God’s phone number
Half a century ago, phone numbers had prefixes as well as numbers (such as ESterbrook 9-3392), and the Roman Catholic Mass was in Latin. "Dominus vobiscum," the priest would say. [...]
Book review: “Houses and Homes – Exploring Their History” by Barbara J. Howe, Dolores A. Fleming, Emory L. Kemp and Ruth Ann Overbeck
Every once in a while, when I'm in the basement and can see the foundations of our two-flat, or rummage in a closet and notice a crack in the plaster [...]
Waiting for Alzheimer’s
The other day, I was talking with some friends about movies, and somehow the conversation got onto the film "Elf." There was a point I wanted to make about the [...]
Lincoln, work and prayer
"Orare est laborare." That's the motto of the Benedictine order. It means: Working is praying. By most accounts, Abraham Lincoln wasn’t terribly interested in organized religion. But that’s not to [...]
In Austin
I grew up in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago. I am the oldest of 14 children, and one of my jobs, growing up, was to watch [...]
Book review: “The Art of Fielding” by Chad Harbach
Chad Harbach's intention in "The Art of Fielding" seems to be to subvert the traditional sports story — boy of great talent hones his craft, reaches heights, stumbles but learns [...]
JFK and the cafeteria bishops
A half century ago, John F. Kennedy was elected the first Catholic President of the United States because he convinced American voters that he wouldn't take orders from the Pope. [...]
Book review: “Being Dead” by Jim Crace
When she and her husband Joseph were murdered on an isolated stretch of beach, Celice's body fell onto the sand, upending a dune beetle and trapping him in the folds [...]
Book review: “The Uncommon Reader” by Alan Bennett
Reading the last line of Alan Bennett's "The Uncommon Reader," I laughed out loud. I can't guarantee you will, but I suspect you will find this short 2007 novel funny [...]
Book review: “How to Train Your Dragon” by Cressida Cowell
Okay, so I'm a 10-year-old boy at heart. I found the 2010 movie "How to Train Your Dragon," starring Jay Baruchel as the hapless Hiccup, endlessly droll, inventive, touching and [...]