“Mother isn’t here now…” (from the “Into the Woods” song “No One is Alone”) The first time we saw the Sondheim musical “Into the Woods,” it was relatively recently after my mom died, and the song “No One Is Alone” slayed me. I had what I’ve come to think of as a “Killing Me Softly”…

I found Hidden Falls in St. Paul today! I think.  I’m not sure because a) there was no signage at the Falls or pointing to the Falls and b) the Falls I saw were quite modest. Not criticizing them, but I’m not sure I would name a park after them.  Now points a and b…

This week I finished reading a book–a book that I started reading in September 2021.  Why did it take me so long to read this book?  One contributing factor is that I didn’t find the book, “The Big Door Prize,”* a novel by M.O. Walsh, super compelling. I enjoyed it, and was even frequently inspired…

I recently got to spend some time with baby goats (not quite two months old).  They were freakin’ adorable.  This was Goatopia: a place, an experience, a state of mind.  Probably nothing else needs to be said. But, since this is me, I’m going to try and make a blog post out of it, even…

I’m often content to stay close to home, without spending time in shared communal spaces. So when I do go out in the world, I should be thankful if my outing is full of unique and memorable experiences.  In other words, I recently had a night that was rather annoying and somewhat stressful, but the…

Maybe I was just high on DEET, but my recent inaugural visit to Sakatah Lake Minnesota State Park was very relaxing.  Actually, I may still be high on DEET. Even though I took a shower as soon as I got home from my Sakatah Lake trip, I could still smell the mosquito repellant I was…

We’ve lived in our northeast Minneapolis house for 24 years, and I just learned a few weeks ago that the Columbia Golf Course, which is half a mile away from us, used to be a lake. I learned about the vanished lake from friends who also live in NE when they were giving us a…

I felt so defeated–I just put my head down on the table. What calamity led me to these depths of despair? Was I thinking about global warming, learning to play and sing a difficult song, or the likelihood of ever getting all my clothes put away? No, I had just learned that the restaurant we…

“Oh yeah, I’m a Unitarian Universalist minister. I filled out something online so that I could do my friend’s wedding.” –Guy at Bar (paraphrased) We had just sat down at the bar in the really cool Speakeasy at our hotel in Pittsburgh, when we heard the guy next to us say that.  I knew that…

I think Fred Rogers is a national treasure.  He reassured, comforted, affirmed, inspired and entertained countless children.  I was not one of those kids.  I did not like the Mr. Rogers show. It wasn’t because of lack of exposure: My older sister, Jenn, had me watch Mr. Rogers and tried her best to make me…