Notes from Vanaprastha:
Reflections on Faith, Nature, and Writing
To whom do we owe something on Memorial Day?
To owe something to someone. On Memorial Day when I was growing up, we always drained the muddy water and scrubbed algae from the walls of the 45’x90’ spring-fed pool my father had built for the neighborhood the year before I was born. Everyone pitched in despite...
Being a parent and grandparent in the third chapter of life
As others posts pictures of their children’s college graduations—the entry into the second chapter of life—Keith and I are enjoying some third-chapter-of-life fruits. I’ve written about finding purpose in the third chapter of life and some of the insights one gains...
Deliberate decisions to practice grace and mercy
In March, I made a deliberate decision to enroll Cato and me in dog training at Camp Merricks where he and Mac had been fostered. After we adopted Mac in late February, Cato showed him the lay of the land but also exhibited some “I’m the ferocious alpha dog”...
Soon and very soon, we are going to see
Five months ago, the New Life Choir at church sang Andraé Crouch’s song “Soon and Very Soon.” Lately, the tune and lyrics have been whirling in my head – you know how that happens? Soon and very soon, we are going to see mountain laurel bloom I’m singing to the...
Let’s have a tea party – the 51ers meet again!
“Let’s have a tea party!" the spring hostess wrote. "Bring your favorite tea, teapot, and/or teacup." Setting up for Tea Our hostess had set her table with Queen Mary’s (Elizabeth II’s mother) favorite china dishes. She set out jam and clotted cream to go with...
To have and to hold from this day forward
“I Carole, take you Keith, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, I promise to love and cherish you.” That was almost seventeen years ago. “To Have and To Hold”...