CARRY ON
My first memory is of my father. It was a little over a month before my third birthday. He woke me in the middle of the night, with an air of hushed excitement, and carried me across the street to…
HOPING MECHANISM
“I hope so.” Too often, this phrase lands for me as terribly limp and feeble. It may contain a modicum of positivity, but only the most meager portion — a glimmer, a sliver... “I hope so,” tends to convey too…
LET US LISTEN AND LEARN
I know that a lot of people, myself included, are unsure about the best ways to participate and contribute to the work of healing and restorative justice right now. As a white guy, I’m trying to check my urge to…
VERACITY VORACITY
Fact-checking is not a violation of anyone’s first amendment rights. The President of the United States shouldn’t be allowed to lie with impunity. White people, wealthy people, male people, straight people, people enjoying any position of privilege and power should…
PRETTY GOOD GRAVITY
A dream that I had about 5 years ago came back this week, at least part of it, the idea of it. There might have been a few differences, but I woke up with this same phrase in my head…
FRAYED KNOT
A couple of years ago I placed a mail order for amaryllis bulbs for a New Year’s ritual at Bosque CSL. I was a little late ordering and they didn’t arrive in time for our service, so Travis found a…
NEIGHBORLY
I finally watched Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, a 2018 documentary about Fred Rogers. It was beautiful and touching, and it made me cry. I’ve also been listening to an delightful podcast, Dolly Parton’s America, which goes in surprising and…
FACE VALUE
Our values are shifting, individually and collectively. We have an opportunity to consider what’s most important to us. Maybe we’re being invited to change our minds about some of it. The first frantic rush to stock our pantries turned shopping…
THE BALLAD OF BOBBY BUTTERNUTS
My solitary rumination has led me into some surprising associations these days, letting my mind wander into old memories as I take long walks or reorganize the junk drawers. A few weeks ago, for the first time in my life,…
TRYING MY PATIENCE
Wow, time is moving in some weird ways. The activities in which we were all participating before social distancing seem like forever ago. Some of these days now at home seem interminable; others fly by. Regarding when we might be…