Random Thoughts

I am the “far away aunt” – the one that has to take an airplane to come visit.   The one that mails presents at birthdays and Christmas, and cards other times throughout the year.   I come to town a couple of times a year – visit a week or so – then disappear again.   Sometimes my nieces and nephews and I talk on the phone or video chat, but mostly, I am the aunt that is sort of unknown. Until now. I am living in Omaha with my nephew, his wife, and their two boys, Ryker (age 4) and Keegan (age 2).   They set up a great room for me in the basement, and I share the boys’ bathroom and shower upstairs.   Being here has given me such an amazing opportunity to get to hang out with them and know them better.   Ryker, Keegan and I have become pals.   When Keegan comes home from daycare, he sometimes stands at the top of the basement stairs and yells, “Aunt Suuusiiin, Aunt Suuusiiin, Aunt Suuuusinnnn” until I pop my head around the corner and say...

We all have our take on organized religion.  Much of our perspective is probably shaped by our religious experiences growing up.  I don’t normally talk about religion because it is such a hot button issue.   And, in my experience, if you tell someone you are not religious, a cloud falls over the conversation.   It is as if suddenly their view of you changes, you are judged not for what you are, but for what you are NOT. But in doing some spring cleaning recently I got to thinking about it all.   You see, we have a PEW on our porch.   A real, live, honest to goodness CHURCH PEW.   We got it for free when a neighborhood church decided to close and let itself be replaced by affordable housing (which is something in short supply around us).   I saw a posting saying that they had pews to give away, and for some reason I felt like I really needed one… Our pew It was an odd addition to our house, really.  I don’t “do” Pinteres...