Gwen Rockwood
Columnist
Recent Stories
THE ROCKWOOD FILES: Oh, Yes, They’re The Great Pretenders
DAUGHTER HOSTS IMAGINARY MEALS
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Our 3-year-old daughter has moved out of the house and into a world of her own making. Sure, she’s still here physically, evidenced by the cracker crumbs on the kitchen floor and the pink clothes in the hamper. But her mind has taken up residence in the land of make-believe. Read More »
THE ROCKWOOD FILES: Birthday Memory Failing
‘YOU’RE ONLY AS OLD AS YOU REMEMBER’
NORTHWEST — Last week I had lunch with a good friend I’ve known since I was a freshman in college. Read More »
THE ROCKWOOD FILES: Saving Up For The Last Laugh
MONEY AIN’T FUNNY
ROGERS — When I was in my mid-20 s, I went to work for an ad agency and learned an important truth: “Money ain’t funny.” It was something my boss always used to say as a way to remind us not to make errors on billing and to treat our client’s budget with the utmost respect. Read More »
THE ROCKWOOD FILES: Daughter Encounters Dieting Kryptonite
DEEP-FRIED LOVE
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Ifell off the diet wagon last weekend — and, oh, what a spectacular, delicious fall it was. I know I should take responsibility for it. After all, no one had a gun to my head, forcing me to go for that second or third helping. But I did have an accomplice in the crime, so let me just say this: “My mother made me do it.” OK, maybe she didn’t “make” me do it, but she did make the food during her visit last weekend, and that’s what triggered the fall from grace. Read More »
THE ROCKWOOD FILES: Let It Stop, Let It Stop, Let It Stop
WRITER NEEDS SOME ‘SPRING’ IN HER STEP
ROGERS — This morning I woke up, shuffled downstairs for caffeine and glanced out the kitchen window. What I saw woke me up faster than the Diet Dr Pepper. It was snow. Let me rephrase that. It was MORE SNOW! Read More »
ROCKWOOD FILES: Mental Pictures Better Than Real Thing
CAMERA-SHY MOM FACES THE LENS
ROGERS — A few weeks ago I got an e-mail from my editors asking me to come by the newsroom to have a new photograph taken. Read More »
ROCKWOOD FILES: Hanging Up On The Habit
WRITER GETS WAKE-UP CALL WE ALL NEED
ROGERS — Television can be a good thing sometimes. About a week ago, I saw a show that gave me the kick in the rear I’ve needed for a while. It was an Oprah show about one of Americans’ most dangerous habits — distracted driving — and it scared me, mostly because I knew it could happen to me. Read More »
THE ROCKWOOD FILES: Making Peace With Snap, Crackle, Pop
WRITER GETS HER GROOVE BACK
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — During the holiday break, I did something stupid — something that would have been no big deal if I was about 10 years younger than I am. But alas, the decade has taken its toll. Read More »
THE ROCKWOOD FILES: But Wait, There’s More
MOTHER TIPTOES THROUGH COMMERCIAL MINEFIELD
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — About an hour ago, something happened that made me realize we’ve had far too much TV time during the long holiday break from school. I came downstairs to make lunch and found 8-year-old Adam sitting at the counter watching the little kitchen television. Read More »
THE ROCKWOOD FILES: Losing Everything
MOTHER’S QUEST TO FIND WHAT SHE’S LOOKING FOR
ROGERS — There are days when I feel like half my life is spent looking for something. And I’m not speaking figuratively. I’ve already “found myself” and “found God” and found that both were there all along. I’m talking about looking for stuff — the lost toy, the permission slip for school, the library book, the other sock, the important receipt, the camera, the can of tomato sauce I know must be here somewhere, the double-A batteries, my sunglasses and the stuffed animal my kid just had in her hands 10 minutes ago. Where is all this stuff? Read More »