Terri Rimmer

By Terri Rimmer My friend has panic attacks at work sometimes from the stress of her job. Another one has them from working with her boss. I consider myself lucky to have not had one in a few years, from what I can recall. But I still remember what they feel like. Now there is a self-help site dedicated to anxiety and phobias – anxietycoach.com. According to the site everybody experiences anxiety periodically also called “anxiety disorders.” According to Dr. Carbonell these are the most treatable of the psychological problems. “These problems do have solutions,” he said. “On the site you can get basic information about anxiety disorders and identify the particular problems you face, develop a plan and begin working at it.” Once you’ve completed the work suggested in” First Steps” on the website you can read various self-help articles about different disorders there. They consist of practical understandings, suggestions, and techniques that Carbonell and his colleagues, use with clients...

By Terri Rimmer It was eight years ago that Madonna Coffman decided to take her loss and give others hope. When she was in her 20s she developed a condition called Alopecia, a hair loss disease after receiving a hepatitis vaccination. A retired cardiac nurse, Coffman decided to start Locks of Love (locksoflove.com) where people could donate ten inches or more of their own hair for financially disadvantaged kids who had lost their hair due to the same condition. For a long time Coffman’s garage was full of mail and donated locks of hair. The number of hairpieces has grown significantly since the organization’s inception in Dec. 1997. Locks of Love is a non-profit organization helping children ten years old and younger who suffer from hair loss conditions who cannot afford wigs or hairpieces. Unlike some pieces, the locks do not require tape or glue but are custom-fitted for each head. Many sponsors have come forward through the years to help, like Fantastic Sam’s Hair Salon and Glamour ...

Rest in peace, T.C.

By Terri Rimmer Gachman Metals and Recycling Company in Fort Worth, TX has raised $10,000, over half of what they strived to collect from employees and the general public for Hurricane Katrina victims. The family owned business started a donation drive for food, clothes, and monetary contributions to the Tarrant Area Food Bank for victims of the hurricane on Sept. 3rd. Since 1913 Gachman has built a reputation of reliability and service, meeting customers’ needs. Adding to the company’s slogan of “conserving resources through recycling” the company has been a leader in addressing environmental safety issues including air and water pollution. The company is one of the largest scrap metal recycling companies in the city conserving natural resources and a leader in the metroplex. Based on a 14-acre site Gachman processes all types of scrap metals from low-grade to space age titanium. Most small suppliers deliver their materials to Gachman’s processing facility where the purchased scrap is...

See whitespace-creative.com

August 2004 Dear McKenna: I've been debating what to write for your annual birthday letter wanting to give you bright, happy thoughts. I can't believe you're going to be four years old on the 15th. It seems like only a blink away I saw you swaddled in white in the hospital. I'm so glad you have such a great family inVicki and Larry. Vicki loves you so much and sends me emails all the time about how you're doing. Larry taped your first dance recital recently which I can't wait to see. They tell me you're having your party at the water park that you love. I know you'll have a blast. In my usual tradition I'll be releasing the balloons at the park where we had Placement - four of them this year. I'll watch them float up to the sky and again wish you a happy birthday as the balloons climb higher and higher into the clouds. My once deep sorrow has now turned into heartfelt happiness knowing that you enjoy a new, good life each day with your adoptive p...

By Terri Rimmer When it comes to dressing up for Halloween, aim for the unique and original and let your mind wander at all the possibilities. Jot down ideas, brainstorm, write whatever comes to mind, no matter how silly or out or reach it seems at the time. If you’re strapped for cash and can’t afford to rent a costume, try these ideas: 1. Take large poster board big enough to cover your from the neck to your toes and write the word Crayola on it. Decorate it like a Crayola crayon would look like. Carry a coloring book for an extra touch if you want. I actually dressed up as this in college. 2. Go as a mixed up kid. On one side of your body, dress in one color with one pigtail, a different shoe that doesn’t match your other foot, different color socks, makeup on one side of your face, half of one shirt and the other half not matching; etc. 3. Go as a Blue Plate Special. Dress all in blue, tape a plastic blue plate to your chest with the words “Blue Plate Special” typed on a sheet of p...

By Terri Rimmer When decorating for the holidays it’s easy to get caught up in thinking that you have to have the next big thing. But, with a little planning and creativity, you can make your home look as beautiful as a picture in a magazine, and maybe even more so. Here’s some tips for making your house gorgeous for little or no money: 1. Use cotton balls on the tree branch tips. 2. Use costume jewelry necklaces you might own for garland 3. Scour yard sales and curbs for after yard sale throwaways for Christmas items. I have found boxes and boxes of stuff through the years that people get rid of. 4. If you can’t afford a tree and you have a Fica Tree, decorate it as you would a tree but lay off the heavy bulbs. 5. Use Christmas dish towels to put on the back of your toilet to cover the toilet tank. 6. Use Chinese restaurant miniature parasols you might get when going out to eat to snuggle in the branches of the tree. 7. Hang your Christmas cards received on a clothesline going across ...

“How My Cat Taught Me About A Higher Power” By Cindy Persico Like most of us I struggle with the concept of “Higher Power” or H.P. and my understanding has grown thankfully over the years that on most days I can feel centered and well-cared for by this Higher Power thanks to Alanon. That isn’t always the case. In 2003 my brother-in-law was killed in a car accident. Watching my sister, Joy, struggle with her grief has been particularly painful and has called into question again how to make sense out of things that seem so senseless. What good can come from this? Hello, God, Are you still there? Will you take care of Joy? She’s so scared and sure this isn’t what should be happening at all. One day I had to take Eunice, my cat, to the vet. She shivered, and shook, and cried, certain this couldn’t possibly be what should be happening at all. I reassured her as best I could; yet again had a flash that this is exactly how life feels sometimes. I’m sure that whatever is happening is all wrong...

