I’m about to head off for Indianapolis to join dad, Sonja and Nathan on the eve of my little brother’s brain surgery. I’m departing about an hour and a half later than I wanted, but had lots to do at the station before I could “depart in peace” as the Song of Simeon says. I
Commencement- what a great word. We could just as easily call a college graduation a “Culmination” or a “Conclusion” but “Commencement” accentuates the sense of Something New or What’s Next. That’s what makes it such an exciting day - and for some people a rather scary day as well. I have neither the time nor
What an amazing day - I hardly know where to begin. . . and as tired as I am (it’s 10:15 pm) I feel like I want to write about this day while everything is still very fresh in my mind. This was one of those days - and I have had more than my
It was an extraordinary sight yesterday morning across the way from Siebert Chapel at Carthage on what should have been a routine last day of final exams. Instead, more than 500 uniformed law enforcement officers from across the state, region, and even the nation stood across from the chapel in silence- coming to pay tribute
Yesterday was our second and final day of voice juries at Carthage- and for long-time colleague Richard Sjoerdsma it was essentially the very end of his teaching career (38 years) at Carthage. All of us, including Dr. Sjoerdsma, have been wondering both out loud and quietly to ourselves what that moment would feel like when
It started out as such a nice day. Kathy sprang out of bed much earlier than normal, hoping to get to school a little ahead of schedule in order to get some stuff done. Since she was up, I suggested that we take the dogs to day care- and she agreed. Unfortunately, when she got
We’ve had two very poignant Sunday mornings in a row at Holy Communion. Yesterday was the tear-drenched farewell for our intern, Crystal Steinberg- but I want to write about Mother’s Day and a very special moment which I am still thinking about, more than a week later. Kate Barrow thought it would be neat to
Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. (I’m not even Catholic, but this seemed like the most appropriate way to open this.) This past Tuesday night was the final Metropolitan Opera simulcast of the season- a repeat of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. I was especially excited about this because I missed the first act
Today is the first Mother’s Day for Kathy since her mom died, so this is a tough day for her -but I find myself also thinking about my own mom- and thinking about how so few people in my immediate circle ever knew her or even met her. Obviously I have friends from Colton, Decorah,
At a glance, a sunset is so beautiful and serene. But there can be another side. Yesterday while Kathy and I were dining at Culver’s, I spotted a very dear elderly couple that we know - although I really don’t think of them as elderly because they have both been so vibrant and active until
