Let's just start right in, shall we? Whether you have ever traveled north of the U.S. border into Canada, or been an armchair travelever, or a rabid hockey fan on either side, let's just say things have changed dramatically and forever between these two countries sharing the North American continent, along with Mexico. Let me explain why I make such an unequivocal statement: In French Canadian family life and in Franco American households in which I grew up close to "Little C

Published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace There’s a long arm of history reaching across the world’s longest border dating back to the late 1800’ when French Canadians began a migration that would continue into the twentieth century. They left in growing numbers reaching to a million in search of work in the U.S. This is not just a story of economics, though it is easy to understand that as being a motivating factor to leave the homeland. All these years lat

Sound the alarms! Call Greta Thunberg, Nordic world climate activist to rally her followers to go to Greenland ASAP! Nobody in the whole world should look the other way while a global emergency unfolds before our very eyes. Look up everyone! It’s one thing to turn our heads when violent wars destroy landscapes and lives—innocent bystanders—-watching the world powers play games with nuclear threats day in and day out—-threats making hostages of the whole world. We all know thi

It took six weeks, but it finally happened. I was walking along in the neighborhood where I have been enjoying summertime, when I witnessed the following scene: A man of about 80 years saying, “Welcome to Quebec. Are you from New York? A man in his car smiling said: “Brooklyn”. A third man wearing a chapeau and sipping coffee at the sidewalk cafe said: “We don’t like your President. In fact, we hate him”. I stopped for a moment noticing the yellow New York license plate wonde

The catch all phrase “spiritual practice” comes across as a kind of ritualistic notion that bears repetition like a mantra. In times gone by, and in some places even today, rituals like reciting the rosary are practiced together in a particular place. In secular settings the practice can look like yoga, tai chi (of which there are so many promotions with promises of weight loss), or, of course, a meditation practice. It is not the chosen form that matters, but the practicing…

As a fifth-grader, I took to heart the words of a classmate, my first crush, Norman, the class artist. He was a natural artist and the Sisters praised his art. Norman was the first first boy to call me on the phone—not text—and my whole family knew it in real time. My blushing cheeks confirmed he had asked me to the school dance. Fifth grade —- ten-years old! Harmless but memorable. Yet, sixty years hence, I remember less about the dance then about his critique of my tree dra

I was about my granddaughter's wonderful age of 26 when I first crossed the border into Canada from the U.S. on a roadtrip to Nova Scotia. "Novy", the young man and I called it as he drove an iconic green and white VW bus around the pristine, bucolic island. I can still hear that distinct put-put engine pushing up inclines-- small inclines. Shout out to Cliffy! Wherever you are . . . Something else left its indelible impression on me. The border patrol handed out octagon-shap

This week marks the founding of two countries that share the longest border between any two countries in the world. Crossing that border two weeks ago was simple. With no line to wait in, I drove right up to the open window where the young Canadian border patrol officer smiled a friendly “Bonjour”. I was wearing my "Canada is not for sale" red t-shirt I bought last summer. As expected, there was a passport check followed by a few questions meant to trip up those harboring mal

Last week's blog* generated more comments than any other of the 142 that I have written since I launched this missive into cyberspace exactly three years ago on June 9, 2023!** At the time, I felt a bit nervous about putting my own thoughts into words that might come back at me. I thought the crazies might latch onto it or the cyber police would follow me. I tried to guard against both by selectively sending it through a secure email list. I asked readers not to repost on soc

I had no idea why suddenly, out of the blue, without any warning and quite unwelcome, this week Google unleashed AI (artificial intelligence) on my Google phone! The changes were not subtle. There was no introduction. No explanation. It just happened when my phone began making all my decisions regardless of the settings I had decided on months ago. Let's be clear, I am not a techie, nor do I understand most of what's involved in this looming change to the world with a new "fr

