Bric-a-brac

a bit of this and that

Plain Folks Bravery

Bravery is a lot like beauty, it seems.  It’s in the eye of the beholder. We quickly apply it to soldiers who stand firm or

Read More »

Resonation, part 1

“That really resonated,” we say.  What does that mean? It’s a powerful word, really.  It can mean to fill with a deep reverberating sound.  It

Read More »

Mamaw Wisdom

I did not have a Mamaw.  I had Granny, and I had Grandmother.  But “mamaw” was for those who lived outside the city limits.  Mamaws

Read More »

Couldn’t Say It

I remember an episode on Happy Days from many years ago when the Fonz literally couldn’t get certain words to come out of his mouth.   

Read More »

Too Deep for Words

From time to time it happens that we find ourselves reacting strongly to a thing — a voice, a memory, a circumstance, an idea, a

Read More »

Using God

My few years of life on earth in a mostly homogenous small town gave me no context into which to place the event of my

Read More »

Quality of Life

“So these say ‘quick grits’,” he says.   “When I used to make them for myself, I just put them in a bowl, stirred boiling

Read More »

Why can’t we laugh?

Recently I saw where Ricky Gervais mused about how the BBC version of The Office TV series would not be allowed today.  Just 20 years

Read More »

Making the World Better

It’s quite presumptuous, quite arrogant, whether one is an aspiring lawyer/doctor or a college freshman, to set out with the goal of “changing the world”. 

Read More »

Solitaire R Us

I’m not addicted.  Really, I’m not. It’s kind of like embroidery — something to occupy my hands while I let my mind float.  I’ve actually

Read More »

Two Mysteries

I’m thinking today about two mysteries .  They are things we don’t seem to learn regardless of how long humanity has been on the planet.

Read More »

Do Nothing

“Do nothing for people that they can and should do for themselves.” Surprise — It’s not a Jordan Peterson quote!  Credit goes to Fr. Thomas

Read More »

Treat Yourself

There were many years where self-care wasn’t on my radar screen.  It wasn’t because I was so busy with others’ overwhelming needs.  It was because

Read More »

Hospital Room

As I type today (7/17/2020), I’m sitting in a hospital room alone with a relative’s personal belongings while said relative is in a procedure that

Read More »