Life’s full of holes. Not all, holy. But reminders that even emptiness is good for something. Take silence, for instance. Music needs rests. Art needs space. But often, we shun silence, empty spaces. We pipe in music. Buy vacant lots to do something, almost…
Life is good, even at my age. Maybe, especially so. I’m in California taking care of GRANDsons, who in high school and middle school are better at taking care of me. I like them. A lot. And their friends. A folding chair or a…
Somewhere I read the secret to a long life is to keep waking up every morning. Well, I’m still here and grateful for every day. But, I seldom leap out of bed. This stage in life lets me linger longer some days. I awake…
Most folks my age have an afghan, probably knit or crocheted by someone in the family long gone. I have two, both made by my Norwegian grandmother. One’s beautiful. The other’s nothing to put on display but it’s my favorite, the last she crocheted.…
A strange directive from Jesus to the twelve disciples, “Don’t take anything with you.”Jesus gave them power and authority to cast out demons and heal all diseases. Then, he added,” Don’t take anything with you, not even a walking stick.” (Luke 9, NLT) The…
Sunday night, the torch passed from Tokyo to Paris. These games presented an unusual mix of solemnity and celebration. Athletes shattered world records inside empty stands. Meanwhile, our world set records for fires, floods, and losses from a pernicious pandemic. Which is why most…
As I age, I’m aware there’s less of it. Time. Reminders lurk in odd places, like at the grocery store. The guy’s T-shirt read,”In dog years I’d be dead!” I laughed, then calculated my age. Fast. Dr. Seuss reflected,” How did it get so…
She sat, like a social conscience, slumped over a battered cardboard sign on the small island separating the entrance in and out of a Saugus strip mall. I thought my biggest challenge was getting out of Trader Joe’s with just the essentials on my…
Just posted UNIFORM LANGUAGE and you’ll notice there are some words about the Salvation Army outside malls,etc. after the piece ends. I doodled and forgot to erase it. So STOP reading after “listening world hangs on every word.” If so, you’ll feel better about…
They chose wrong, if style, social status or salaries determine one’s worth. Some skirt around them and their red kettles when Christmas rolls around. We may pause to listen to Christmas carols, played by a group of brass players. Or sometimes out of guilt…