Twenty years ago today, I was 10 days away from my 33rd birthday. I was working as the Lifestyles Editor in the newsroom of The Daily Herald. Hard news wasn’t on my plate.

I recently went for my three-month check-up for my Type 2 diabetes.

I know she will be mad when she reads this, because she hates attention, but I couldn’t let my news editor and very good friend, Carolyn Harmon, get away without saying something.

Thursday night I was riding home from rehearsal with my friend, Jim Simpson, and stressing about what to write about for my column this week.

Whoever thought life would be shut down for more than a year because of a pandemic?

For the last year, I have longed for ways to escape from the reality of life. COVID-19 was a big part of that, and there was no escaping since everything was closed and I had to work from home.

On June 27, folks said goodbye to a Roanoke Valley legend, a man of the cloth — the Rev. Pius Wekesa.

I have loved to sing since I was a small child — with the radio, a tape, along with an album, on family trips driving my family crazy — any chance I have, I sing.

Here it is, the 21st Father’s Day without my dad, Charles Allen Bedwell.

Sunday I enjoyed some much-needed one-on-one time fishing with my fiance on Roanoke Rapids Lake.

Two slices of soft Nature’s Own White Wheat bread, a banana and Duke’s Real Mayonnaise makes for a perfect sandwich.

On Jan. 7, I celebrated 32 years of being employed with The Daily Herald.

Music never fails to make me happy. The weather has been pretty the last few days — not too hot and not too cold.

I recently got back from visiting Nags Head for just a few days with my fiance.

Pets bring such joy into our lives. My loves — Sampson and Galax — make me smile on a daily basis.

Editor Tia Bedwell can be reached at tiabedwell@rrdailyherald.com or 252-410-7056.