Jan 18th, 2007
by ebrady.
It felt good to be back in the classroom this week. I always find the students so eager to learn and I sense a real desire to find their passion. It is energizing and affirming.
In the January 19 edition of “The Chronicle Review” there is a great article entitled “The Real Who, What, When and Why of Journalism” by Sonya Huber-Humes. For those of you who teach Communications, I found it particularly helpful when thinking about teaching my News Writing class this semester.
This article, “The Real Who, What, When, and Why of Journalism” is available online at this address:
http://chronicle.com/temp/email2.php?id=h4przKMpcmgWNVPzJBxvsvmnTMfnd8km
This article will be available to non-subscribers of The Chronicle for up to five days after it is e-mailed [until Jan. 23, 2007].
Posted in: Writing.
One of my favorite Christmas gifts this year is “Jane Kenyon’s Collected Poems.” As the ornaments come down I thought I would share this poem from the collection.
Taking Down the Tree
“Give me some light!” cries Hamlet’s
uncle midway through the murder
of Gonzago. “Light! Light!” cry scattering
courtesans. Here, as in Denmark,
it’s dark at four, and even the moon
shines with only half a heart.
The ornaments go down into the box:
the silver spaniel, My Darling
on its collar, from Mother’s childhood
in Illinois; the balsa jumping jack
my brother and I fought over,
pulling limb from limb. Mother
drew it together again with thread
while I watched, feeling depraved
at the age of ten.
With something more than caution
I handle them, and the lights, with their
tin star-shaped reflectors, brought along
from house to house, their pasteboard
toy suitcase increasingly flimsy.
Tick, tick, the desiccated needles drop.
By suppertime all that remains is the scent
of balsam fir. If it’s darkness
we’re having, let it be extravagant.
Posted in: Culture.
Dec 14th, 2006
by ebrady.
I have decided to share the aforementioned short story, “The House God.” You can find it here or using the tab at the top of the site. Let me know what you think! A sample:
I watched Oyimbo, the peeled one, lying under her mosquito net from the rafter in my sacred corner. She was writing in her red book by flashlight as she did every night since she arrived in my house. I did not mind sharing my house with her until nighttime when her eyelids slid shut, her mouth inched open, and the pig came out.
As I watched her close the red book and shut off her flashlight I tensed knowing the pig would be out soon. I had not had a peaceful night since her arrival. As the god of this dwelling it was my responsibility to maintain peace. I made up my mind: I would make myself visible and visit Oyimbo tonight to ask her to please keep her pig inside when she slept.
I left my rafter and made myself into the shape of a human; a strong man of the Gourma tribe, the tribe that had inhabited this part of Africa for centuries. I climbed on top of her like a husband on a wife and waited for the pig. Her mouth opened and her breath warmed my face.
Read more here!
Posted in: Africa, Writing.
Dec 13th, 2006
by ebrady.
In my novel, The UM, I recount a night dream I had. In fact, I have thought about it for so long that I don’t think it was a dream at all; I think it was a vision. It was so vivid that I can still remember the face of the Gourma man very clearly 16 years later. I have also tried to make sense of it in a short story I wrote called “The House God” (which no one has wanted to publish!) where I try to understand it from the Gourma man’s perspective.
It all came back to me because of an experience recounted by Peter Duffy, a journalist for the Chronicle Herald in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who had a vivid dream encounter and is talking to monks, spiritualists, and priests trying to make sense of his experience:
“Nocturnal visit leaves me shaken”
UPDATE: Apparently the Chronicle Herald does not leave their stories posted so the link above is dead. If I find another link I will provide an update.
Posted in: Africa, Unlikely Missionary.
Dec 10th, 2006
by ebrady.
The Bundles of Hope program is a great way to help folks who are still affected by Katrina and her aftermath. I am once again helping out the Communications office of EDOLA (by LOOOOOONG distance) and this is very important to us. If you can help, please check out this link.
Bishop Charles Jenkins and the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana are pleased to announce “Bundles of Hope,” an alternative gift giving program this Christmas season.
Give the gift of hope this Christmas to many still in need in New Orleans. Honor family and friends this season and help the diocese in its rebuilding efforts at the same time.
Bundles come in all sizes, from $10 for School Supplies up to $500 for Volunteer Support. Simply purchase one online, or mail in a check, and print out your honor card to mail to friends and family. It’s that simple!
Posted in: ECUSA, New Orleans, Relief & Development, Social Justice.
It is hard to describe how beautiful the snow is, I feel it so keenly after nine years on the Gulf Coast. Today the flakes are full and round, swirling and dancing in the yard. The kids stick out their tongues to catch the flakes and love when the flurries land on their eyelashes.
Okay, okay, it might get really old by February, but right now it’s wonderful.
Posted in: Parenting.
Merry Christmas New Orleans
Once again, Studio 60 delivers a great show. This time Matthew Perry’s character is “a Jew and the only one who cares that its Christmas” (paraphrase) and insists on putting on a Christmas show. The finale is a group of NOLA musicians playing Oh Holy Night while images of the City are on the screen at behind them. Wonderful.
From their site:
The 12/4 episode featured musicians benefitting from The Tipitina’s Foundation. For more on how to help those displaced by Hurricane Katrina, click http://www.tipitinasfoundation.org/.
(Via Targuman.)
Posted in: Culture, New Orleans.
Nov 28th, 2006
by ebrady.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” —Melody Beattie
Posted in: Christian.
Nov 23rd, 2006
by ebrady.
On NPR this morning Steve Inskeep interviewed the Bordelons in St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans. Simon has kept in touch with them throughout the year and they are irrepressible. They have two FEMA trailers in their front yard, a house full of sheet rock, and a checkerboard neighborhood. But, this doesn’t stop them from cooking up a feast today and giving thanks. They haven’t lost hope and that is inspiring.
The turkey is in the oven and the Macy’s Day parade just began! My husband’s family is joining us today and this is one of the strangely beautiful and tasty recipes on the table:
Great Grandma McNamara’s Date Nut Tapioca Pudding
Description:
They say it’s a salad, but it tastes an awful lot like a desert to me!
Ingredients:
4 C Water
1 1/2 C Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp. White Sugar
3/4 C Tapioca
1 Tsp. Vanilla
1 C Chopped Nuts (Optional, but then it is a Date Nut Salad!)
1 1/2-2 C Dates
Directions:
1) Boil water, Brown Sugar, and White Sugar
2) Add Tapioca in above, cook till thick.
3) Add Vanilla, Nuts, Dates
4) Chill, top with Whipped Cream and dot with Maraschino cherries.
5) “Serve in a beautiful crystal bowl,” Mae E. McNamara
Number Of Servings: A bunch.
Preparation Time: 2 hrs w/ help from toddler
Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted in: Uncategorized.
Nov 17th, 2006
by ebrady.
Actually, at 5:44 p.m. she will officially turn nine. We call her chocolate drops because her eyes are like two dark chocolate Lindt balls with cocoa beans inside. They are deep and beautiful.
I took cupcakes to her school today and she came up and kissed me, it made her feel special to have me and her little brother visit. It made me feel special to see her so content, dutifully working away and teasing with Caitlyn across the table.
And then I marveled, as I always do, at the carnal pleasure it brings me to be her mom. It reminds me of the sentiment that mothering brings us closest to understanding God’s love for each of us. The pure, unselfish pleasure in seeing our growth, our happiness and just our smile. It is just a glimpse, but a little bit holy, I think.
Posted in: Parenting.
