Editor’s Note

Heroics are often associated with a singular response in a moment of crisis, but what about a whole world in the aftermath of war? What do you call the thousands who answer the call?

My very first note as editor of the precursor of this magazine was for the May issue, back in 1993. Naturally, I took advantage of the column to sneak in a quick “Happy Mother’s Day” to my mom.

I borrowed the above title from a quotation cited by one of this year’s top doctors; mostly because I love big, useful and obscure words, but it also sums up so much in this issue.

My first foray into editing was a high school underground newspaper, cryptically titled The Shibboleth. It was intended to be revolutionary, but it included fashion notes.

With films like “The Secret Life of Pets” and “A Dog’s Purpose,” it’s easy to imagine that family pets have their own stories to tell. But it wasn’t always so.

I first met John Harrigan in 1989, which probably seems like a long time ago to anyone under 50. To me, it seems like yesterday afternoon.

In this age of storage units and overpacked garages, the “attic” has become a cartoon cliché. But real attics hold more than just stuff.

“Pam Smart?” replied my young friend. “I know the name, but I don’t know why.” It took only a few words to freshen his memory.

Most geographic boundaries are only visible on maps, but we still benefit from examining them up close and personally.

New Hampshire Magazine Editor Rick Broussard reflects on the passing of Van McLeod.