Our Christmas tree cutting permit had arrived, and we made a last minute decision to drive “‘up north” to Arizona’s high desert to cut one. Throwing a half-bag of cookies and some sodas in the truck, my husband and I and our young son, then about 4, took off on a Saturday morning adventure. We knew the cutting area well, having camped in the area over the previous two summers. A storm had come through Continue reading

It’s the smell I remember, mostly. Thanksgiving Day at Grandma R’s house always greeted me with an assault on the nostrils. The extended family (usually about twelve of us) would gather at the large dining room table, summoned by the 4pm gong of the large pendulum clock on the wall, and wait for the dishes to appear from the small kitchen behind us. There was the aroma of the roasted turkey of course, and the Continue reading

I was standing in the lightbulb aisle at the hardware store, scanning the shelves (fruitlessly) for 3-way bulbs. While I scanned, I became aware of the muzac….and realized I was listening to a Christmas song. It was not even the middle of October, and they were playing “Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella.” Now, I love me some Christmas carols, and I admit that I have been known to start playing my own holiday files soon Continue reading

INGREDIENTS 1 elephant 2 rabbits (optional) salt and pepper DIRECTIONS Cut elephant into bite size pieces. This should take about 2 months. Add enough brown gravy to cover. Cook over hot fire for 3 weeks. This will serve 3800 people. If more are expected, the two rabbits may be added, but do this only if necessary as most people do not like to find hare in their stew.

We woke to the news of hijacked planes crashing into the Pentagon and World Trade Center Towers. A plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania, also hijacked and purposely downed. With the rest of the world, we were riveted to TV and radio, listening in horror as the well-planned attack unfolded. With the rest of the world, we prayed for the victims and their families. We went through our workdays by rote, a numbness permeating everything we Continue reading

Today I ran the first leg of the Virtual Boston Marathon. No, I am not an official participant. I am virtually running it over the course of this week in memory of a member of my online running group. Pastor Vincent Trigili had been training to run the real thing, but he died suddenly and unexpectedly in August at the age of 45. Our running group has decided to run it for him. I did Continue reading