Holidays
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Season of the witch
“Witches are outsiders, and those among us who have been bullied and ostracized can relate to their plight. Part of our fascination with witches is that they are the only female mythic figures with power. These are women who don’t need to be rescued by a prince or a king, but, instead, can save themselves.” ~Alice Hoffman, from the 25th anniversary edition of Practical Magic The spooky season is here. Several homes around my neighborhood are decorated with life-sized witch figures, some flying on their brooms in the trees or circling plastic cauldrons on front lawns. My fascination with the history of “witches” began early. Indulging their interests in early…
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Love and liberty
“I love America. I love the world. Brotherhood and sisterhood have no borders for me. My heart orbits the Earth, and my love cannot be measured in longitude or latitude.” ~Terri Guillemets Wishing you all a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend!
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Irish DNA
“We Irish prefer embroideries to plain cloth. To the Irish, memory is a canvas—stretched, primed, and ready for painting on. We love the “story” part of the word “history,” and we love it trimmed out with color and drama, ribbons and bows. Listen to our tunes, observe a Celtic scroll; we always decorate our essence.” ~Frank Delaney I’ve always been a storyteller. And every year on St. Patrick’s Day, I can recall the lyrics to half a dozen old Irish folk tunes. Strangers in shops and restaurants often ask if I’m Irish. In fact, my mother told me that I have “a bit of Irish” in me — but I…
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Farewell, 2024: Looking back at a tough year
“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” —William E. Vaughan, journalist and author Whenever a year comes to an end, it’s traditional to reflect on the events of the previous months. And what a wild ride this year has been. For starters, Doug’s 93-year-old mother had a stroke and was hospitalized in February, which led to more caregiving changes and challenges for her and our family. My mother-in-law is the last surviving parent we have. As our elders decline, we’re reminded to make the most of our own senior years while we find the resources and energy…
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Merry Christmas to all
“We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.” ~Joseph Campbell I’m wishing everyone moments of joy — and plenty of loving, supportive people to cherish and celebrate this season. Our future is full of question marks, but together we can weather what lies ahead. Here’s to peace in the world and peace within each of us in the coming year! ~CL
