Years ago, after enjoying an bountiful feast, my sister and I talked about how Thanksgiving was our favorite holiday because all we had to do was prepare a nice meal. We both knew that the craziness of Christmas expectations were…
A Little Piece of Peace
During the late 1990’s, the English progressive rock band King Crimson released an album entitled, Sometimes God Smiles, as a follow-up to their previous album Sometimes God Hides. The titles have always struck my mind for they reflect how we…
A Late Bird Relishes Chile as a Majestic Destination
If Benjamin Franklin were alive today, his Poor Richard would be wagging his finger at me. I was a late bird. I had missed a tasty worm to do some freelance writing that would have been a fun gig, but…
For the Grace of God, Go I
I was having one of those days that every woman past the “big zero” is familiar with, the kind of day when you look in the mirror and don’t recognize the face looking back. Etched smile lines, forehead creases and…
Brave Face
A while back, the BBC posted on article, “Growing Up Young,” on their website (bbc.com) about how the present generation of teenage (and pre-teen, I would imagine) girls are feeling the pressure generated by the media and society to fit…
An Answer to a Prayer
A watch set in motion by a Maker who abandoned His work is how some care to perceive this world. For myself, our Maker is an ever-moving force in my life, and there are times, such as this past weekend,…
The Gift of a Granola Bar
Sergio and I were on our way to the mountains to camp for an extended weekend. It would be a much-needed break from the constant work and politics at the university. Once outside of the city, Sergio stopped to…
Evolving Expat Dream
After eight years, our dreams for the future are evolving into something completely different. We discovered this while camping in Huequecura. Sitting along the bank, watching the river gurgle past rocks and boulders, with hawks and white storks decorating the…
Closet Catharsis
Before moving onto another segment of our Chilean travels, and in the spirit of giving, I want to share my recent experience of giving to others by purging yet more of my personal belongings. While by no means a minimalist,…
More Precious Than a Plate
This morning, our newest addition to the household, a now 4-month old English Pointer named Missy, broke one of my favorite bowls. I had been so happy when it had survived the earthquake, for the garden scene and squirrels that…