Testing our mettle

Strange things have been happening over the past week. Mostly good stuff, though, for a change. Take the U.S. Supreme Court ruling last Friday. How refreshing it was to see a megalomaniac in the White House slapped back by a conservative Supreme Court. And to finally hear the highest court in the land declare, “No, you can’t do that!” I’m referring to the justices’ 6-3 ruling that imposing sweeping global tariffs on nearly every U.S. trading partner exceed the president’s powers under federal law. At long last, according to New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, “it was especially refreshing that the Supreme Court … suddenly found a spine.” How’s that State of the Union address rewrite going? Might need to overnight more Sharpies from Amazon. Red ones. OK, I’ll stop.

But according to Serafina Abrams, my very smart friend who is also a Detroit-based astrologer, this change for the better may be related to the Neptune-Saturn conjunction in Aries, the most powerful aspect of which is occurring as we speak. But its greatest impact, she believes, will be on us as individuals, and to groups, governments and social policies that have a direct impact on our lives.

I have no idea what I just typed, but I sure hope she’s right.

If you’d like to learn more about your birth chart, energy healing or schedule a reading, check out her website, Astrological Healing with Serafina Abrams: https://www.serafinaabrams.com

Another friend of mine asked her astrologer about this as well. Here’s what she said: “The old dream dissolves. A new fire is lit.”

From your lips to the age of Aquarius, sister. Beats Mercury in retrograde any day of the week.

More good news came to us over the past two weeks from my mother’s native Northern Italy. Team USA delivered the goods with one of the most dominant performances in Olympic Winter Games history, capturing a record-setting 12 gold medals. Bravissimo!

From Breezy Johnson in downhill skiing to Jordan Stolz in speed skating and Alysa Liu in figure skating, it was a lesson in unity, resilience and redemption. Competitive sport at its finest. Playing your heart out for your country and leaving behind a legacy.

Not to mention, both the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams won gold medals, refusing to crack under tremendous pressure and momentum swings.

To recap, and because I actually miss sports writing: The women’s team defeated Canada in overtime, 2-1. Megan Keller scored on a backhand 4:07 into OT. Truly magnificent.

The last time the men’s ice hockey team won gold was February 22, 1980 — exactly to the day of their 2026 victory, 46 years later. (See the classic 1981 made-for-TV docudrama “Miracle on Ice” for the story of the underdog 1980 Olympic hockey team’s victory over the then-Soviet Union. It uses actual game footage and original commentary.)

The men’s final was early Sunday morning against arch rival Canada – and some of their own NHL teammates. It was so intense that we had to stifle our cheers so as not to wake the neighbors.

And then, just 1:41 into overtime, a newly toothless Jack Hughes buried the game-winning goal to win the gold, 2-1. It was an unforgettable triumph.

For the men’s team, there was only one National Hockey League player from our beloved Detroit Red Wings on the roster: captain Dylan Larkin, the Wings’ star forward who led them to victory.

Fun hometown fact: The four guys on the ice when Team USA scored the game-winning OT goal all have called Michigan home:

• Goalie Connor Hellebuyck of Commerce Township.
• Hughes of Canton, who scored the winning goal. (His brother Quinn Hughes also played on the U.S. team.)
• Larkin of Waterford Township.
• Zack Werenski of Grosse Pointe Woods.

Honestly, I do enjoy watching NHL games on occasion, but not nearly as much as I did when I was a kid growing up on Detroit’s East Side.

(Full disclosure: We just finished the steamy Canadian romance “Heated Rivalry,” streaming on Hulu/HBOMax. Based on the Game Changers novel series by Rachel Reid, it’s about two rival professional ice hockey players who have a secret relationship that grows into a complex love story. Perhaps that’s why hockey’s been on my mind. Or because my glasses are still steamed up.)

Back in the 1980s, the Detroit Red Wings had a talented center named Henry Boucha (pronounced “boo-SHAY”), known for his trademark headband and speed on the ice. In 1971, he was voted Detroit’s Rookie of the Year.

As a young sports fan, I recall having a crush on Henry. So much so, that I created a papier-mache version of him for my sixth-grade art class project at Goodale Elementary School. Likely got an A-plus. Wish I’d saved it.

My fascination with hockey doesn’t end there, of course. In the summer, we used to play on neighborhood streets and driveways whacking tennis balls and using actual hockey pucks on makeshift ice rinks in winter. Boys, girls, it didn’t matter. Such a blast.

“She shoots … she scores!” And the crowd goes wild.

We all played well with others. Imagine that.

In a loosely related story, I’ll never forget the time my parents treated me to a fancy dinner out at Carl’s Chophouse, a legendary steakhouse on Grand River Avenue in Detroit. Anyway, while sitting at our table, who does my dad see seated in the dining room? Two Detroit Red Wing Hall of Fame greats: Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio.

With some encouragement, painfully shy me walked over to their table and politely asked for an autograph. I think they scrawled them on a napkin. Really wish I’d saved that.

A three-time Stanley Cup champion, Delvecchio passed away on July 1, 2025. He was 93.

Howe, known as “Mr. Hockey,” died in 2016 at 88. He’s often considered one of the greatest players of all time. All of his NHL records stood until they were broken by … Wayne Gretzky.

There’s a new bridge to Canada from Detroit being built bearing Howe’s name: the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Nearly completed, the bridge is expected to open to traffic sometime this year.

(Aside: Canada paid for most of it, but the state of Michigan is a key partner and shares ownership. If you choose to cross a bridge when you come to it, please use Gordie’s, not the old Ambassador Bridge owned by Matthew Moroun and family.)

That about sums up my brush with NHL fame. Other than the time a hockey puck flew right between my mother and me at a Red Wings’ game in the 1970s. True story.

A miracle on ice indeed.

(YouTube video: For your musical and viewing pleasure, here’s a TV commercial that ran during the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. I’m not a fan of Comcast or Xfinity anything, but this time they did a fine job of capturing the true spirit of sports featuring regular folks, along with Spike Lee, Snoop Dog, Martha Stewart and a familiar 1975 song by Captain & Tennille. “For two weeks, we’re all on the same team.” A noble sentiment. With any luck, love will keep us together. Enjoy.)