And a special shoutout to subscribers Writing on a blog started in earnest in January 2022 for me. I discovered Medium, a blog site, and moved relevant blogs to this site on Common Sage. I have been gifted with new … Read More
The writer who wrote about living until her death. The notebook in the log cabin at the writers’ retreat had entries from previous occupants. The immediate occupant before me last summer was Cai Emmons, and she wrote happily about her … Read More
“Quotidian” is a word I haven’t used before. It derives from Latin and refers to dailiness, mundane. Kathleen Norris, a spiritual writer, has a book called The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and Women’s Work. The title reminds me of dish … Read More
Dear Little Girl You looked perfect Your parents said And it is True Rosebud lips and button nose Deep gray blue eyes Pink baby, pink skin Hair – ginger, sandy Yet to tell. Your mother surrenders Her body to you … Read More
Orca grandmothers lead pods, as matriarchs of their family units. Science has discovered that only some whale species, and humans, have a long life post fertility. Many other large mammals –primates, elephants—may be fertile into old age. I wonder how … Read More
The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris is my favorite holiday chestnut. I grew up listening to an LP of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol my parents played on Christmas Eve, and that was wonderful during a certain age of innocence, but … Read More
In dark December the eldest Swedish daughterDresses in white, lights the candles,Glides from room to room with coffee,Cardamom buns, the lilting songAn old tradition from an old countryCandles lighting dark.But the story, reduced to pink-cheeked girls,Breakfast in darkened rooms, Does … Read More
Anne Morrow Lindbergh published Gift from the Sea in 1955. It was on my mother’s nightstand, and like many women of that era, I think she treasured the book. I was surprised to see it described as a proto-feminist book, … Read More
Strippers from Casa Diablo, a vegan strip club (only-in-Portland?) were in church and part of the sermon/dialogue a few weeks ago. The minister preaches – and practices—radical inclusion. His stewardship sermon last Sunday was Please don’t Give Us Money, if … Read More