theContinue reading “The Magical Power of Imagination”
College Thinking
© 2007 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine Colleges have become marketing experts. They work very hard at convincing you to send them your child and your money. You have to do the work yourself to find out why you shouldn’t send them either. “Admissions.” “Hello, is this (name of aContinue reading “College Thinking”
Environmentalist, Get Thee to an Editor
© 2007 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)[1] are neurotoxins and potent carcinogens that were once used extensively in cooling oils for electrical transformers back when we were fearless (and stupid). Transformers can overheat and catch fire. Breathing the smoke from a burning transformer containing PCBs can putContinue reading “Environmentalist, Get Thee to an Editor”
Imagine a Future
© 2007 Brooke Allen Being a dad wasn’t working out as I’d hoped. I grew up on “Leave it to Beaver” and “Father Knows Best”. Our home was more like “The Simpson”s or “Married With Children”. That January I found myself on an airplane sitting next to a woman who is a psychologist and anContinue reading “Imagine a Future”
Sublimation
© 2007 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine “Granddad, something’s different.” “What’s that?” “I haven’t seen you smoking a cigar since we got here.” “I quit a year ago.” “Why? I thought you loved those things.” “Nope. I hated them.” This was puzzling. “If you hated them, then why did youContinue reading “Sublimation”
Holiday Remembrances
© 2006 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine I find holidays are an important time to pause and remember things. These days I’m getting older so I do the pause quite well, but the remember part… well… I’ve decided to keep notes. Thanksgiving is a time to remember how much lessContinue reading “Holiday Remembrances”
Brooke Allen 