Category: Willows, Memories from Back Home
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Going Home for Christmas
One by one. My family is meeting up in Willows. I can see the lane to my mother's home, I can hear the fire crackling in the fireplace, and smell the cookies being made, and I long to hug…
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My Cousins: Alan, Donna, Barbara, Anthony, Lynette, Greg, Michael, and John
Yes. True. And love one another at the same time. The more I read and listen to others, the message of faith, seems to be their anchor, their North Star, their peace, their way to sanity, strength to living…
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The Tradition of Thanksgiving
As far back as anyone in my family can remember, my mom made turkey cutout sugar cookies for Thanksgiving. As I have mentioned on my blog many times, my brother Marty (may his soul rest in peace) would snap the…
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Goodbye Chris
My cousin Chris Souza, ten years ago. In Northern California, my extended family, 60 first Cousins, 22 Aunts and Uncles, 112 second cousins, and too many to count third cousins, formed a foundation of love, faith, and togetherness. We are…
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Sacha’s Blackberry Pie
Gathering fresh blackberries was at the top of his list the morning Sacha made a pie. He knew the patch from last year, and it did not disappoint, loaded with juicy wonders. Filling his container took mere minutes to collect.…
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Longtime Dearest Friend
My friend Erika and I met when I was twenty-four years old and working for the Catholic Church in California. Erika was 14 years old. We became friends through youth ministry and, through the years, have remained very close.…