Cathren is a community collaborative artist who has been working with the Community Libraries of Providence and other non-profits since 2012, developing arts and literacy programs and creating public art installations. She has been an artist in residence at Hattie Ide Chaffee Home since 2023, implementing visual arts and health programs with seniors and dementia patients. Website: ArtHouseRI.com
A reader recently told me of his upcoming plans to fly to the other side of the planet for a visit. His sister moved to Japan for work and generously offered to buy his ticket, but he was worried about catching the flu. He asked me how to protect himself. This is a timely question. […]
Dear C; My question is: How do you not feel completely inadequate as a wife and daughter-in-law when you have a Super Mother-In-Law? She’s an amazing cook — all from scratch — and she did everything around the house and was home for her kids in the day, then worked at night. My husband frequently […]
With spring, comes mud. But did you know that this deliciously squishy stuff that children love to play in and dogs love to track across the floor is also the base for a respected branch of natural medicine? According to ancient wisdom, the five fundamental building blocks of the universe are sky, air, fire, water […]
Dear C, I cheated on my girlfriend, Bev, about a year ago. Things weren’t that bad between us, but I was bored with the relationship and wasn’t sure I wanted to stay in it. When Bev found out, it really hurt her and I felt like crap. I never wanted to see the other girl […]
The missionaries who set out to convert the natives of Africa from their heathen ways were particularly irked by the local custom of decorating and marking the body with tattoos, nose rings and other devices of the devil. But when priests tried to stop these practices, they were defiantly told: “This is what makes us […]
Dear C, Everywhere I go, people are trying to cut in line, grab the parking space I was about to back into, and put me on hold. If I stand up to them, they act like I’m the problem. If I defend myself, they get nasty. Last night, I’m at the bakery one minute after […]
“We are stardust, we are golden… and we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.” Joni Mitchell As icy winds howl outside, I feel as if a part of my soul has died. Spring is a distant dream … but the annual Spring Flower and Garden Show at the RI Convention Center is coming, […]
Walk into the average home or office. See if you can spot the biggest health hazard in the room. Is it the fluorescent lights? Emissions from display monitors?? The mites, the dust, the bacteria lurking in the air ducts and pipes? No. The most dangerous ticking time bomb in the place is your chair. I […]
Hi, C. I know you’re not a doctor, but I’m not sure my doctors are helping, so here’s the deal. I began going to our family doctor because of migraines from the loud noises at work. The high pitched squeals of the air compressors, engines and pressure washers drive me nuts, especially the air chisel. […]
Medical research has proven that stress has a very negative effect on human health. No matter what your problem, stress can make it worse. In many cases, stress opens the door to illness; if there is a virus going around you’re a lot more likely to catch it if you’re frazzled, and type A personalities […]