Struggling with finding peace in the midst of Christmas chaos It’s almost Christmas, and it’s snowing. I have a fire going with last night’s leftover wood, fresh coffee in my cup, and Annie Lennox is on the stereo, warbling on about nightingales, shepherds, and snowflakes. There are four grandchildren in…
Browsing CategoryTradition
Christmas Means Comfort
A meditation on the food that means home to me, and my ongoing battle with one pesky rooster It finally feels like the Christmas season to me. I still have work to do before the end of the year, but it’s going to be winding down soon, and I’ll have more time…
The Rewilding Of Christmas
In my efforts to reignite joy in the holiday season, I discover the magical promise of Grandie’s Eve.
Independence Day Has Lost Its Sparkle
There was a time when I used to enjoy the Fourth of July as much as anyone. As a kid growing up in a small, suburban town in America, it was a highlight of the summer. This was the 1970s and we lived at the corner of Main and Broad,…
New Year’s Allocutions
I have never been all that enthusiastic on traditional New Year’s resolutions, by which I mean I have never once in my life resolved to do anything particularly new or different just because the calendar flipped from one year to the next. I do not like being told what to…
A Most American Holiday
There is really no more American holiday than Thanksgiving. It embodies everything we think of as good about America. Celebrating a bountiful harvest. Giving thanks. Sharing with family, friends and neighbors. The promise of good things to come. Some of you might be thinking, “What about the Fourth of July?…
Halloween Is Not for Everyone
“It’s almost that time of year when underage kids get into costume and traipse around the neighborhood ringing doorbells and begging for treats.” When it comes to Halloween, I believe the world is split into two groups: those who love Halloween, and those who think it’s a pointless waste of…