Category Family

Scooped

Scoop: Originally journalistic lingo, it means someone else “dug up” a story before you did. We stumbled into the porch, our arms laden with bags. John was carrying his big work satchel/computer and a million little things he’d needed at…

Traditions & Memories

On a bleak December day 70 years ago, my grandfather jumped from a ruined B-17, a cold Minnesota farm boy tumbling from the sky into occupied Greece. That image is hard for me to picture because I remember him stooped,…

Easter Recap

I have now reached (and passed) that hurdle all marrieds must mount sometime. I think it came pretty early, if comparing to average American couples, but I have now spent a holiday with no family. (And I was still trying…

Review

3 weeks ago The hubby and I have bachelor degrees! I realize it isn’t that rare; even Master’s degrees are becoming commonplace and more competitive. But when the diploma is your own, it seems all the grander. As our commencement speaker said, “You now…

Grandmother’s Kitchen

Recently, my friend Tassja wrote a blog post about food. Specifically, her post is about her experiences as a Sri Lankan vegetarian living in the omnivorous, conservative Midwest. (If you are interested in reading her article, click here.) She concluded…

Remember

The following is a (slightly edited) essay I wrote in ~2009 for Lutheran Social Services to use for promotion and publication for their in-home elder care programs. It was a sunny, Saturday afternoon and I sat on my grandmother’s couch,…