So how offensive is this? “Today I join millions around the world in celebrating the arrival of divinity on earth, who came into this world not in riches but in poverty, not as a citizen but as a refugee. No matter where or how we celebrate, merry Christmas.” That’s mayor Pete Buttigieg’s Xmas tweet, complete … Continue reading Mayor Pete & his notorious (2019 Christmas) Tweet
One day in 1980, I was at my desk on an upper floor of a way-past-its-prime hotel that had become a staff office annex for the U. S. House of Representatives. My boss — Congressman Pete McCloskey of California, wanted some information about an obscure part of a not-so-well-known energy bill: say, Section 227D of … Continue reading Wanna Call John Dingell? Don’t Ring Through Hell
Yes! You can still order the most interesting, readable new Quaker book of the year, “Passing the Torch,” on Amazon and have it delivered in time for Christmas. But the clock is ticking. Get it here: The link: https://tinyurl.com/s6sbhaz In “Passing the Torch,” eleven varied & always interesting Quakers share their spiritual lives, and reflect … Continue reading There’s Still Time! (But not much.)
Cambridge, Massachusetts, late 1970s “Heads up!” called the voice from the basement. “Here come the bags!” When they heard the cry a hundred men and women straightened up, like ragtag soldiers jerking to attention. Spaced about three feet apart, they stood in a line that ran from the open end of a big tractor-trailer truck … Continue reading A Between-the-Holidays Quaker Holiday Story: Beethoven in the Basement
This is a Megabus, seen from the upper deck pretty far back. It’s heading from Fayetteville, NC to Durham NC, just after dark Saturday December 7, 2019. This ride finished up a long and full day for me. The day started with a chilly sunny gathering at the cemetery of the VA hospital in Fayetteville. … Continue reading A Visit to Debbie’s House