What does the word “Ole!” make you think of?
Rejoicing, dancing, bullfights, Spain?
But before it was Spanish, it was a religious chant from another country altogether.
Tag Archives: love
“You Can’t Eat Beauty.”
27 Mar
© Carbon-Fibre Media, Flickr Creative Commons
This is Lupita Nyong’o.
You may know her as the Oscar winner from 12 Years a Slave.
But it was her speech on beauty that many of us found more Oscar-worthy—especially us moms already battling the pretty princess phenomenon with our little girls.
The Goldfinch
24 Feb
“Goldfinch” © Chickens in the Trees, Flickr Creative Commons
It’s not often that I recommend a book so unilaterally. Frankly, I don’t recommend most books I enjoy because they’re usually too far in the realm of classic on the one end or fantasy on the other.
Not true with The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. Whether you’re man or woman, adventure lover or philosopher, page skimmer or word obsessor, it’s well worth your time.
In truth, what kept me reading was the mystery of the story. But what made it unforgettable? What so compelled me to share it? Continue reading
Two to Tango
22 Aug
We had one date in college, and it was a disaster. That was 17 years ago.
After college, Chicago kept putting us in each other’s paths. Eventually, mutual friends had a party, and I decided to give him another chance. Plus, he said he was up for trying tango lessons with me—and he actually followed through on it. Continue reading
Wedding Readings
25 Jul
In honor of my dear friends, Chris and Cara, who are getting married this weekend, I want to share two exemplary literary excerpts on the topic of marriage.
Although I’m partial to these wedding readings because they were a part of my ceremony nearly ten years ago, I particularly like them because they offer a unique take on lifelong love and partnership. Even now, nearly ten years into my own marriage, I continue to revisit these words and find new truths in them. Continue reading
Love and Difference
15 Jul
Photo by Wendi Gratz, Flickr Creative Commons
How do we reconcile love and difference? It’s a question we all must confront at some point or other, whether as fellow citizens, friends, siblings, daughters, sons, spouses, or parents.
Particularly as parents. How we face this question doesn’t just affect us. It sculpts those born to trust in our guidance, love, and example.
As Jim Sinclair, a prominent Autism activist, points out:
Photo by Petra Gagilas, Flickr Creative Commons
“A lot of the time, the question of parenthood is: What do we validate in our kids, and what do we ‘cure’ in them … When parents say, ‘I wish my child did not [X],’ what they’re really saying is, ‘I wish the child I have did not exist, Continue reading
Birthday Song
4 Jul
Newborn in arms, I watched the fireworks from my hospital window.
I heard a song on the radio the other day and remembered singing it to Szaba during the wee morning hours when she was a baby.
Now my “baby” is three, and though I’m not particularly a Bruno Mars fan, I still take this song’s message to heart. It’s up to me to keep Szaba believing she’s nothing short of incredible. Because she is. We all are. And somewhere in the process of growing up, a lot of us lose that.
