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The Benefits of Travel

Originally published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette June 4 2021 “A single rose can be my garden… a single friend, my world.” Leo Buscaglia. I’ve been lucky when it comes to friends and family. A large clan network surrounds us without much notice, yet appears when duty calls. True friends astound us, like found treasureContinue reading “The Benefits of Travel”

Preserving St. John Cantius Church

May 11, 2021 Carolyn Misch AICP Assistant Director Planning Department Northampton, MA 01060 Subject: Preserving St. John Cantius Church Dear Ms. Misch, As a native of Northampton and long committed to its downtown viability, I support saving St. John Cantius. To repurpose its classic exterior would be a contribution to history forContinue reading “Preserving St. John Cantius Church “

Finding the right words

Originally published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette 5/7/2021 My educational trek featured a UMass poetry class. It was a jittery leap. The presiding poet was from Kashmir, and my classmates half the age of yours truly. A welcoming Shahid Ali wrote the King’s English with a clarity we could only aspire to. I’d written poetryContinue reading “Finding the right words”

Once a Catholic

Springfield Diocese Bishop William Byrne. SUBMITTED PHOTO Originally published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette 4/2/2021 This Easter column was in the works when a love song played in my head. It served to remind me of God’s omnipresence: “It’s Always You” Whenever it’s early twilight, I watch till a star breaks through, Funny, it’s not aContinue reading “Once a Catholic”

Missing the breakfast blarney

Published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette: 3/17/2021 Irish around the world will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Wednesday. My siblings and I knew that dad emigrated from County Kerry, Ireland. His insistence that we wear green on St. Patrick’s Day was far more than a hint. One of dad’s quirks was asking teenagers: “What countyContinue reading “Missing the breakfast blarney”

Taking shots in a winter of discontent

Published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette: 3/4/2021 Spring is on the horizon and, dare I say, a majority of us are looking toward the end of this dark winter. The arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine is a miracle by any definition. What in the past has taken up to 10 years is here in underContinue reading “Taking shots in a winter of discontent”

What makes an American?

Originally published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette 1/23/2021 January is a big month for me, it being my 88th birthday and all. This latest version of January will be recalled in the history books, not for me but for the manner of President Trump’s leaving — a scary trashing of the Capitol by thousands ofContinue reading “What makes an American?”

Battling for the soul of America

Published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette: 12/28/2020 Pulitzer-Prize winning historian Jon Meacham’s latest book is “His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and The Power of Hope.” It follows his 2019 “The Soul of America: The Battle for our Better Angels,” which offers the hope to be found in conquering America’s past divisions. President-elect JoeContinue reading “Battling for the soul of America”

Acorns

It’s been a good year! I hear their solid punch of earth from on high. Or, a surprising bounce off macadam Where they wait, anxiously, to be opened By Acura tires in a flashy coup de grace. Announcing themselves through foliage, Dislodging the comfortable with minimum Din. “They’re everywhere” she says to no one In particular.Continue reading “Acorns”

The Krypton Kid

–The act of reading occurred,Like creation, in sage steps.. First awareness of selfhoodWas there. Idolatry, beyond Teacher’s axioms and actionWords became rationality. Take comics for instance:Captain Marvel’s, “Shazam!” Superman’s, “Faster than…”In them I invested my youth. In them I found me: grown up.Doing deeds I could not do, Never would do. Before girlsIntruded, icons foughtContinue reading “The Krypton Kid”