Erma Bombeck once said she was too old for a paper route, too young for Social Security and too tired for an affair, so she decided to write a weekly column. Just like Erma back in the 60s, I find myself in an in-between season of life. I’ve traded mommy and me music classes for school drop-offs; I’m not sure how to describe my hair color anymore, and the notion of an affair sounds exhausting. I may as well write a column.

Bombeck’s column “At Wit’s End” was syndicated in over 900 newspapers. She shared her perspective on life, from little nothings (my personal favorite) to big somethings, and created a community of readers who found warmth and humor in her sentiments. Bombeck died in 1996, but her words continue to entertain. “Forever, Erma,” a collection of her most beloved work, is a fixture on my nightstand, a touchstone of what I enjoy reading the most: simple, relatable stories. My hope is that you enjoy those kinds of stories too!

I’ve wanted to follow in Bombeck’s footsteps and write a weekly column for years. No better time than now.

My love for “At Wit’s End” and columns like Dear Abby and Ask Ann Landers, as well as personal essays by Nora Ephron, runs deep. They all inspire my new weekly column “Oh My Word,” and its companion “Dear Keri.” I implore you to read, subscribe, and share. Wherever my stories find you, I hope they make you smile.

 Oh my word, what a friendship this will be.

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Have you ever needed advice from an unbiased friend? Of course you have. We all have. That’s the purpose of Dear Keri - friendly advice on anything from the serious to the superficial. I’m an expert on absolutely nothing, but I love to listen, and love to help. We all have problems. Let’s solve them together!