Together

Five chairs around a table,
A kitchen table set for five.
Five fingers counting blessings … ...
One, two, three. Then four and five.
Five gathered at the table
A kitchen table set for five.

~from the files of very bad poetry by Bia

Oh, Yes I Did!

A week in southern Italy this past summer and look what happens. The drivers on the Amalfi Coast taught me or thing or two about the art of precise parking and the finesse of parking illegally.

Finding the Words

This morning I spent an hour and a half interviewing a woman whose husband was murdered.

Grace, forgiveness, mercy, redemption ...

I don't know how I'm going to find the words to tell her story.

Top 10 Jonathan Stories

Today is Jonathan's 19 birthday. And in these 19 years, despite that sweet smile and those cute dimples, there have been a LOT of Jonathan stories. In no particular order, here they are:


1- He once made me this birthday card.

2- Jonathan in Disneyworld ... morphing into Captain Jack Sparrow, drawing his sword, and getting into a scuffle with his brother right there on Main Street. A scuffle that Dad had to forcibly break up. Nothing like brotherly love in the Happiest Place on Earth.


3- In which Jonathan (and Mom) almost caused an INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT at the airport in Milan, Italy.

4- Jonathan leaving his footprint on holy ground St. Francis' sleeping cave in La Verna, Italy.


5- The time Jonathan's finger was stuck in a Wiffle Ball and Nonno had to cut it off (the wiffle ball, not the finger).

6- Because of Jonathan, we know how to talk in Caveman ... grunting, mumbling, speaking in monosyllables. Jonathan has taught us well. He also taught us the you-know-what-face.


7- How Jonathan gives me his birthday wish list in September (when his birthday is in October) and his Christmas wish list in November.


8- Jonathan makes his bed every. single. day. Even in college.


9- The time Jonathan's foot got caught in the train door in Pompeii, Italy and Dad turned into THE HULK and pried the doors open to free Jonathan's foot.


10-  Finally, Jonathan is responsible for a certain story that will be talked about at every family gathering from now until forever. It is THE family story of our generation. Something about Jonathan landing Nonno's truck in the Savannah River. But that's all I'm saying. I was sworn to secrecy ...

Buon Compleanno, Jonathan!