We are entering the holiday season full throttle. Never mind that Christmas decorations have graced store shelves since August. There is no grace in consumerizing even more of the American way. It’s painful to see the melange of Halloween costumes, Thanksgiving turkey crafts, and … [Read more...] about On Giving
responsibility
Xenophobia is more than a vocabulary word.
When I was around 10 years old my language arts teacher asked us to draw a letter from a hat. Our task was to study and present a vocabulary word that started with the letter we picked. I picked X. My classmates simultaneously groaned in empathy and sighed with relief. I pored … [Read more...] about Xenophobia is more than a vocabulary word.
Victim Blaming – When an Officer is Not a Gentleman
I imagine the same people who blame the 16-year-old student in South Carolina for her behavior before Officer Fields brutally yanked her from her desk also believe women are raped because of what they wear. Those folks love to blame the victim, even better when said victim is a … [Read more...] about Victim Blaming – When an Officer is Not a Gentleman
My Sons Wrote to Their Senators About Gun Control
Every so often my sons and I write to our elected officials. We voice our concerns over all sorts of things - standardized testing, military benefits, global vaccines, healthcare. Bird and Deal are 12 and 10 respectively and are keenly astute when it comes to social and political … [Read more...] about My Sons Wrote to Their Senators About Gun Control
Only in America
We are whacking away at childhood innocence. Lockdown drills. Active shooter drills. Arming teachers. Guns in schools, parks, playgrounds. My god, what have we done? When Bird gets home from school we have an hour together before Deal scampers in from up the hill. I relish … [Read more...] about Only in America
NC Political Climate as Gloomy as the Weather
I'm sure you've heard by now that the North Carolina general assembly was in session until almost 4:30 in the morning. The legislative session should have ended at the end of June, but the delayed budget extended everything. By "delayed budget," I mean lawmakers could not agree … [Read more...] about NC Political Climate as Gloomy as the Weather
All I Want for My Birthday…
Today is my birthday. For everyone who knows me, you know how much I love my birthday. I admittedly love the attention, the phone calls, text messages, the cards. The glory of snail mail! And Facebook on my birthday blows up in a fashion that leaves me beaming for days. In … [Read more...] about All I Want for My Birthday…