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One Woman's Opinion

Welcome to “One Woman’s Opinion,” a long term feature of the Southside Sentinel, written by Urbanna resident Mary Wakefield Buxton. Traditionally a humorist, Mary has written a column on all subjects and sometimes in very serious vein. Along with writing a column  for the Sentinel since 1984, she is also author of 14 books about life and love in Tidewater, Virginia. Click here for available books.

Cruising columnist ponders the what, where, how and why of one’s existence

Another important question while on vacation: Are we having any fun? Good question. Our cruise continued. We had ended our five-island itinerary and begun the long steam back to Miami. I was ready to go home. Meanwhile I found a book in the library titled “Cosmic Queries,” by Neil deGrasse Tyson and I was more than happy to curl up on our...
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Cabin fever at sea leaves one thinking of going home

By now we were on our second week of our cruise. I recommend just one week of a cruise. We were tired. Eating too much rich food, drinking too much...
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‘Classical music played by string quartet at sea best of cruise’

When we weren’t in port exploring the islands there were many shipside activities to enjoy besides lolling at the pool. I attended watercolor classes and Chip signed up for...
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Steaming south to St. Barthelemy Island in the West Indies

Our Caribbean cruise to the West Indies was our first experience on the Oceania Cruise line and its new ship “Vista.” The ship was big, shimmering white and built...
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‘Day of rest needed before cruise, after Dulles-Miami flight’

Miami Airport was as big and difficult to traverse for two octogenarians as Dulles. But after the long hike to baggage to retrieve luggage we were delighted to see...
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Educating One Woman: Four decades of writing (Part 1)

URBANNA — It was the July 4 weekend in 1984. Ronald Reagan was in the White House, the world was at peace, immigration was...
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“A case of sea fever — the pursuit of happiness”

URBANNA — Every so often I have a knock your socks off kind of experience. A recent dinner at Hazel and David Laughton’s house...
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W.Va. summer memories: Some happy, some sad

Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 • Part 4 • Part 5 By the end of the second summer in West Virginia camp,...
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‘West Virginia Summers in paradise begin to fade’

Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 • Part 4 URBANNA — The emotional love poem that Peter had written and shared with me...
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Though some ill-advised, camp traditions were guarded carefully a half century ago

Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 A newcomer to camp, I quickly learned camp traditions were guarded more carefully than a conservative Episcopalian guards...
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Poetic counselor from W.Va summers recalled

Part 1 • Part 2 Getting out of Florida during the unbearably hot summers, escaping parenting duties for a few months, and being in the...
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Coming clean about muddy past summers in West Virginia

Now in West Virginia, far from the tropical heat of Florida, we soon fell into the mindless and carefree days of summer camp regimentation....
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Past summers in West Virginia remembered

Part 1 URBANNA — I was 33 years old then, almost 50 years ago, living in Palm Beach County, Fla. It was in the mid-1970s,...
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“Getting exercise during cold weather is a challenge”

URBANNA — It’s been a few years since Middlesex County has suffered such a cold winter. It seems these last few weeks, no matter...
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Changing times’ freedom much to handle

Of all the changes in today’s society, I think gender changes are the most challenging. I was born female and I’m glad I remained female...
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