Author Archives: Ellen Ross

Enough

No jokes, today.  Our kids are dying. Let me state at the outset that I was a hand gun owner. When Nick and I moved out to Colorado in 1996, I decided to learn to target-shoot. I had a friend, … Continue reading

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Posted in History, Memoir | 22 Comments

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

A couple of Sundays ago, my brother and I took his granddaughters to Wrigley Field. Eliza is almost six and Susannah almost four.  One’s a blonde- Suze.  And the other’s a brunette- Eliza. And they both know everything. (Of course.) … Continue reading

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Posted in baseball, Memoir, pop culture, Sports | 22 Comments

(No) Sex And The City Episode Trois “Happy Birthday”

The Cast:  Charlotte, Miranda and Carrie.  All BFF’s. The time: 1:00 pm lunch The Place:  RL, Chicago The girls meet at the host stand and air kiss daintily. Charlotte (sweetly):  You look stunning, Miranda.  Never thinner.  And those bracelets! Bulgari? … Continue reading

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Posted in pop culture | 2 Comments

Lest We Forget

“Did you have a nice Memorial Day, Mrs. Ross?” Greg, one of the engineers here in my building, asked me as I breezed in last Monday night. The Men In My Life Sidebar:  I live in a Wirtz building.  For … Continue reading

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Posted in Memoir, Tributes | 34 Comments

Designated Drinker

I don’t drink.  Never did.  I just can’t stand the taste of anything alcoholic- with the exception of (preferably vintage) Champagne.  (I have a bottle of Veuve Grande Dame chilling in my refrigerator right now.  But I’m waiting for someone … Continue reading

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Posted in Memoir, pop culture | 17 Comments

Short Story

With apologies to Tyrion Lannister… A guy got in touch with me on Facebook recently.  His name is Richard, and the last time I saw him he was ten years old. His mother and father were friends of my parents. … Continue reading

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Posted in Memoir | 4 Comments

Light My Fire

Back in 1967, ’68 and ’69, I was a college student at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. “The Berkeley of the Midwest.” It got its nickname- and reputation- because the University of Wisconsin was pretty radical back in those … Continue reading

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Posted in Memoir, pop culture | 11 Comments

Life In The Fast Lane

As many of my long-time readers know, I have been married more than once.  My exes have ranged from captains of industry to musical prodigies.  But they all had one thing in common. (Besides me.) They were great drivers. True, … Continue reading

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Posted in Memoir, pop culture, Sports | 10 Comments

Breakfast in Bed

Author’s Note:  On behalf of the entire Roffe family- my mother, my brother Kenny and my sister-in-law Mary Lu, and our children- Natasha and Zach Tofias, Nick and Melissa Ross, Greg and Ashlee Roffe, Andrew Roffe, Matthew Roffe, and the … Continue reading

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Posted in Memoir, Tributes | 7 Comments

With A Song In His Heart

Our beloved father, Benjamin Roffe, died yesterday- Wednesday, May seventh.  He would have been ninety-five on October twenty-third.  He went in his sleep- suddenly and painlessly.  A good death. He deserved it.  For the last eight years he had been … Continue reading

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Posted in Tributes | 46 Comments