Joe Willie, Santa, and Sisyphus

Joe Willie, Santa, and Sisyphus

by | Jan 2, 2015

Every year, in the eight weeks between Christmas and Valentine’s Day, a number of things can be counted on to take place. Each is a measure of our inexplicable humanity: First, the holiday season will vanish, leaving us to realize our spirits are none the kinder,...
New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions

by | Jan 1, 2015

I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions. They’re as effective as a Band-Aid to the ski-jump guy: They won’t fix anything, nor will they have meaningful or lasting effects. Nevertheless, my New Year’s resolution is to propose some...
Do the Lighten Up*

Do the Lighten Up*

by | Dec 26, 2014

In 2004, the priest who presided over the high-school graduation of my son, Quinn, said this, acknowledging the myriad difficulties of the age in which the accidents of our births find us in existence: “We are blessed with challenges.” My first reaction...
Season’s Blessings

Season’s Blessings

by | Dec 24, 2014

In the song, “Turn, Turn, Turn”, made famous by the Byrds, though adapted from Ecclesiastes 3:1 by George Aber and Pete Seeger, we learn this: “To everything, there is a season and a time to every purpose under Heaven.” So it is, then,...
Holiday Madness

Holiday Madness

by | Dec 23, 2014

Since the traditional holiday season is upon us, it might be helpful present some of the other holidays celebrated at this time of year. In addition to the ones listed here, a few more warrant elucidation: Free Gluten Day, December 17: Not to be confused with...