Sunday Talks

It’s taken me decades to admit this: I’m not spontaneous. Some of you may be thinking, “Duh. It’s hard to be spontaneous when you’re an anal-retentive control freak.” For me, it’s not so much about control, but rather being dependable,…

I’m definitely not an expert on Día de los Muertos. But I love everything I know about the traditions and meaning around it. El Día de los Muertos originated as an Aztec harvest festival, a month-long party to honor and…

My desk has way too much on it right now. It’s covered with sticky notes that ought to be transcribed elsewhere so I won’t lose the information on them, receipts to be logged and shredded, recipes to be filed, old…

“I don’t sing because I’m happy. I’m happy because I sing.” — William James “The only thing better than singing is more singing.” — Ella Fitzgerald Singing is really good for us in a lot of ways — physically, emotionally,…

Three different people, after recent visits to our Sunday gatherings, told me how much they appreciated our spirit of welcome and inclusion. I’m always glad to hear things like this. But it tends to surprise me a little because I…

For about four years, my family lived in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where we visited them annually. Usually, we’d get a hotel so we could have our own space and enjoy fancy resort amenities. But one time we stayed with them…

Dang, auditions can do a number on you. I didn’t get the part I was hoping for. I’m disappointed, but it’s fine. They offered me a fun, featured role, and I know that I’ll have a great time bringing my…

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve found myself frequently using the phrase, “a real doozy.” No idea where it came from, how I picked it up. I don’t recall ever saying it before, but now it’s all over the…

I just finished reading a splendid book — Everything Sad is Untrue, by Daniel Nayeri. It’s an autobiographical novel written in the voice of an eleven-year boy, beautifully weaving together Persian myths, heroic legends, personal family history, and his own…

I watched a gorgeous documentary this week, Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working With Time. Andy Goldsworthy is an English sculptor who creates location-specific art out of the natural elements he finds on site — stone, twigs, ice, water, flowers.…