One of my distractions during the pandemic has been jigsaw puzzles. I used to work on jigsaw puzzles during my college breaks to destress. Having rarely indulged in this pastime since then, I rediscovered puzzling to be a good way to fill some otherwise empty hours. When Jim and Patti learned I liked puzzles, they gave me a 1000-piece puzzle of Ohio State’s football stadium. It was a fun way to stay connected during our days of separation as I periodically sent them photos of my progress. I made it my goal to have the puzzle completed in time for the...
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After a long stretch in survival mode, a change of administration has brought rapid developments in Edith’s case. The Biden administration has chosen to elevate immigration concerns as an early priority. They will pursue comprehensive reform, and the 100 day moratorium on deportations – despite the temporary injunction by a federal judge – is a welcome opening move.
All this is good news, nearly whiplash-inducing from the direction of the previous administration. Is this really happening? Yes, and…maybe.
One of Edith’s lifelines has been the...
While Jim has worked out of state for six-week stretches of time in 2020, I’ve been mostly at home. However, I am far from “home alone.”
Two years ago, we purchased a large home (circa 1853) in North Linden with 0.8 acres, 5 ½ baths and 7 bedrooms. Three generations of our immediate family (7 people) share the house. In the future, another daughter and her husband will move in, but for now, we have space for others to live with us. In 2020, that meant two different families. From June until September, a Venezuelan family of three stayed...
About 6 months ago my brother, John, told me about the book "Reclaiming Conversation" by Sherry Turkle. Our daughter, Leah, asked me in October what I wanted for Christmas and I said I wanted this book by Sherry Turkle. So, for a Christmas gift she gave me this book and I read it from cover to cover. It is about our current society where many people hide behind their cell phone screens possibly for a good chunk of time each day and think they are conversing with other people. Most of them are only temporarily connected (NOT conversing) and some of them, sadly, have not...
After much waiting and anticipation the day has finally arrived. It took an incredible amount of work by a group of dedicated people. It faced numerous unforeseen obstacles. But we can finally be at peace knowing it’s here. A major transition in our collective life.
I’m talking of course about the arrival of our Voices Together hymnals, which will be delivered to the church building today.
And, oh yeah, it’s inauguration day in the US, which is also a big deal.
At the intersection of these two occasions is the experience of liturgy. Liturgy is a central practice...