In the aftermath of Christmas, I have time to appreciate. The hectic nature of a blended family Christmas —  two family dinners, juggling move-ins & move-outs, coordinating presents for the shared grandson,  not to mention travel & the ubiquitous winter viruses — means that Christmas is almost a blur.  Certainly there are moments my grandson…

I was raised by Christians. My next sister is a Christian, my husband a kind of existential Christian. Many of my dearest family (sister-in-law, cousins) are Christian pastors. I love that word: pastor.  From the Old French/ Latin, shepherd of souls. I prefer it to ‘minister,’ which has a top-down connotation to me. I’ve actually read the entire…

This is a time of mourning, for me. Of grieving for another America, one that we seem to have lost touch with in recent months (perhaps years…?). The America my father, my husband, my sisters and so many of my extended family & friends have fought for. The America of the Statue of Liberty, whose…

I am numb from the news. Every day, it seems, we lose more Americans to domestic terrorism. And I will not call the murderous killers of innocent men, women, & children ‘mentally unbalanced.’ To me, killing anyone is a sign of unbalance. Even if it’s in self-defence, the act is not one of balance. It’s one…

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