When the Nazis occupied Norway during WWII, the Norwegians protested — nonviolently — by wearing red-knitted hats with tassels called nisselue. Now as our country’s democracy is seriously fraying, Minnesotans, many of whom are of Norwegian descent, are again protesting — nonviolently — ICE’s occupation by knitting and wearing these same hats. The “Melt the…
Editor’s Note: This painting, which I interpret as us oldsters walking each other home, is by American artist Dorsey McHugh, and was introduced to me in a Zoom presentation by author Judith Valente. *** I am now beginning my 8th decade on the planet. Whether I like it or not, I am aging. Will I…
What better place to muse about America than sitting on a visitor’s bench high on a bluff overlooking the Great Mississippi River Valley. What we call a perfect Arizona-blue-sky day ushered us across the deep-black soil of Minnesota’s prosperous farmland, from Rochester to the muddied deep-blue waters of the Great Mississippi River at Alma, Wisconsin….
Editor’s Note: an essay and a memoir for these troubling times. *** The need to belong, to be considered part of a group, is hardwired into us humans. Since we are basically all alike, my story will be your story in one way or another. Here’s mine while you think about your own. When my son…
Editor’s Note: For this Icelandic film, an artistic image of an iceberg on an Icelandic black sand beach. *** I am not a regular movie “goer”, much less a movie reviewer. However, to distract myself from the earth metaphorically tilting on its axis this coming Monday, January 20th, Inauguration Day, I have been earnestly searching…
Some random musings . . . Awakened before dawn by my hungry cat, I set up my morning practice: a pot of tea, a lit candle, my notebook to write my Morning Pages in, a few books I’m studying (“Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise” by Zen Buddhist Thich Nhat…
