Illinois or bust
Illinois or bust. That should have been my motto when I shut off the water and left the house at 5:15 a.m. Although I knew my layovers were tight, I had opted not to lose sleep over it since there was quite literally nothing I could do about it. But only an hour and ten minutes at Madrid Barajas? Then the flight from Sevilla ran … Continue reading Illinois or bust
Recipe: arroz con leche
This recipe is one of my winter favorites. Warm, milky, cinnamony. Mmmm. You can make it how you like it. Sometimes, I add more milk. Most times, I skimp on the sugar. Continue reading Recipe: arroz con leche
Saving the best for last: what’s been happening recently
A young friend dutifully praying on my guest room rug– “In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful…” –while above her were frames of Jesus’ words, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Continue reading Saving the best for last: what’s been happening recently
Alone at the seaside
…predawn workers hurried with backpacks and work clothes. With my backpack and grungy beach outfit, I felt like I fit in. No one pointed out that I was, in fact, an imposter, on holiday rather than heading to work. Continue reading Alone at the seaside
Mi casa es tu casa
My neighbor’s hands were slick with oily meloui dough when the doorbell rang. “Could you get that?” Continue reading Mi casa es tu casa
Recipe: chimichurri
After I had chimichurri at an Argentinian restaurant in Chicago, it kept coming to mind in the same powerful way as salt and vinegar chips, which make my saliva glands pop by just thinking about them. Continue reading Recipe: chimichurri
Day of green
I took a vacation day to get out of town and soak in some green. Most of the immigrants got off the bus at the Mytown stop. An assorted crew of elderly Spaniards remained, talking like they all knew each other. Maybe they did. Then there was me, who probably left them wondering if I had missed my stop. Continue reading Day of green
The Hunchback of Mytown
I’ve always had bad posture. For the first decade and a half of my life, it probably had to do with the fact that my peers came up to my belly-button. A severe introvert can pack themselves full of shame and self-loathing when they are literally forced to stand out from the crowd. Think giraffe in a world full of adorable penguins. Continue reading The Hunchback of Mytown
Why I don’t understand white
While I was working my way through college, I cleaned a doctor’s mansion that needed this floor cleaned with vinegar and that one cleaned with mopping solution and the other one wiped dry, and well, yes. Continue reading Why I don’t understand white
Dylan
Welcome, Dylan Thomas, to the family that loved you long before you were born. You are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God Himself. May this be your starting point as you find out who you are in this great big world. Continue reading Dylan
my thoughts from afar 