Journal

Sermon: “Back at the Fruit Tree,” with Scripture by Louise Glück

A Myth of Devotion Louise Glück – 1943- When Hades decided he loved this girlhe built for her a duplicate of earth,everything the same, down to the meadow,but with a bed…

posted October 18, 2020

Journal

When You Can’t Fantasize About Emigrating Because There Is No Where To Go

“Did we just witness the end of our democracy?” I asked Tom at some point during the horror movie that was the first Presidential Debate––which was neither presidential nor a…

posted September 30, 2020

Journal

Dear America, It’s Time to Grow Up

One day in late April, when The Mask Wars were just beginning, my daughter and I went for a walk in our park. Just as we were turning into our…

posted July 3, 2020

Journal

How To Pee By The Side of the Road

Well. I was alerted by my friend Kris that someone googled this term and found my blog post from 2013. Advice for today’s Pandemic traveler! You might thank me for…

posted May 19, 2020

Journal

Nerissa’s Pandemic Diary, Day 1 or Maybe Day 11

I haven’t been posting because every time I have something to say, the world changes to make my insight obsolete. We don’t know what is going to happen, how long…

posted March 24, 2020

Journal

Authority, or What The Democrats Have to Do with the Structural Problems of Novel-Writing

I am working on what is perhaps my fortieth draft of The Big idea. Maybe the fifty-fifth. I have lost count. Recently, I received feedback from two excellent writers who…

posted February 16, 2020

Journal

In Praise of Greta Gerwig’s Little Women

Last night, we braved the ice storm to watch the gorgeous adaptation of my all-time favorite childhood book, Little Women. My whole family piled in the van, representing three generations…

posted December 30, 2019

Journal

God is Tired

It takes courage toRead the newspapers. Each monthMore bad news about Our failure to quitFossil fuels and buying cheapStuff that will end up On a barge at seaPoisoning the oceans…

posted November 27, 2019

Journal

Dolly for President

I pin my hopes daily on the polls, which is a terrible idea in all cases. There is no justice in the wind. There is no sense in the data,…

posted November 25, 2019