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The Heirloom Dress
My mother was no-nonsense, even when it came to planning weddings. “For God’s sake, don’t book it on religious holidays: Christmas, Easter, and SEC football season. You’ll have no-shows around New Year’s, spring break, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Mother’s Day is sacred, too. Father’s Day? Oh, men get over it.” “Forget […]
More“The Sea, the Sea—It’s So Empty”
They said the LST could ride higher in the water when landing in trim. She hit the sloping beach, and the bow door fell and disgorged jeeps and tanks and finally men with hands to work. It was gray all round, the water, the sky, ship after ship beside, around, and behind as far as […]
MoreBeautiful Minds, Anguished Minds
Can you see in the dark—in the silent night of a new moon? William Styron saw it. Although acclaim followed the brilliant author of The Confessions of Nat Turner and Sophie’s Choice, a shadow stalked then swallowed him. Depression. Styron movingly penned his descent into hell and struggle for peace of mind in Darkness Visible: […]
MoreTo Paris–with Love!
What’s up with l’amour in the City of Lights? It’s blazing! President François Hollande hopped a scooter for a putt-putt zip to prove his true love to Julie Gayet. (When the news broke, Hollande’s old lady, Valerie Trierweiler, rushed to the hospital, where she suffered from “emotional shock”—as if smacked by a TGV.) The next […]
MoreMary’s Song
In this holiest of seasons, we can choose to become our best in the coming year . . . gentler, empathetic, forgiving of others–and ourselves–with the strength to love and the energy to let go of worn-out disagreements. Our humanity drives us to certain foibles, yet the transcendent Christmas spirit wills us to practice Christ’s […]
MoreWhat’s Love Got to Do with It? Everything
Whatever your faith, there is a season of goodwill and the love of family on holy days. “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year,” Ebenezer Scrooge promised in A Christmas Carol. Well written, Mr. Dickens. If I could keep that promise, then I would feel humanity to […]
MoreHe’s Got the Beet
I always hated beets—until I met Jeffrey Robey at the Lynchburg, Virginia, Community Market. All summer he was my go-to guy for fresh yellow squash and tomatoes. Now he is the king of all things green—collards, kale, and mustard greens. At least those are my top three picks when I stop at his outdoor stand, […]
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