In the unlikely event that I should be asked to deliver a Commencement address, I am ready with a story that tells so much about the serendipitous twists and turns of life and concludes with one of life's big questions: How do you know that you have not been brought here, for such a time as this"? Here is my unofficial translation of the Book of Esther taken from the Old Testament:* A powerful Persian King XERXES threw a lavish party for his bro-ligarchy. His wife VASHTI had

Pilgrim Sisters, Meridith and Julie at the British Library in London reviewing "Revelations of Divine Love" manuscripts written by 14th century mystic, Julian of Norwich, the first woman known to have written a book in English. This year's Peregrine Falcons hatched on May 5 during our first days in Norwich. See live from their nestbox atop Norwich Cathedral: https://hawkandowltrust.org/live-cameras/norwich-cathedral-peregrines The return is essential to completing a pilgrimag

After the fact, in that Washington hotel ballroom, rising from under the table with Boston Globe correspondents, one of the daughters of the late Robert Kennedy, gunned down 60 years ago after his brother, President John Kennedy was killed by a rifle shot, said to Senator Jamie Raskin, "Imagine school children all across the country every single day live with this fear". The whole country saw the video of the press ducking under tables in their finery. Each one has a persona

https://youtu.be/W74o_v2zjX4 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/19/oklahoma-principal-disarmed-intruder-prom-king?CMP=share_btn_url If that didn't bring a tear, here is another story to restore our faith in goodness that really does exist in others as well as within ourselves. A good reminder during days filled with news about the "dark side" of life. ...former secretary of transportation Pete Buttigieg, who is speaking across the country in support of Democratic ca

I have found myself warming to the Church in a way I have not for decades. For some time I have been roaming in what I call the Catholic diaspora. Sometimes it is a choice to side-step the rules that feel untenable at the time. Choices are made, and before long there is a sense of no turning back. Then a voice speaks: Hearing Pope Leo exercise his moral authority over the current aberration playing out before the world gives me heart. A Vatican correspondent who has covered w

. . . among the sheep and cows. Sounds a bit drastic like choosing to chuck it all and check into a convent -- or live in an anchorage like Julian of Norwich in the fourteenth century. Drastic or tempting? Farmland and wind turbines, St. Patrice de Beaurivage, Quebec, Canada If it seems drastic to go low-tech it may be because of how far we have wandered from such a life. The next generation, my grandkids, are yearning to break-up with their endless connections through socia

Boston Common No Kings These five women holding up the iconic symbol of freedom were most likely unaware when they created their cardboard cutouts that they themselves would become symbolic as "Mothers of Exiles"-- a line in the poem embronzed at the base of the Statue of Liberty.* A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles.* I was among the 180,000 Americans huddled in 30-degree sunshine with my daughter to lift the fl

That's what we all are with one exception--those in the midst of war, once again. Last summer in a French study program in my grandparents' homeland of Quebec, I was accused of being a pacifist. I had no problem with this, but Frankie did. "You probably come from one of those liberal places like, Massachusetts". Bingo! Frankie grew up in Texas. He was a recently discharged ex-army guy who had served in Iraq. What had he seen and heard there in the midst of a hot war? He was n

"Did we end up in Paradise"? My daughter asked, a couple of years ago when we traveled together to a small town called Dunblane, Scotland. We had chosen to stay there because it was on the train and equidistant from Edinburg and Glasgow. In 1996, my daughter was a five-year-old in kindergarten in a small town like Dunblane. Her teachers were caring toward their young charges. I never thought twice when I left her in their care for the better part of the day. She came bouncin

The U.S. Capitol Switchboard will connect you 24/7 to the office of any and all Senators and Representatives. Most often, you will hear a recorded message asking your name, zip code, etc. Then you have the floor, so to speak! This is an easy, painless, effective (sort of) way to speak your mind whenever the issues cause you concern. Sometimes, you will be mysteriously added to an email list from the office you called. I'll bet that email starts with a thank-you for calling, t