For more of my articles, go to happynews.com, type in my name in the search bar on the site at the top of the screen and my articles will come up.

Terri Rimmer has 42 years of journalism experience, having worked for ten newspapers and some magazines. In 2003 her life story was published online at Adoption Week E-Magazine's website and in 2002 she received a grant from the PEN American Writer's Fund in New York City. In 2001 her adoption journal was published online at adoption.about.com. She also has experience in public relations and in 1987 earned a journalism scholarship while attending West Georgia College as a Mass Communications major. As a student there she worked her way up from beat reporter/typesetter to staff writer to assistant news editor to editor within a four-year period. A native of Georgia, she resides in Fort Worth, Texas.

By Terri Rimmer Born into an alcoholic family as the youngest of four girls I had no idea of the abuse that would come to torment my life for 14 years. Both my mother and father were harsh abusers, my father sexually, my mom physically. How can a young girl possibly grow into a health adolescent when what she knows about life is taught by the hands of a sick man and mother intent to poison? I may not ever understand, but perhaps that is my journey. I always knew I wanted to be a writer when in the third grade I got an A plus on a short story I wrote. I loved it and wrote every chance I got at my dadÂ’s encouragement and the feeling and dream reverberated in my soul, refusing to leave me ever. When I was 8 I was devastated to learn of my parents divorcing and to add insult to injury my mom left my sisters and me with our dad. My older sister, Cindy became my hero. She fluffed my pajamas in the dryer before bed, sewed my Girl Scout badges on my uniform, comforted me when the ...

I have a new e book out on booklocker.com called "MacKenzie's Hope" under the family section. It's also listed on adopting.com. I also have written a foster care article on poewar.com called "The Teachers" under the "Off Topics" heading (top right hand corner of screen once you pull poewar.com site up).

By Terri Rimmer I miss the drive-in. You remember, those huge outdoor theatres where your dad lifted a heavy box into the driver's window and Hollywood came to life while people milled around outside? I can picture my daughter's face one day scrunched up in confusion when I try to describe the magic that was this experience. From the time I was in elementary school I was taken to movies, my first drive-in movies being "The Godfather" and "Walking Tall" with a family I was staying with while my parents were on vacation. I remember being scared of some of the loud noises in those particular movies and being homesick. To remedy this, the wife of the family took me to the concession stand and bought me something. I fell asleep later in the back with her kids, the seat of their station wagon folded down for comfort. When my sisters and I would go to the indoor movies sometimes we'd skip around and watch different films, something you can't get away with n...

By Terri Rimmer From the time I was a kid, music has been a focal point to what was going on in my life, serving as a backdrop against an array of experiences, good and bad, often healing, sometimes bringing up tears of happiness. I can still remember songs that were popular when I was just three years old, each one reminding me of a past I used to live like the song about going round in circles that played over the sound system when our family went to Six Flags. Another similar one flashes me back to a little boy in a stroller at the amusement park who I saw when I first heard a song. When I was born in 1966 famous groups were The Birds, The Beatles, The Monkees, and other trios like them. It marked a time of innocence, experimentation and, later Woodstock. I don't remember The Doors in their heyday, though now I'm a big fan, always feeling like I was born in the wrong time period, a true hippie at heart. I do recall my older sister Debbie blasting loud rock music from our ste...

By Terri Rimmer They told me it was a nice place, that there were Shetland ponies and lots of room. That it'd be like a private school dorm, there would be people my age, lots of activities, and I'd like it there. I don't remember if they told me the name ahead of time but I remember the huge sign that read Elks-Aidmore Children's Home in fancy blue scroll against a white backdrop with uncut grass behind it as we rounded the curve. There were individual little "houses" (cottages) divided between gender and age, a tennis court, game room, administration building, pool, trails, and lots of room to walk. It was owned by the local Elks Lodge and a large, booming man named Milton oversaw the large staff who supervised us for better or worse. There was Ron, a handsome staffer, later accused of child molestation, Ginger, who had cerebral palsy, Maxine, a twenty-something with long, flowing curly hair but the others I can't remember. One time one of the teenage re...

By Terri Rimmer Two months before my sixteenth birthday my mom placed me in a juvenile delinquent home for girls which was housed in a private home in a regular neighborhood. There were five other girls besides me, all with histories of behavior problems or their parents simply didn't want them. The house was made of cedar wood and giant Brown Recluse spiders used to hang out in the rafters which I found out later much to my horror. One crazy roommate I had thought it'd be cute once to put one of these creatures on my bed. The first time I met the residents and staff before moving in, my mom and I were given a tour of the two-story home which included six bedrooms, three bathrooms, a rec room, dining area, big backyard, garage, small kitchen, and living room. The girls complimented me on my hair and I tried to act all tough like they were but I was scared inside and I didn't belong in this place, either. I has just sabotaged my second foster home placement with a couple in ...

By Terri Rimmer After many placements back and and forth between my mom and dad and various other places, I continued with my third foster home in the summer of 1983. I had just wrapped up a three-week stint with my dad who was getting ready to buy me birth control pills so he could have sex with me finally when I called my sister Cindy and she rescued me from his sick clutches once again. This time we sat in the lobby of the Department of Family and Children's Services (DEFACS) awaiting our turn to speak with a social worker. She ushered us in professionally and told us about my soon to be new foster parent, Doris Strickland. Mrs. Strickland and her husband Bill had been foster parents for many years, had grown kids and grandkids, lived out in the country, and had several foster children living with them. Bill would soon be retiring from a trade profession and Doris never worked outside the home. "They're on their way to come get you now," the social worker told me a...