Mailbag - June 2025

SOFA TIME Grandsons Eli and Faires Weber help pass the time as Cindy Gabriel counts the days until surgery. (Photo: Julia Weber)

Surgery support through Cindy’s stories 

I feel so very lucky! When we discovered that Cindy Gabriel had the very same surgery [for hyperparathyroidism] that I scheduled with the very same wonderful Dr. Helmi Khadra, and that she shared her story with readers, she further helped to guide me through the process!

When my surgery had to be delayed after a small glitch, due to my anemia, once again, Cindy was so supportive and thoughtful! I approached my upcoming surgery with a very positive feeling. My outcome was successful, and my healing process continues in a very positive direction.

Once again, I must say how lucky I am to have read Cindy’s two wonderful articles about her journey [A Diagnosis: Can be a good thing, Nov. 2024 and Life After Surgery: Cindy Gabriel gives an update, Dec. 2024] and that The Buzz offered me, and my family, that opportunity.   

Shellie Lewis

Editor’s note: Shellie, we’re so glad to hear these articles were helpful and that you connected with Cindy before your surgery and during your recovery. 

Importance of imagination 

Regarding the article The Power of Fairy Tales: They aren’t just for children [by Cindy Gabriel, April 2025] I must say – thank you for a timely and meaningful life lesson. The reminder that “Imagination is more important than knowledge,” as attributed to Albert Einstein, could not be more relevant. 

Imagination fuels humanity’s creativity, helping people invent, write, build, and solve problems in unique and transformative ways. It also nurtures empathy, allowing us to envision life through someone else’s eyes – an essential part of being human.

I needed reminding that imagination is what makes learning more engaging, connecting moral truth to real-world understanding. It encourages curiosity and open-mindedness, bringing to mind the quote often linked to Walt Whitman (and revived by Ted Lasso): “Be curious, not judgmental.” 

In a world that often prioritizes as well has confuses facts and figures, it’s good to be reminded that wonder still matters.

Clover Bailey

Never forget 

I want to compliment you on the article, Lest We Forget: A Holocaust survivor’s mission [by Cathy Gordon, April 2025]. I found it to be so inspiring. It is important that the horrid things that happened under the Nazis never be forgotten lest we fall victim to something similar. May her testimony [Ruth Steinfeld] be spread far and wide. Thank you for sharing her story!

Marsha Hunter Smith 

A happy place 

Spectacular! Thanks for such a well-written article [Bear’s Garden: Cultivating a new generation of gardeners by Andria Dilling, May 2025]. Through her interviews, and the article Andria wrote, she truly captured the essence of Bear’s Garden as Haran’s “happy place.” It brings such joy to share it with our grandchildren and others. It is incredible how widespread your readership is. We have received such positive feedback and magazine copies from West U, Tanglewood/River Oaks, friends from out-of-town, and of course, Bellaire! Our okra list has expanded, so hopefully it’s a bountiful harvest this year. 

Cheryl Levy 

Houstonians in Portugal

Tracy [Barnett], that was an excellent article on Portugal in the April edition of The Buzz [From Houston to Portugal: A Love Affair with Culture, Cuisine, and Coastline, April 2025 Travel Buzz]! Lots of great info! Adding it to your other article from the Silvas [Exploring family heritage in Portugal, Oct. 2022 Travel Buzz]! If I have anything new to add when I visit Portugal in September, I will let you know but I think you have really covered Portugal!

Risé Johns

Editor’s note: For more, also see our April 2025 Wedding Buzz column including the Bijlanis, who married in Portugal.

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