Good-bye, Grandma

The reason no one was home when our house essentially exploded into flames is that John’s grandmother had died just a few days before, and John and I were in Baltimore with our little kids for the funeral, while the big boys hung out with friends and family. (Yes, my 17-year-old begged to stay alone [...]

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And Justice for All

Lorelei stated rather matter-of-factly the other day that the next time we go out of town, our house will burn down again.  And of course I told her that will not happen, that it is very, very rare for a family to suffer such a random, terrible accident. That’s one aspect of this situation that [...]

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When Irish Eyes Are Smiling . . .

Just look at that smile. That is what I will always remember about Mr. Donovan.  The father of one of my dearest friends, he died at home on July 25 of esophageal cancer. I was a frequent visitor at the Donovan home when I was in high school, and I could always count on being [...]

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One Short Life

A year ago today, a young life ended.  Today marks the end of the first year that Henry’s family spent without him, longing for him on every holiday and birthday, at the birth of his sister  and death of his great-grandmother, during family milestones and every day moments.  They say that the first year is [...]

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Justice for Henry

I became a fan of Katie Allison Granju at least ten years ago, when she was writing her column “Loco Parentis” in the Metropulse (that’s our alternative weekly for my non-Knoxvillian readers.).  It was near the back of the paper, I remember, and the first place I turned when I picked up my copy.  When [...]

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Prescription Addiction

My friend Katie has been writing frequently about the scourge of addiction to prescription drugs since her son died of an overdose and beating in May.  And now John and I have been witnessing this almost every day in our work. Our practice is mostly appointed work–a conscious choice for several reasons, but that’s for [...]

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In the Midst of Life We Are in Death

November is a natural time to reflect on our mortality, when the religious, the secular, and the natural all join to remind us that fleshly existence has an end.  The Catholic Church remembers the dead on the feasts of All Saints and All Souls, and many parishes encourage members to inscribe the names of their [...]

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Henry’s Story

I’ve written a lot over the past few months about the tragic early death of Henry Louis Granju.  That story is now going to be told on television.  If you aren’t local (or, like me, don’t have t.v. in your home–yeah, right!), you will be able to watch it online after it airs next week. Katie [...]

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Mary Elizabeth Higgins Carroll, 1918-2008

I was blessed with the obligation and opportunity to write Mima’s obituary, which follows.  Mary Elizabeth Higgins Carroll, age 89, died January 30 at her home. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church for over 50 years.   Elizabeth was born to the union of Mary Becker Hagan of Mobile, Alabama and Walter Martin [...]

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Happy Birthday, Mima

Today would have been my maternal grandmother’s 92nd birthday.  She died in January 2008.  In her honor, I am going to reprint various things I have written about her throughout the day.  The following was the column I wrote immediately following her death. When I tell people about this column, I say I write about [...]

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