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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

One Mom’s Advice Music To Our Ears

In “Lessons from Mom,” a new book of essays about what famous people learned from their mothers, Reba McEntire writes: “After my voice had matured, I started performing at rodeos. I’d listen to my favorite country music stars, like Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton, and go out there and try to sound just like them. Then one day Mama took me aside for a quiet talk that would turn out to be one of the most important conversations we ever had.

“‘Reba Nell,’ she said, ‘you have a beautiful voice all your own. If people want to hear Dolly or Loretta sing, they’ll buy their albums. But now you’ve got to find your own style. Sing what you feel, sing from your own heart, and you’ll discover the voice God intended for you.’ She was right.”

What was the most important conversation you ever had with your mother? Write us about it and we’ll publish some in time for Mother’s Day.

Painting lady: Sara Edlin-Marlowe, director of theater at Gonzaga University, will perform “A Conversation with Georgia O’Keeffe” at 7 p.m. Tuesday in GU’s Russell Theatre. For more information on the free event, call 328-4220, ext. 3952.

Call for stories: The Institute for Recovery in Illinois is looking for stories from women who are recovering from alcoholism through Alcoholics Anonymous. Writers must be active members of AA. The editors are not looking for literary gems, but “simply stories of women’s lives that reflect courage, humor and spirituality.” They ask that the stories be between five and 15 pages long. Some will be used in a book to come out in the fall. Deadline is May 1. Send manuscripts to: Dr. Kathleen FitzGerald, The Institute for Recovery, 500 N. Western Ave., #205, Lake Forest, Ill. 60045.

Neighborly duties: The Neighborhood Accountability Board Program helps first-time young offenders understand the consequences of their illegal actions. It’s one program that tries to stop young people from getting into more trouble. It needs volunteers. Training starts soon. For more information, call Susan Cairy at 458-2469.

Smoking thin: The National Center for Health Statistics recently confirmed what many women who stop smoking already know. You gain weight. In the last 10 years, women who quit smoking gained an average of 11 pounds (men gained an average 10 pounds). But as the editors of the Healthy Weight Journal pointed out: “When you balance 11 pounds against what smoking does to a young woman’s beauty - a muddled complexion, deep vertical wrinkles, a hacking cough and stale clinging odors - it’s amazing she doesn’t choose to be smoke-free, even if it means adding a few pounds.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Drawing

MEMO: Common Ground is written on alternating weeks by Rebecca Nappi and Dan Webster. Write to them in care of The Spokesman-Review, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615. Or fax, (509) 459-5098.

Common Ground is written on alternating weeks by Rebecca Nappi and Dan Webster. Write to them in care of The Spokesman-Review, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615. Or fax, (509) 459-5098.