Monthly Archives: January 2021

Good news bears repeating

Posted on January 20, 2021 by maradanto

At precisely 12:01 p.m. Jan. 20, an elderly man walked up to the military guard on duty at the White House. “Young man,” he said. “I would like to come in and speak with President Trump.” “Sir,” the guard said … Continue reading →

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My little girl makes her dad proud

Posted on January 18, 2021 by maradanto

About 18 years ago, we were seated at the kitchen table when my daughter cut loose with the loudest, most primitive belch in existence. It was not the sort of thing you’d expect from a 3-year-old. “What do you say … Continue reading →

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The time the choir flew high with Jefferson Airplane

Posted on January 18, 2021 by maradanto

Donna Kunkel was the music teacher and choir director at my high school in the late 1980s when I was a student there, as she had been for decades before. One day during choir, Mrs. Kunkel recalled an incident in … Continue reading →

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Charon

Posted on January 17, 2021 by maradanto

Charon had been at his job for a very long time. It was a simple job, as jobs went. He waited in his boat at the dock, and when passengers came he rowed them across the river. That done, he … Continue reading →

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The banshee on the street corner

Posted on January 16, 2021 by maradanto

It was early Friday morning when Kyle Rourke saw the banshee arrive outside the house. It was on the cooler side of things, somewhere in the upper 30s; and given the heavy clouds that had rolled in from the west, … Continue reading →

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Night of the heavenly messenger

Posted on January 14, 2021 by maradanto

Some time after I went to sleep last night, I woke up to a sharp blow in my side. At first I thought it was Niki complaining that I had stolen the covers, but I realized immediately it wasn’t her. … Continue reading →

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Night of the heavenly messenger

Posted on January 14, 2021 by maradanto

Some time after I went to sleep last night, I woke up to a sharp blow in my side. At first I thought it was Niki complaining that I had stolen the covers, but I realized immediately it wasn’t her. … Continue reading →

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Now is not the time for silence

Posted on January 13, 2021 by maradanto

I have a friend who, faced with conflict, often reminds people that we have more in common than we have in difference. It’s good advice. Bound together as we are by cords of common humanity, most of our conflicts are … Continue reading →

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The evening heavenly fire descended once more

Posted on January 11, 2021 by maradanto

It was on a summer evening about 17 years ago, when a congregation that no longer existed had gathered in the American Legion Hall. Why that congregation no longer met doesn’t matter. And the circumstances that brought us there that … Continue reading →

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Assault on Capitol shows who we are, but not our aspirations

Posted on January 6, 2021 by maradanto

I want to talk to you about my country. We’re a fractious lot, America. For every two of us you talk with, you’ll find at least three opinions on how things should be done. And we don’t just have those … Continue reading →

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