The road to Bethlehem began in the northern town of Nazareth, a tiny backwater town in the Galilee region known for heavy accents and backward thinking. José hoisted the last of the luggage before helping his betrothed María, now with child, onto the animal. Together they set out on the long journey to fulfill the […]
Why We Gather
by on November 28, 2018 2 Comments
There were no ceramic pumpkins on the table this year to mark the occasion. We didn’t eat off Grandma’s white plates with the brown flower pattern around the edges that were just retro enough to be cool again. There was no playing in the yard after dinner, the crunching of autumn leaves under our feet. […]
Nine Quarters and One Santa
by on November 25, 2018 8 Comments
By Sheli Massie | Twitter: @sheligeoghanmas When I was a little girl, my grandfather hid quarters behind our ears every time we saw him. The quarters would appear out of nowhere. He did the same trick every time we saw him and every time we were amazed by his level of magic skills. These same […]
A Sliver of Light
by on November 22, 2018 6 Comments
You can always sit with us I think, feel, believe in my bones as I pinch my finger on a folding chair and cuss under my breath I think, feel, believe in my bones that it is always better to land on the side of love. Under my breath, I murmur I know I will […]
How Remembering Reorients Us
by on November 21, 2018 3 Comments
The first year I moved to the U.S., my parents and I wandered through the grocery store on Thanksgiving day and asked the man working behind the deli counter if we could buy a turkey. The man pointed to the sliced turkey meat on the side. My parents clarified, “We are looking for the whole […]
