Sometimes, you can go home again—or, at least, return to an adopted state you grew to love. When I left Delaware seven years ago, I really wasn’t expecting to come back, though I’d had a great time working at The News Journal and living in Old New Castle. But a job at Baltimore magazine as a senior editor lured me away, as well as a chance to reconnect with my hometown. I had no idea, though, how drastically my life would change.
At the time, I was a happily single woman, excited to enter the world of magazines, meet new people and find old friends. All was well for many months until a beautiful summer day when my life came to a screeching halt. I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Once my doctor assured me that, yes, I would die someday but probably not from that, I did what I needed to do, including many rounds of chemo. I continued to work and heal.
As I celebrate being cancer free for five years this month, I’m delighted with my good fortune in becoming the executive editor at Delaware Today and its sister publication, Main Line Today. But it wasn’t the position or recovery that brought me back across the state line. Along the way, I met a Delaware guy in Baltimore.
We married last year, bought a house in New Castle County since he is a teacher here and continued our lives with his 12-year-old son, while I commuted to Baltimore, not knowing that life once again was going to send me in a different direction—here. My new job has brought me full circle as I get to work with a team of talented writers and editors I’ve admired for years.
In our September issue, staff writer Mark Nardone delves into the local arts scene, giving a shout out to several movers and shakers who are bringing attention to Delaware, while managing editor Drew Ostroski looks at boxing promoter Dave Tiberi and a promising top welterweight.
Our beach guide will remind readers that there is plenty to do at the coastal towns in the fall—from restorative spa days and new restaurants to quaint B&B overnights. We also take a peek inside the much-talked-about Dogfish Inn and Hyatt Place Dewey Beach.
And as the boys of summer—OK, maybe not our boys—gear up for the post-season playoffs, we revisit the historic collapse of the 1964 Phillies on its 50th anniversary. Lewes native and pitcher Chris Short was on the team that crumbled.
One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about reacquainting myself with the state is visiting old haunts. Brandywine Zoo may not have all the bells and whistles of bigger attractions, but it’s a tiny gem, waiting to be discovered. With the recent addition of the two adorable red pandas, we sent photographer Jared Castaldi to get some up-close-and-personal shots of the animals. He shared that the “sloth was friendly, the tiger not so much.” He persevered. You’ll be captivated by his photos.
Over the next months, I’m looking forward to adding my imprint to the magazine. I arrived just in time to help with last month’s crab-cake feature, a fitting entrée for someone who grew up eating steamed crabs in my family’s backyard and then picking the remains for the prized patties. (Every self-respecting Marylander has a crab-cake recipe!)
Now, it’s time to make new memories. Change can be good.
