The day arrives, on the face of it, like every other day. Everything up to this day has been preparation, doing the work requisite to celebration. Not that the “to do” list of decorating, seeking out and purchasing the “right gift” for those whom you have a natural obligation etc. is without satisfaction. Work…
It is Christmas Eve. Yesterday the project of the day was gift wrapping. The upstairs filled with the aroma of pumpkin bread, banana bread loaves, baking in the oven. I could hardly leave the gift-prep job to others on the team, since they were doing such a fine job in the kitchen. I wrapped…
December 21st, I was inclined to make a fire in our fire pit. Then I learned that we were to attend a holiday party with old friends in another town. The enjoyment of open fire, heat emanating from burning wood, the glow of embers, pungent rising smoke into the inky sky, was delayed. Maybe…
How I Became a Madman (Prologue) by Kahlil Gibrand You ask me how I became a madman. It happened thus: One day, long before many gods were born, I woke from a deep sleep and found all my masks were stolen,—the seven masks I have fashioned and worn in seven lives,—I ran maskless through…
As a general rule, I can take “only so much” of Christmas carols. Many I have heard since childhood. I am no longer mystified by the Baby In The Manager story in the same way. I can’t help but think critically about the elements of the story. The problem is not with the story…
Friday morning and I am not the only one who will not be reporting to the office. My usual Starbucks venue for coffee and writing was crowded. I left for another Starbucks, my plan B. So here I am, aware that my life is to change with retirement, the familiar routines of customer relations,…
Yesterday after hours of speechifying, the House of Representatives voted affirmative to impeach the President. There was little if any genuine discussion in the hours leading up to the vote. Nearly all of the majority Democratic members voted to impeach him. The Republican minority voted in lockstep, unanimously, — not to impeach. Impeachment is…
What to say on a bitter cold Wednesday morning? There is a bitter chill in my soul too. The House of Representatives is on the cusp of voting to impeach the President today. They will almost certainly vote. His supporters — in a blatant, undisguised advocacy of institution-destroying, society fracturing violence will defend him. …
A strong faith. I cannot think of a definition, and for the life of me cannot come up with anyone who serves as an example. The occasion for my puzzle was a snippet of television where Robin Roberts announced her intention to visit Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas to interview Joel Osteen this weekend. …
How do I know the holidays are fully arrived, that Christmas is a settled “fact” of social life? (We must agree that a fact is not limited to objects.) I attended my first choral event, a concert performed by a community chorus, supported by a chorus Brass ensemble. The theme of the event was…
