The Bright Side - a Column by Jamie Askari

Happy 2025 to all! Wishing all of you a happy and healthy year ahead. The time has come for the oft-dreaded New Year’s resolutions. The idea is to reflect on the past year and set goals for the new one. I’ve made many resolutions, but the majority of them failed…

For over 15 years now, I’ve been on the receiving end of all sorts of reactions when it comes to my husband and his early-onset Parkinson’s disease. Strangers are typically caught by surprise to hear that he was diagnosed at age 38, and they usually don’t seem to know…

It’s been such a warm fall season here in Ohio that it’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. Not only do we celebrate Thanksgiving in November, but it’s also National Family Caregivers Month, a time to honor the caregivers in our lives. Caregiver Action Network began advocating…

I’m a proud great-auntie to three amazing little ones. My youngest great-nephew was born last summer, just a day after my mom’s birthday. He’s the first child of the next generation of our family to be born locally. We gather around him at family get-togethers and are in awe of…

“I accuse Colonel Mustard in the conservatory with a revolver.” Wait, does anyone have a conservatory in their home, and if so, what is it? Is colonel pronounced “col-o-nel” or with the letter “r”? If any of the above rings a bell, then, like me, you grew up playing Clue,…

I’m the ultimate planner — just ask my family. Knowing the next life steps for my husband, my children, and myself offers me a sense of peace and calm. Because of that, I’m constantly planning and trying to organize our lives. Planning is especially important when a family member is…

Recently, for a column I was writing, I was looking for a good definition of Parkinson’s disease. I’m always amazed that much of the information out there about Parkinson’s disease doesn’t apply to my husband, Arman, and his experience with the condition. Many articles focus on tremors and…

I’ve always heard that mourning doves symbolize peace, hope, renewal, and love. While I’m unsure if this old wives’ tale is accurate, I can be sure that the nest of mourning doves on my patio brings me abundant happiness and a sense of peace. Almost immediately after we moved into…

As a young girl growing up in the 1970s, reading was my favorite pastime. We had no cellphones, internet, or Snapchat then, and only three TV channels via a rabbit-ear antenna. So I read a lot. I loved Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary and read almost…

I remember when my kids were small and I’d hear the patter of tiny feet running toward my bedside, usually at 3 a.m. I knew the reason would be one of two things: the stomach flu or a bad dream. If it was the latter, I breathed a sigh of…