“Tangible paradise depends on beginner’s mind, on a broken heart, and on the living earth on which we stand.”
- Wendy Johnson, in Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate: At Work in the Wild and Cultivated World
It was a clear November day on Hawk Hill…just enough wind to keep the hawks moving through as we identified and [...]
I went through confirmation in fifth grade. As a Roman Catholic, this was the sacrament where we made our real commitment to the church. Through baptism, we were already a part of it, but that had been conferred onto us by our parents. With confirmation, we were confirming as adults (ahem) that [...]
During the week, I had a thing to write for Sunday, and was obsessing over it way too much, especially during chores. So I tried adding a reminder to my boots.
I don’t think it helped a lot.
I like what writing does for me; I’m happy to have this way of expressing myself privately or [...]
Nobody in my family was big on drinking. There would be wine at Sunday dinner; each of my parents might have a glass of a sweet wine, and we were allowed to have a sip to taste. It almost never appeared at my grandparents’ house, but when it did, Grandma was known to [...]
During my first year or so of therapy, I used to dread each appointment. I wanted to go, but I still dreaded it. I’d spend a fair amount of time thinking about what subject I might want to bring up and talk about. I was, I guess, trying to be in control [...]
Spring is continuing its crescendo over our ridge. Everywhere I look, things are blooming. Some flowers are sudden and spectacular, like the California Poppies that are suddenly there, open in the sun. Others have a more subtle entrance, like the Calla Lilies that quietly turn from green to white, until they, too, demand to [...]