Staff Blog
Faith in Vermont: Lessons from a Lightsaber
The cultural world of our daughters – our two oldest daughters, in particular – currently revolves around the Star Wars saga. They have watched four of the seven films created by George Lucas: a multi-generational epic of the...
Faith in Vermont: Let's Act Like the Kids are Watching
On the morning after the 2016 Presidential election, I took my daughter to preschool. This preschool – a magical place that looks and feels like a throwback to 1970s Vermont – has a daily morning “circle time,” during...
Poem: There is here
Maybe I shouldn’t tell you I wear
a star under my shirt.
Having heard two swastikas
were seen magic-marked
on our Havaruh’s door.
Here, in a country town, more
of a house than a city’s ...
Poem: Across the Aisle
Across the Aisle
My aisle’s a walk across the road I have
to walk. My neighbor’s stripping his bumper-
peeling decal off. We’ve had little to say
to each other these past twelve months.
Guessing where each...
Faith in Vermont: When it Doesn't Feel Like the Holidays
“It just doesn’t feel like Halloween this year,” my daughter said on the morning of October 31.
The ghosts that we’d made from an old sheet were hanging in the tree beside our driveway. We’d read Halloween books...
Poem: Winning in Their City
Winning in Their City
after Elizabeth Bishop’s “One Art”
Tonight there’s no art
to losing in extra innings.
We’re not used to winning.
Not having to console ourselves,
heart-heavy. In the park...
Faith in Vermont: Half Baked: Adventures in Feeding My Family
Our family consumes a lot of food.
We are, after all, a family of six. But you might be thinking: Come on, how much food could four little girls possibly put away?
You’d be surprised. I’m surprised, because whatever it is they...
Poem: Motorcade in Middlebury
Motorcade in Middlebury
The least I can do is wave
to the Vice-President’s motorcade,
his shaded men. No one knew
he’d be driving through, staying
overnight. In the Inn? A B & B?
A donated home. My...
Faith in Vermont: Clowns vs. Love
On Thursday I received an email from the principal of my daughters’ school. This email was sent to all parents in order to reassure us – and, by extension, our children – that we should not be afraid of clowns. Although...
Poem: After Traveling
After Traveling
It’s likely the deer and wild turkeys will be
the first churches you see when you arrive
home. And next, the leaves ringing Autumn’s
bells. Don’t expect to see a busload of Japanese
tourists...