When the Saints Come Marching
The March celebrations honoring St. Patrick and St. Joseph couldn’t be more different.
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When Nuns Ruled the Roost
If you went to Catholic school in the ‘60s or ‘70s, the word “nun” undoubtedly conjures up strong emotions.
My Six Words of Gratitude
If I had to say what I am thankful for in 2020, my six words would be these: I am grateful for the Internet.
Sogni Siciliani
Last night I dreamed I was in Sicily again.
Fish Fry Fridays
Why is the fish fry so popular in a town where beef on ‘weck, Sahlen’s hot dogs, and chicken wings suggest a distinct predilection for meat?
Children of the River
We who grew up alongside the mighty Niagara know it as the artery that pulsed through our childhood. Photo courtesy of Maria Eley.
Strawberry Backs and Blackberry Fingers
As an inner city child, one of the things I looked forward to every summer was a trip to the countryside to pick berries.
Water in the Mouth
All I have to do is think about the authentic street food usually on offer at the Italian Festival—sfinge, cannoli, gardoons, zeppole, pizza bianca—and I begin to drool.
Front Porch Summers
No one had air-conditioning, the windows were wide open, and there were no family secrets in the summertime.
Love in the Time of Coronavirus
How we react and how we behave over the coming months will define who we are, and how we will be remembered, long after we are gone.
Swimming with Sea Lions
I have never been met by a Welcome Committee quite like this one. They seemed very glad to see us–a group of strangers–pulling up in our noisy zodiac boat. They responded to our presence by doing somersaults, waving their fins and popping their heads out of the water in greeting. Perhaps this is the thing […]
In My Room
When I first heard the song “In My Room,” written by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys in the early 1960’s, I knew exactly what he was talking about. As one of eight children, I desperately wanted a private space where I could be alone. When I reached the age of 16, I got my […]