We used to spend Thanksgivings on the farm. The idyllic, iconic American experience. Mamaw would meet us at the door with hugs and, laughing, draw us into the small-but-always-sparkling clean house. She spent days shopping and chopping, and woke before dawn to start the turkey. On the farm, ‘before dawn’ is not exactly a big deal. That’s every day real life. Still, those early sounds of her stirring before the sun were the signal that some epic food action was... Read more
I’ve had the privilege of knowing Shawn McGuffey since college– which means I’ve had the privilege of sharing the dance floor with him on a few occasions. And if you’ve ever seen him move you — you know you can’t keep him down. He has shared guest posts here a few times, and when he says “I wrote something, and I wondered if you might want to share it,” I say yes without even reading it first. Always happy to... Read more
There is a 9-year-old scientist in my house who can name for you every element of the periodic table, and can even tell you if you are looking at an outdated version. He likes to know how things work and is willing to take them apart to find out; and he has some big ideas that will rock the pharmaceutical world someday. But he still believes in Santa Clause. For a couple of years now I’ve suspected that he low-key... Read more
My Girl Child was melting down. It was 8am, the Wednesday after a 4-day weekend. Predictably, with so many days off school we had lost a piece of paper. One she was supposed to have signed by a parent and return to school. I’d signed it on Friday. But you know, that was 5 days ago. Things happen. Hence, the meltdown. The missing parent signature meant she would “lose a point” today. Losing a point doesn’t mean losing recess or... Read more
He’d been making the rounds. The man in the trench coat, Bible in hand, burst through the side door of the sanctuary right after communion. “The Lord sent me here today,” he proclaimed, in the midst of a rant about repentance and the end of days. He wasn’t entirely unexpected, having made similar appearances at other area churches. Still, it’s an unsettling thing to have worship disrupted–loudly–by a stranger. Especially a stranger in a trench coat. There’s no way of... Read more
Guest Post: Rev. Megan Severns Huston “My new office is by the band room” Mom said, as we talked over supper. She had just started one of her first jobs in Southern Louisiana as an Assistant Principal of a rural middle school. The town was known for its long-standing relationship with the KKK, just to give you some sense of the place. Sending her to such a remote location was one of many tactics by her male colleagues and superiors... Read more
Oh, October. How I love thee. Let me count the ways. On this sacred occasion–October 1, which I’ve long said should be declared a holiday– I usually write an ode to the season. Not just the season, but the month. Thirty one magical days that include both of my kids’ birthdays, my birthday, my wedding anniversary; all the spooky goodness of Halloween and costumes and re-reading favorite Stephen King books on chilly nights; and add to that the promise of... Read more
Dillon, Texas. Pawnee, Indiana. Stars Hollow, Connecticut. These are my favorite places to visit when I’m stressed. Of course, every one of these towns is entirely fictional and exists only within the bounds of our TV screens. Best as I can tell, most of us have a few of these places in the queue and, for an hour or two before bed, we escape there for a soothing trip into someone else’s life. But not just another life. Another place.... Read more
I love a good scare this time of year. Creeping up on October, I’ll re-read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, or a favorite Stephen King book. I’ll watch The Exorcist or The Omen. You know, for old time’s sake, and because I have a sense of occasion. Stranger Things? Here for it, and not just because of the epic fashion flashbacks. It’s just the right kind of terrifying. I like some darkness. I like some edge. But admittedly, I like creepy things that can be closed and put back... Read more
You know how when you have major life transitions going on–like moving, settling your family in new place, learning a new job and smashing the patriarchy, all at the same time– and you start to let things fall through the cracks? Or… maybe that’s just me. But having just been through such a season, I’m here to tell you, that’s what happens. When you are in the process of doing big life things, little life things get away from you. ... Read more
Irreverin
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In