Truly Unexpected or Simply Avoided

Hello from the Beetle, I am waiting to meet someone, preparing to share breakfast and listen to their stories about being in a new place for their summer. Four amazing young people have traveled from Quito and Cuenca in Ecuador to spend a summer learning new skills in the restaurant, and in some ways theyContinue reading “Truly Unexpected or Simply Avoided”

Might True Religion be Religionless?

Hello from my office upstairs at the Mini-Acre, It seems like a normal February’s winter day for the first time in a year or more. A bit more than a dusting, but not a full-blown blizzard like many other places, made for some slow getting around this morning, but breakfast in Rohrsburg with two ofContinue reading “Might True Religion be Religionless?”

Time Passages: The Loss of Important People

Hello from my little corner in Panera Bread, As has been my practice for a few years now, and without my trusty accomplice, I am back in Panera sitting where there is an outlet and I can do work. It is Monday, but it seems like I have done three days work already, and itContinue reading “Time Passages: The Loss of Important People”

Someone to Believe

Hello from a Mediterranean Coffee Shop, We are down to hours left in the class portion of the semester and finals begin on Monday. I remember customarily feeling both anticipation and exhaustion as I faced the impending end of every semester. Part of it was pouring everything I had most of the time into everyContinue reading “Someone to Believe”

The Shared Experience of Struggle Creates Equity, and perhaps Empathy

Hello from my kitchen on an early Monday morning, It is about 5:40 a.m. and I have decided it is time to get back to a productive schedule. I had actually set my alarm for 6:45, but I woke up about 5:00 and decided to get up. I am cooking oatmeal and decided to doContinue reading “The Shared Experience of Struggle Creates Equity, and perhaps Empathy”

Remembering My Heroine

Hello on a Sunday afternoon, Forty-seven years ago today, I was marching on the grinder as we called it, proud that I had made it through 90 days of processing and training known as Marine Corps Boot Camp. There was more than once I doubted I had what it took to make it through. EvenContinue reading “Remembering My Heroine”

How Television Creates our Reality: From Little House to Glee

Hello, It has been close to a month since I posted. I have written more than once, but did not feel the post was doing justice to the topics or concerns at hand, I did not post. Sometimes, things need to percolate a bit more. Sometimes, what I believed to be important in the momentContinue reading “How Television Creates our Reality: From Little House to Glee”

Empathy: A Necessary Component

Hello on the second day of May, There is little doubt that we are in a polarized environment. Daily, and I am guilty of falling into some of this behavior, though I generally try to remain respectful, the lack if willingness to listen to the other, when compassion seems to be merely a pipe dream,Continue reading “Empathy: A Necessary Component”

The Role of Art. Music, and Theatre in Life

Hello from the study, Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with a former student, someone who cared for Lydia after I first left Wisconsin and someone I admire for so many reasons. She was shy and unsure of herself when I first met her in that freshman writing class, but she is now anContinue reading “The Role of Art. Music, and Theatre in Life”

One More Light – How Do We Remember?

Hello from my study/office/refuge, It is amazing the amount of time I am spending on responding to classes, to papers, to phone calls, to focusing intently on each and everything I do. I am not complaining at all, but it seems that every moment of my day, with the exception of getting a walk inContinue reading “One More Light – How Do We Remember?”