I took Rosie downtown for her martial arts class. They’re getting ready for a big demonstration, and the instructor set up a stage for them in the sanctuary of the old Methodist church. I don’t know what denomination the church is now– the Protestant churches downtown seem to shuffle denominations every so often. But the cornerstone from a hundred years ago says “Methodist.” I haven’t been in too many Methodist churches, but I have a soft spot for them.... Read more
I know I said I’d get away from the topic of Abby Johnson’s public racist attack and its aftermath from last week. But I want to take a moment to give a shout-out to a pro-life organization that gets a lot less press and that has handled the situation beautifully: Rehumanize International. Last week, shortly after Abby’s tantrum, Rehumanize International gave a brief announcement that a representative of Abby Johnson’s charity, “And Then There Were None,” would no longer... Read more
As I write this, Turkey is murdering our Kurdish former allies, and we are to blame. President Trump ordered the troops out of Northern Syria earlier this week– no warning, just got rid of them in order to let Turkey come in. True, our troops should not have been there in the first place, because there should never have been an ISIS for us to fight in the first place. But for there to not have been an ISIS,... Read more
Fall finally came about the fourth of October; the hot weather slacked off with a merciful cold front. We had a bit of rain, and now we have sun again. The leaves are turning. The world is colorful, cool and bright for the moment, as it ought to be. “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers,” said Anne of Green Gables, and I agree. Tomorrow, the eleventh, is my birthday. I’ll be 35: middle-aged unless... Read more
There are so many serious things to talk about today. A million and one grave topics require our attention. The world is burning up and we don’t know where it will end. Innocent people are dying because of American politics, again. But somehow, on Catholic Twitter, we were all talking about modesty. A lady who was not actually a Catholic but some brand of sedevacantist created a meme to teach modesty, with results that were both sad and comical. I... Read more
So I’ve somehow acquired a much larger post reach and a huge number of new followers in the first week of October. Makes me feel like I’m being watched. It must have been something I said. Nice to meet you. While everyone is staring at me, I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and to draw your attention to the tip jar, and then I’ll go back to making art later today. My name is Mary.... Read more
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke: The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place... Read more
Rosie tried to tell me about fireflies. She watched a television program all about them, and came to chatter to me as usual. And, as usual, I was too grown-up to listen to it all, but I took in some of it. Fireflies are not like us. They go through cycles of transformation as all insects do. Eggs go into the loam on the ground and hatch as nymphs, “glow worms,” and stay that way for years. They eventually... Read more
I’m going to post about Abby Johnson one more time this week, and after this I hope she goes away. She’s a disagreeable bully who has made an international fool of herself this week, repeatedly attacking not one but two men of color who are Christian clerics and refusing to apologize. Today she tweeted a particularly sulky non-apology, not to her victims but to her own followers, and painting herself as the victim all along. She also says she believes... Read more
“Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.” Autumn begins, officially, in September. But here in the ugly neighborhood of LaBelle, in the derelict steel mill town of Steubenville, in the place where the Rust Belt collides with Northern Appalachia, in a country they tell... Read more
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