Tuesday talk: on being Christian…

starbucks red coffee cups copy

…Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, or human. Growing up, in Catholic school and out, the good nuns and priests, the lay teachers and my parents, taught me three things (not one of which was how to tie my shoelaces properly): Do unto others God = love To thine ownself be true The first two are biblical, the last Shakespearean. Specifically growing up Christian, we were taught that the basics of morality derived from Christ and his teachings. I got the sense from my parents that this … [Read more...]

Friday’s four things: teenage girls, family dinners, Houston, and the obits

That's Miss T.

And because five was too many. A birthday. Miss T turned thirteen yesterday – one-three, 13, XIII – which means we now have three teenage girls living in our house. Sometimes I don’t know who they are, but mostly I do. They’re fantastic, except when they’re not, which ends up being the problem, if there is a problem. I wake up not certain of whom I will face, either over breakfast or picking up in the afternoon, though Goldie is driving herself now. (That’s a blessing, not a curse.) The … [Read more...]

Tuesday Tidbits: the Mets, Trevor Noah, clouds, and Adele

clouds chimney

The Mets lost the World Series, which means the Kansas City Royals won. KC is an excellent baseball team, yada yada, but Goldie asked Sunday night if they played in Missouri or Kansas, and I replied, “Who cares?” (It’s Missouri, by the way.) And if you think I’m being cruel, dig down deep and tell me you don’t feel the same. Mostly what’s inside is disappointment, and some concern over Daniel Murphy’s mental health. For those out of the baseball loop, he’s the Mets’ second baseman who made a … [Read more...]

I wish…

I wish I were here.  I wish...it felt like autumn in Los Angeles.

…I had written more, read more, spent more time with my kids/friends/family. Run more. Imagine you’re eighty-six, or ninety-three. (I wish for you a long life.) Let’s pretend for now: you’re lying down at home, under your favorite blanket, knowing a last breath is around the corner. Not a bucket list. Instead, you’re saying aloud: “I wish… …I had done ______________________.” …I had been ______________________.” …I had visited ____________________.” …I had NOT spent so much … [Read more...]

Monday motherhood: the light, the bushel

My view from lunch yesterday, just because.

I have little interest in explaining my continued absences from Daily Cup of Jo because I’ve too often told you I’m back, and then just as quickly gone away again. That’s unreliable, and immature. Except today, it’s Monday Motherhood and the two issues are related. So forgive me and...hello again. I’ve feigned maturity over the years. It’s been useful, especially when I’ve desired treatment as an adult. But inside, I’ve known the truth – that I’m mostly faking this grown-up thing because I … [Read more...]

Catching up/random thoughts, part 2: Shonda Rhimes, homosexuals, and red wine; being a woman in a man’s world

women in sports

- In June, after school was out, I fell into “Scandal”. It’s unclear how it happened but Netflix is mostly to blame. I was a huge fan of Shonda Rhimes’ “Grey’s Anatomy” at the beginning, before things got stupid, and so I put my faith and many evenings into binge-watching Rhimes’ sexy series set in Washington DC because I’ll give just about any show set in DC a chance. I hate/love politics. (I’m not entirely sold on “Madam Secretary” but I do like Tea Leoni, cold on Bebe Neuwirth.) Anyhooooo, … [Read more...]