Mailbag - April 2024

OLYMPICS BOUND Kelsey Bing, who plays goalkeeper for the US Women’s National field hockey team, won player of the match following the team’s opening game against India at the Olympic qualifiers in January. (Photo: USA Field Hockey/World Sport Pics)

From a proud grandmother 

I'm so proud of Kelsey’s exceptional skills and determination to stay in shape and progress as the goalie she has become [Going for Gold: Kelsey Bing’s journey to the Olympics by Pooja Salhotra, March 2024]. It’s been very exciting to tell my friends and neighbors that she is going to the Olympics in Paris. People I haven’t talked to in a long time have called to congratulate me for having a granddaughter who will be in the Olympics.

Kelsey's engineering job plus all of the field hockey training, traveling, and games is an amazing accomplishment. I’m so happy that through all of this work and dedication, the Olympic trip will make her dream come true.

Alice Bing

Importance of the arts 

I wanted to express my gratitude for the work you are doing highlighting the amazing student artists in the Houston area. Works of Rodeo Art [by Karen Vine Fuller, March 2024] was such a great read. I was so thankful that one of my students from Second Baptist School, Lucy Brown, was able to win a gold medal as an 8th grade student with her work Cows Galore. Art is so important in our society and I hope that more people begin to see how much talent the city of Houston has to offer. Let us never forget, you can’t be smart without art.

Kevin Gamas, Second Baptist School

Celebrating celebrations 

Great story about the group of friends from Bellaire getting together for a celebration of six decades of life [Travel Buzz: The Bellaire Birthday Boys go to Sea by Tracy L. Barnett, March 2024]. Fun reading something positive.

Kelly Frels 

Story will be forever cherished 

I can’t begin to express how touched Steve [Palmer] and I were by the beautiful story you did on us [Forever Valentines: Love and laughs, 51 years later by Cathy Gordon, Feb. 2024]. Although I must admit I originally thought it was going to be a short blurb among a group of other love stories, we had so much fun reliving 50+ years of memories with your warm and engaging writer, Cathy Gordon. Within minutes of meeting her, we felt like we had known her our entire lives and found ourselves spilling out unfiltered details in response to her insightful questions. What a gift she has with words! 

We were humbled and honored to be chosen for this story. However, with a few changes of details and names, it could have been written about so many we know who have also been blessed with a good partner, a good marriage, and a bit of good fortune. The couples featured in Meet Cutes [by Pooja Salhotra, Feb. 2024] stole our hearts with their own unique and precious stories. Many thanks to the Buzz dream team: Cathy for capturing us so perfectly, photographer Nikky LaWell for making a dreaded photo shoot effortless and joyful, and the second-to-none editorial staff, Joni Hoffman, Jordan Magaziner, and Caroline Siegfried for the privilege of being included in your Forever Valentines’ issue. 

Donna Palmer

Spreading hope

The silver lining in my double hip replacement comeback story [Beating the Odds: From recovery to marathon training by Pooja Salhotra, Feb. 2024] is that I’ve been given the privilege to help others who are suffering with congenital hip dysplasia and arthritis. After the Buzz issue came out, I received a handful of messages from people in the community who are suffering from hip dysplasia and/or arthritis. Being able to show others that life isn’t over with this diagnosis and that there is hope on the other side has been a gift. If I can provide others some of that hope that I was desperately searching for when I was in their shoes, then I feel like I’ve made a difference. Pooja did an incredible job. Not only is she talented and an excellent writer, but she has the ability to make the interview process fun and special. 

Carrie Bradshaw

Inspirational story 

Amazing story [Heart to Heart: Perhaps love is just waiting to be noticed by Cindy Gabriel, Feb. 2024]. It gave me chills. I think you are right: love is the answer. The bully is most often louder than bullied. We will stand together in love.

Diane Beers Gabouer 

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