This article demonstrates the power of one's life in creating motivation to change the status quo. The tradgedy of loss for this women made her determined to educate other women and to become a midwife herself. Very inspiring. There are so many midwives who fight against the establishment to preserve a women's right to birth at home or in a more natural way.
I don't know, Debbie. I think addressing someone on email by their first name followed by a colon (or not) isn't stiff and cold. I think starting an email with no salutation is cold. (Different strokes for different folks, perhaps.)
I think I agree with you, Judy, or at least I appreciate your reflection of different strokes. My sense is that it differs depending on a whole lot of variables, including sender, reader, topic, and so much more. For example, when someone who doesn't know me is asking for something from me, I tend to respond better to an e-mail that begins with "Dear Dr. Creamer" and then is well written and somewhat formal (but not too long). On the other hand, if it's someone I know sending me something like a brief piece of information, simply including my name (at the beginning with, or without, a colon, or in the first line) is more than sufficient. And when it's the introduction to a forwarded message ("Saw this and thought you'd appreciate it") or a quick reminder ("Just to follow up on what I just told you in the hallway, our meeting will be Tuesday at 2"), I wouldn't need (or expect) my name to be there at all. Maybe what I most appreciate from this post, then, is the reminder to be thoughtful about not just what we say but how we say it, particularly in a space like e-mail that can so easily carry misunderstandings.