My Irish ancestors settled in the Tuckaleechee Cove area of the Great Smoky Mountains in the 19th century and made their living as apple farmers. I wonder how they would view New England's landscape, where harvesting apples in the fall is woven into the fabric of life and where the topography is at times so … Continue reading Mad Tom Apples: Sunday Photo Essay
Finding My Best Self
Rosh Hashanah--the Jewish New Year--began at sundown today. I am not Jewish, nor do I observe the Jewish New Year, at least not as an official adherent of the faith. But every single year I re-read this beautiful children's story, Gershon's Monster, on Rosh Hashanah. It is a universal story of redemption, and anyway this particular book … Continue reading Finding My Best Self
I’ve created a LOL monster.
A while back I wrote a little story about a particular brand of fifth grade humor and my penchant for it. Call it a character flaw if you must, but I wear it proudly. I even sent my dad a fart-themed birthday card last April. (Really, can the world have too many fart jokes? I … Continue reading I’ve created a LOL monster.
Nourishment
Fall term has been up and running for two weeks now at ballet school; that means that I have been sneezed and coughed upon by little people (and a few medium ones, too) for about as long. In years gone by I have been good for a solid head cold once a year but lately find … Continue reading Nourishment
Finding Family
This has been a Handsome Chef Boyfriend weekend through and through. I am writing from his place this weekend, hanging around an extra day on the chance I can meet a deadline in a foreign and yet ever familiar environment. It is messy and inconvenient for everybody concerned; tomorrow morning will come early, and I … Continue reading Finding Family
Tolerance 1, Extremism Zip
As some of my friends can attest, I generally eschew heated debates about politics. Or religion. Especially religion. One of my friends back in Tennessee loves her a good political debate so much that she has thrown entire debate-themed parties (usually to follow election returns), inviting lots of folks from both sides of the aisle, … Continue reading Tolerance 1, Extremism Zip
And Away We Go!
Fall term began at ballet school yesterday; the school director caught me in a moment during my Level 4A barre with a very pointy index finger. I was urging the kids to "send the foot across the room," speaking metaphorically of course. And no, we are not in prison, but in a smaller interior classroom … Continue reading And Away We Go!
Monday Morning Fog
This morning I am listening to a Hildegard of Bingen recording that was once my parenting soundtrack. The fussy infant I cradled against me often fought sleep, and later fought just about everything; I wished for vision and clarity to help him. And I am thinking of him now, a young man a thousand miles … Continue reading Monday Morning Fog
A Most Happy Ear Worm
On a day some time in the early 90s a song from The Most Happy Fella insinuated itself in my head as an earworm--you know: that refrain or tune you get in your head that will not leave you? The show had just enjoyed its second Broadway revival which is probably why I was thinking of … Continue reading A Most Happy Ear Worm
Hankerin’ for Red Onions
Handsome Chef Boyfriend arrived last night, which could mean only one thing: bad puns and good eatin'. (Okay, two things.) In the daily morning call we decided on homemade pizza for dinner. Get whatever you want for toppings, he said. My mom used to ask me if I had a hankerin' for something when I … Continue reading Hankerin’ for Red Onions
Sycamore Stories 