The 11th day of the rice and sugar cult

Every day I go to a tree, any tree. Around the base, I scatter a mix of sugar and rice.  There is no incantation, no prayer, no special method of scattering the rice and sugar.  I have done this for 11 days in a row. The ritual is to break my chain of bad luck.  … read more The 11th day of the rice and sugar cult

The red buckeyes: An act of faith

This story begins seven years ago, with an act of faith. February 20, 2009 “I’m going to plant that red buckeye seed today,” I told Tom. Caught in my voice was that thin blade of iron resolution usually reserved for the worst tasks, like sweeping mounds of wet leaves off the decks. I had put … read more The red buckeyes: An act of faith

At the speed of a cranefly

My day was saved by this leaf. Perfect day for a hike: sunshine and near 70 degrees. But I couldn’t bear the thought of hiking. Even after sleeping nearly 12 hours, I got worn out from just heating and eating lunch, taking a shower and distributing leftover cornbread to the birds. No energy left for … read more At the speed of a cranefly

Day 82: Is the Pope Catholic?

I’m a recovering Catholic. I don’t think I’ve been to church more than a dozen times since I turned 20, and most of those were for weddings and funerals. But this pope, Francis. He is Catholic??? You might wonder, if you grew up in the era where Catholicism was all about damnation and guilt, and exclusion and … read more Day 82: Is the Pope Catholic?