“Your turn,” Asha called from across the lawn. She hoisted herself out of the peddle car she had been “driving” around our large circular driveway, then lifted her four-year old from the back of the contraption. He’d been clinging to his mom while she zoomed down the driveway. I made my way past the old […]
Sisterhood Is a Legacy
by on April 7, 2016 23 Comments
I share life and land with six other families. When, nearly seven years ago, we decided to buy a little 10-acre farm, a mother of one of our group said, “The health of your community will be determined by how well the women get along.” She issued this little zinger with an oracle-esque potency, and […]
The Syrian Refugee Crisis Moved Into My Neighbourhood
by on March 4, 2016 27 Comments
I’m in love. I was fretful and anxious, but now I’m in love. The context for my emotional bi-polarity has been the Syrian refugee crisis. In my anxious phase I posted a great number of guilt-inducing refugee photos on Facebook. I sent money overseas to worthy causes. I applauded the heroic efforts of volunteers and […]
What Does Solidarity Look Like?
by on January 15, 2016 13 Comments
In the light of the present refugee crisis the word “solidarity” is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Solidarity is a word with a nice ring to it. It brings up images of resistance movements on behalf of the poor and innocent. It makes for a good slogan—a nice word painted in red on a white […]
The Headless Marys
by on November 6, 2015 25 Comments
It sounds like the title of a zombie-esque film noir: The Headless Marys. It is in fact the name of a contemplative prayer group to which I belong. At 48, I am the youngest of the bunch. Most are retired nurses or teachers. In other words, they are women who have been active, other-focused, do-gooders […]
