A Very Ban-able Children's Story Once upon a time, on a farm named Solid Ground, lived a little boy named Liam. The farm was a world of brown. The dirt in the fields was brown. The big, sturdy barn was painted brown. The cozy farmhouse was brown. Even Liam’s favorite overalls were a plain, sensible…
Drag Queens, Unicorn Snot, and Holy Moments
One of the oldest members of our congregation, a wise and wonderful woman in her 90s, pulled me aside after our worship service this past Sunday. Her eyes were bright. “I've always believed the saying that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it ultimately bends towards justice,” she said, her voice steady.…
The Strange and Familiar
Isn't it funny how something that was once so familiar can eventually feel so foreign that it is just...strange? I'm writing this piece from a public computer in our town's public library -- a place that still feels quite foreign to me. It shouldn't, but it does. I practically grew up in my hometown library,…
Figuring It Out
I have a confession. It may come as a shock to some of you, but……. I don’t always read the instructions. Well, let me clarify. I don’t always FOLLOW the instructions. Sometimes, like the other day when I was trying to put a new drying rack together, I didn’t even bother reading them. I looked…
Of Fear and Apologies
Fear is a powerful emotion. It literally causes changes in body and brain chemistry, prompts visceral, physical reactions, and can provoke us to react in ways that are less than, well, rational and kind. Sigh. Sadly, I know this firsthand. After the election, I was terrified. Not just by the direction the country had chosen,…
Taking Stock of What I Have and What I Haven’t…
Taking stock of what I have and what I haven't What do I find? The things I got will keep me satisfied Checking up on what I have and what I haven't What do I find? A healthy balance on the credit side... It's that time of year when I find myself taking stock of…
When Everyone Means EVERYONE
I cried through church today. This is not all that an uncommon occurrence, though it hasn't happened in a good long while...which was nice. My dry eye streak ended this morning. And I wasn't even wearing waterproof mascara. Shit. I have a lot on my mind lately, with the election looming, and fighting for the…
A Visit to Stonewall
I do not have a bucket list. I do not plan on kicking the bucket any time soon. I do, however, have something I call my “Crazy Awesome Life” list. That’s what I want to do. I want to have a crazy awesome life. This summer, I’ve crossed a LOT of things off that list.…
An Earthquake of Normal Proportions
Seismic shifts can sneak up on you. We can’t predict earthquakes. Scientists try, but when the earth decides to shift beneath us, there’s no warning. It just happens. Back in 2011, a few months after I left the Army, a rare earthquake struck the east coast. I was sitting in Maureen’s basement with Duffy,…
The Courage of Imperfection
It’s no secret that I have issues with perfectionism. In fact, it’s become something of a running joke among my friends that I have a touch of “CDO” [because of course, the letters need to be in alphabetical order]. And it’s true. I laugh along with them, but it really has been something I’ve…
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