There have been years when I didn’t set up a Christmas tree because I was a single and didn’t think the effort worthwhile. As soon as I was married that changed again. And our Christmas tree features the magic of all our past Christmases as grown-ups, embodied by ornaments that were crafted or purchased year […]
To Ponder
Letter: Spider-Man Gets in the Christmas Spirit
One year ago, today. It was shakedown time at Goodwill. After hours, when all the customers had gone home and the lights were turned out, and the door locked, all became quiet as a mouse. Not. There was a war in the toy section. Spider-Man had gone rogue. Santa and Frosty were commanding the wintery […]
Of Rats and Men
The door bell’s grinding ring rang out four times signifying the arrival of Dr. Weirdo, our champion and benefactor. He came at the strangest times . . . in fact it often felt as if we were on the same time-line or perhaps sharing something akin to the vibrations in our souls. But somehow, I […]
Advent Calendar December 22: Expectations
Kids are almost bursting with anticipation these days. Adults do rarely – our lightheartedness has often been taken over by stress and anxiety as to how the holidays will pass. Pass, indeed, not be enjoyed. There are so many aspects of what we fear – imperfection of the setting, imperfection of human relationships, imperfection of […]
Letter: A Post Office Without Stamps?
Submitted by Ray Egan. Whoever heard of a post office that doesn’t have any stamps? It’s not just that the Steilacoom Post Office hasn’t had any Christmas-themed stamps for two weeks: on December 19th there were no stamps of any kind for sale. None. Zero. And it isn’t the first time. If I have my […]
Advent Calendar December 21: The Whole Nine Yards
Are you checking off your lists again? Does your home look perfect for receiving your Christmas guests? Is the schedule for the upcoming holidays watertight? Will everybody have fun-stuff to do? Is the wine cellar filled, and will the food on the table be sufficient? Ah, what is sufficient?! I have stopped going to the […]
Yummy Burgers for Three at the Clubhouse Grill
We hadn’t seen cousin Lavinia since laughing for more than two hours at CenterStage in Federal Way and their panto (pantomime), Sleeping Beauty. Peg and I went to the University Place library. She found books to check out and I read magazines while waiting. Peg suggested we call Lavinia to join us for lunch at […]
Letter: “Life Slipped Through Their Fingers Unlived”
For as long as I can remember I have cherished the hours of the early morning. Whether it was in my unheated office down by the lake where I cradled a cup of coffee in my hands to warm up my fingers before returning them to the keyboard while awaiting the first winter fisherman of […]
Advent Calendar December 20: Angels
Christmas is connected to angels from its very beginning. Angels are considered to be harbingers of God, creatures of light, and are most often imagined to have wings and halos. They pervade sacred art from cute little cherubs of very human toddler quality to the awe-inspiring and forbidding guardians of Paradise. But often we also […]