I met Johanna years ago on Mother’s Day at a coffee hour at the church I’d been attending for less than a month. When I joined them at their table, Johanna and her twin eight-year-old grandchildren, Andy and Randy, were enjoying bagels, jam, and fruit juice. While trying to...
Ollie, a distant relative, phones our family from to time, calling collect. Ollie likes to talk, and has many issues (some relatives condescendingly refer to him as “poor Ollie”). His perennial topic of conversation is his church involvement--specifically how...
She stands in front of the supermarket and asks if I can spare some change. I’ve seen her before in the neighborhood. She may be developmentally disabled and lives in one of the local board and care homes, where she gets food, lodging, supervision, and a small allowance...
I grew up in communities where hymns were sung in the home, church, and social gatherings. Now that I am older, it’s not surprising that my earworms (songs remembered again and again) are verses from hymns and choruses that I learned as a child and young adult. Image...
I am fortunate to live near San Jose State University, within walking distance of my place of work on campus. I don’t drive, so I rely on the bus, light rail, and the occasional ride from friends to get beyond downtown San Jose. While taking public transportation is...