Transitions

“How do you fill you time?” Mother asked as we ate lunch at the Bistro in the assisted care facility where she lives. I munched with guilty pleasure on a gooey tuna melt while Mother nibbled her cheese pizza. Perhaps she was concerned about my transition into...

Love Story

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” Remember that line from the 1970 movie and novel by Erich Segal? Ali MacGraw’s character said it to her husband played by Ryan O’Neal, about mid-film when he started to apologize for being angry. He repeated the line at...

Devotion

After 9/11, writer Dani Shapiro, her husband journalist-turned-screenwriter Michael Maren and their young son Jacob moved from New York City to rural Connecticut. She tried to have another child, but suffered miscarriages, and now was in her forties. Jacob was...

Obedience

“The flowers on the altar are given by Scott and Barbara in honor of their 37th anniversary and Hal and Shirley who celebrated their 64th on that same day,” read the announcement in the December 20th weekly bulletin for Bethany Lutheran Church. Pastor Tim Bohlmann...

O Holy Night

The Wednesday before Christmas, my daughter Jessica and I sat in a booth across from Grandma eating lunch in the Bistro at the assisted care facility where Mother lives. While Jess and I splurged on tuna melts, the dining room filled with residents and holiday...

Christmas Yin Yang

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace! Isaiah 9:6   Sunday Morning Mary, Joseph, the angel, wise men, shepherds,...