One of the benefits of living in Guilford is Bishop’s Orchards has fresh asparagus every May. I had never tasted fresh asparagus–I mean asparagus that was still growing this morning–until we moved here. I now eat asparagus in May and then wait for next year because I know how it really tastes. Something about asparagus…
The last two weeks, as Spring has finally come to Connecticut to stay, the lengthening light of the days has been matched by the growing weight of my depression. This time, thanks to the pandemic, it isn’t all to do with my mental illness but circumstances as well. I find that I crave being outside….
volunteer in new england we have to be gentle with our tomatoes let the air warm then the soil plant on memorial day while people down south are already making BLTs today Tom pointed to a little green plant “tomato” he said then “volunteer” from the latin: acting by free will choosing to show up…
permanent collection the pandemic has gone on long enough to get to “clean up the barn” and I unpacked the museum in a box waiting to be curated pictures from my father’s ordination wrapped in plastic since Mom’s funeral what do I do with a memory that’s not mine no one has missed it for…
everything never stops singing the tulips are down to their last chorus the apple blossoms are just coming in on the descant the bleeding hearts hum in the shade and the chive flowers translate melody to fragrance when they hit the hot skillet the endless blue sky sings of long ago and far away because…
the shape of what is not there I’m not sure why this seems to be the week for a mutual meltdown but there is a tsunami of tension even the schnauzers are surly they know the whole thing has gone to the dogs as we say and they resent being made the metaphor why couldn’t…
One of the things that has surprised me about myself during these days of quiet isolation is growing disdain for Zoom. Part of it, I’m sure, is that I have to use Go to Meeting for work, which is its own special brand of hell, but there’s more to it than just that. I think…
One of the windfalls of our unfortunate isolation is I am cooking a lot more. The combination of having more time and Ginger not having meetings twelve nights a month means we get to eat dinner together. The last week in particular my depression has decided to show up for a return engagement (so much…
During the first spring we lived in Guilford, we were surprised to see them set up a big stage in the middle of the town green (the largest in New England and designed by Frederick Law Olmstead), along with rows and rows of folding chairs, for Guilford High School graduation. The seniors line up in…
key change I grew up singing in church hymns haunted by harmony what a fellowship what a joy ye who are weary come home those songs taught me that congregations are contagious that love is highly infectious and compassion communicable singing they say spreads the virus our deep comfort commandeered into the forced unison of…