Barbara Herel Archives

A Story About Falling Out of a Car
A Story About Falling Out of a Car

A Story About Falling Out of a Car

By Every Family's Got One Founder -- Barbara Herel I remember falling out of a car. It is a slow-moving car on a busy thoroughfare. Somehow the passenger door opens and I can feel myself falling out of the car, head first, in slow-motion. For most of my life, I’ve had this reoccurring dream. Now, I don’t remember... ever falling out of a car as a child. There is no family lore. No charmingly hilarious story about the time Barbara fell out of a car and landed on top of her head on, say, Stuart Avenue. But I’ve had this car [...]

Every Family's Got One2019-11-18T11:37:19-05:00March 20, 2019|7 Comments

A Story About Finding My Best Friend
A Story About Finding My Best Friend

A Story About Finding My Best Friend

By Every Family's Got One Founder -- Barbara Herel The dismissal bell sounded and the hallway instantaneously filled with the sights, smells, and the carryings-on of the cool, sort-of-cool, and not-so-cool tweens and teens of junior high. Hence the “smells.” (My 13-year-old self landed squarely in the middle of “sort-of” and I’m fairly certain I smelled AOK for the most part. My worst offense being: a heavy hand with the Jean Nate After Bath Splash.) That’s when I saw her walking my way… Green-ribbed turtleneck, short sleeves Black and green plaid bell-bottomed pants Blue eyes The blondiest of [...]

Every Family's Got One2019-11-18T11:38:33-05:00February 19, 2019|10 Comments

A Story About Confession and Being Catholic
A Story About Confession and Being Catholic

A Story About Confession and Being Catholic

Every Family's Got One 2018 Cast Video -- Barbara Herel Photo by ebeth photography Confession. Going to confession and fessing up to a priest... is there anything more terrifying to a 13-year-old Catholic girl? Just ask Barbara. She'll tell you. You might be aware that Barbara Herel is a middle child from a loud, boisterous Long Island family. But did you know she also grew up as a nice Catholic girl going to Catechism classes and Sunday folk mass? Yes, the sacred life was good for Barbara. Until this happened to her during... confession. Here’s Barbara to explain [...]

Every Family's Got One2019-11-18T11:33:42-05:00February 6, 2019|4 Comments

A Story About Gratitude
A Story About Gratitude

A Story About Gratitude

By Every Family's Got One Founder -- Barbara Herel Photo by ebeth photography We are filled with gratitude! From casting to opening night, and everything in-between, Kathy and I couldn’t have dreamed up a better storytelling evening for all. And believe us, we were dreaming BIG. Our Cast… Was splendid in every way possible. Right from the very first rehearsal, which actually felt more like a well-honed writer’s workshop, you could feel the bond between castmates. (Our brains are still going through the glorious details of each performance, and our hearts… well, our hearts haven’t stopped overflowing with [...]

Every Family's Got One2019-11-18T11:31:11-05:00November 21, 2018|Comments Off

A Story About Betty’s Superpower
A Story About Betty’s Superpower

A Story About Betty’s Superpower

By Every Family's Got One Founder -- Barbara Herel My mom, Betty, is five-foot-one and is armed with a superpower: the ability to make any situation – no matter how strange or overwhelming – Better. Like the time my 9-year-old niece was summoning spirits with the Ouji board. “Are there any spirits who want to speak to us?” my niece asked. Then the mystical indicator... began spelling out the names of her dead dogs (all on its own mind you). My niece burst into tears. I didn’t know what to say, but apparently, my mom did – “Isn’t it wonderful that [...]

Every Family's Got One2019-11-18T11:40:53-05:00October 17, 2018|4 Comments

A Story About Food Shopping
A Story About Food Shopping

A Story About Food Shopping

By Every Family's Got One Founder -- Barbara Herel We called it Food Shopping. Not “shopping for groceries” or “going to the grocery store.” It was Food Shopping. And it wasn’t for the faint of heart. My dad, my two brothers and I went Food Shopping every two weeks. My mom worked evenings at EAB (European American Bank, now Citibank) and was lucky enough to miss out on the happening. She and Dad passed the parenting baton precisely at 4:30 PM – when he walked through the door after work and she walked out. [Once when Dad was late, Mom [...]

Every Family's Got One2019-11-18T12:25:10-05:00June 20, 2018|3 Comments