Tom Vartabedian
Country Stores Evoke a Touch of Americana
I share an affinity with country stores, no matter where I may find them. Just as I would brake for yard sales in the midst of nowhere, I would do the same for a country […]
Tom Vartabedian
Tom Vartabedian
Squirrel Invasion Is Driving Me Nuts
How’s my summer going, you may ask? Rather nutty at the moment, gasp! Thanks to the squirrel population at my lake home, I’m spending my spare time warding off the predators instead of feeding the […]
Tom Vartabedian
Bob Semonian Was the Ultimate Tipster!
People often ask me where I get my ideas for stories. Most of them are self-initiated and spontaneous. They come to me during periods of insomnia. They hatch like chicken eggs when I’m in deep […]
Tom Vartabedian
A Child’s Understanding of Cancer
June 8, 2016 “What’s cancer, grandpa?” “An illness, buddy. It’s when you’re sick and trying to get better.” “Do you have cancer?” The voice belonged to a 7-year-old child so near and dear to me. […]
Tom Vartabedian
Immigrants Bolster Our Communities
God bless the American dream! As you may know, America is a land of immigrants where refugees can build and develop a lifestyle that suits their very needs. My parents took advantage of the many […]
Tom Vartabedian
Outdated Cameras Find a New Home
A piece of my valued lifestyle has wound up in the best of hands. Remember my dilemma about what to do with my camera collection gathering dust in the basement? After months, really years, they’ve […]
Tom Vartabedian
Team Ararat Displays its Historic Pride
Inside an arena of heartache and recovery, one team stood out during the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in my hometown. Team ARARAT. It’s a team I was able to put together in a […]
Tom Vartabedian
The Magnetic Appeal of Anna Yeshilian
Anna Yeshilian is one of those magnetic women who, upon first introduction, stays with you and refuses to leave. If you’re lucky enough to run across her some day at the Armenian Museum of America—or […]
Tom Vartabedian
Chef’s Night Spirit Spills Over
Fate often works in strange ways. One night, I find myself hobnobbing with a crowd of 300 at a hotel, delirious from Boston traffic. The next afternoon, here I am, sitting quietly by a genocide […]
Tom Vartabedian
Guidance, Support from a Knowing Community
Susan is like a second daughter to me. I taught her religious education and Armenian studies. I was there when she graduated high school and college. I watched her get married and raise a family. […]