The bentwood rocker is brown with age and the color of its thin wooden arms – where human arms have rested – is lighter than the rest of the wood. The back has five wooden rungs that are attached to two rounded wooden pieces that stretch three inches above the highest rung and all the…

Over the past two days, I have had three separate church experiences. Last night, I attended the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood, where I read two of the nine readings and then participated in the Mass. This was a marathon event of two hours followed by a dessert potluck and time…

Good Friday BY MARIA MELENDEZ KELSON Jesus, I want my sins back. My prattle, pride, and private prices —  climbing, clinching, clocking —  I might loan you a few for the evening, so you don’t show up at your own crucifixion naked of all purpose. But for God’s sake, don’t spill any redemption on them! They’re my signature…

Tonight I will share Mary Oliver’s poem entitled Gethsemane. I believe she describes this night better than I can. Gethsemane Mary Oliver The grass never sleeps.Or the roses.Nor does the lily have a secret eye that shuts until morning. Jesus said, wait with me. But the disciples slept. The cricket has such splendid fringe on…

I spent more than a few Friday nights in the drive-in theater in Bonham, Texas in my teenage years. Yes, I was there with my boyfriend, Sam, and I would be less than honest if I said that we ever saw more than half of any movie. There was something so private – despite having…

Today is the 10th birthday of my beloved oldest grandchild Luna Isabella Pacheco Beaty. She is in 4th grade in a dual immersion program in Spanish and English and is an avid artist, reader, writer, and filmmaker. She also is quick-witted and the first to tease me about my “terrible” accent when I try to…

Today, I spent several hours finishing up my book that will be printed by StoryWorth. This was a gift given to me by Sarah, Gregorio, and the kids for my birthday last year and I have been edging up to the deadline of getting it completed. However, as of today, I have a completed book…

“You’re mother lied to you. That’s the truth.” Those were the first words my father said when he came to see me in the hospital. Thanks, Dad. I appreciate your sensitivity. Why was I in the hospital you might ask? I was having a delicate brain operation to remove a tumor. I had been suffering from…

Sometimes money is not what it’s cracked up to be. I have met some of the poorest rich people and some of the richest poor people. An external focus seems to be the key. Self-absorption does not a lovely person make. An example of a poverty-stricken rich man was someone I had the occasion to…

My son-in-law Ron makes this dish without greens or jalapenos and serves the roasted sweet potatoes on a flour tortilla with feta cheese and freshly grated cabbage. He calls his dish sweet potato tacos and I could eat them all day. I think the addition of greens, pickled jalapenos, and brine could deepen the delicious…