Thought

For some reason that I will never, ever, ever understand, “The Little Drummer Boy” shows up on a lot of lists of “most hated Christmas songs.”   First, I've just gotta say that that’s a pretty crummy list to have,…

I looked up the origin of the phrase “true blue.”  Some say it refers to the endless blue sky above us, the blue yonder.  Others suggest that it might have had something to do with the purity of noble lineage,…

Lighting a menorah for the eight nights of Hanukkah has been part of our home’s holiday tradition for years. Today, as I write this, I’m looking forward to the first candle tonight. Travis and I will read traditional prayers in…

My seasonal playlist has been on loud and constant for about a week now.  I've been feeling the Auntie Mame admonishment, “We need a little Christmas, right this very minute.”  So Travis and I have decked the halls and put…

Thomas Merton wrote, “Those who are not thankful soon begin to complain of everything.” What a hopeful expectation for human being. I really love that he takes thankfulness for granted as our usual state. Complaint is an aberrant condition into…

Holy moly, the ups and downs have been dizzying. One moment, I’ve got tears streaming down my face because I’m so relieved, and it seems like we’re rounding the corner back toward democracy and basic decency. Hooray! Then I remember…

Gah! My well-honed process for crafting weekly blogs and talks got totally upended this week. Usually, I pick an idea and jot a few rough notes on Monday, let it simmer and bubble on Tuesday and Wednesday (maybe adding some…

On one of our recent Zoom calls, we were talking about how much we all miss being “up close and personal.” Of course we do. It’s been an upheaving damned year in a lot of ways, and restrictions on how…

At the start of our online ballet-afrique dance class a couple of weeks ago, my brilliant and magical friend Romy shared that there had been a raccoon scare around their chicken coop the night before. When she heard the commotion…

A friend and I were talking politics.  Because even though just about every conversation with almost everyone in my life these days begins with “Let’s not talk about politics,” inevitably we can’t help ourselves and fall headfirst into it anyway.…