Éire Über Alles
An Irish American writer reflects on his visit to Ireland and Northern Ireland, and his discussions with Gerry Adams and Rory Carroll about the Troubles, Kneecap, a United Ireland, and more…
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Life Stories
Missives from the Evac Zone | Though the Mountains Be Shaken
Recalling disasters that have effected me, both near (the Easton Fire) and far (watching on the news far away)…I feel another disaster is coming upon us.
Like watching a beloved family member slowly pass away, even with the encouragement…
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Altadena-Pasadena Eaton Fire | 49 hours
Justin’s parents don’t want to ask but they know insurance won’t cover everything.
Justin’s mom cries frequently throughout the evening.
She’s devastated.
10pm Justin packs the car with my stuff.
11pm I arrive at my moms.
Park the car, sit there, I sob,
First time I get to cry.
Altadena-Pasadena Eaton Fire | Post Apocalypse: Are We Really Addressing Climate Change?
If these massive fires are not the wake-up call that Angelenos need to decide to live differently, then there will be more tragedy and devastation.
On one hand, do we keep adapting and attempting to manage climate driven disasters?
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Altadena-Pasadena Eaton Fire | Eulogy For Altadena
Nothing lasts forever, don’t you remember?
So enjoy what you’ve got while you’ve got it.
Cuz it’s going to be over soon.
Sooner than any of you even realize.
But why?
Oh, Altadena (the “Dena,” to those in the know)—
You were my favorite place
on earth.
Paris Je T’Aime | A Lifelong Love Affair with the City of Lights
So, what is it about Paris that keeps me coming back time and again?
Why Paris and not another lovely European capital city? Well, like other Francophiles, and like those outlined so well in David McCullough’s epic book, The Greater Journey, Americans in Paris, the lure of this dazzling, creative, energetic and gorgeous city…
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Living Local | Pasadena: Giving Thanks & Celebrating at the Pasadena Senior Center
One of the biggest takeaways from my first time serving was the relationships I formed with so many individuals from different walks of life. The first person I connected with was a gentleman named Don, he was incredibly charismatic and full of life.
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My Grandmother Was a Travel Writer Too, England – June 1978
So as the influences have come down, my family has kept my grandmothers journals from her major travel experiences and a few of them have come my way. Having spent much time in the United Kingdom myself now, I know that as much as things change, some things do not.
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Signals from the Homeland
Currently based in San Diego, am I actually going to visit Paul’s Meat Market in Mamou for boudin balls or chicken leg quarters? Do I really need anything from Alario Brothers Marine Hardware in Golden Meadow? Do I need to know the weather in Morgan City? The answer is definitely no, but these signals from distant stations sonically transport me back to Louisiana.
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Ireland | The Under-Told Connection of Frederick Douglass & The Land of Saints and Scholars
Mr. Douglass’ time in Ireland is variously referenced as an “odyssey,” “compelling,” “a place where he found his voice.”
On his final day there, in a letter he wrote to William Lloyd Garrison, Mr. Douglass spoke of his time in Ireland with these words,
“I can truly say, I have spent some of the happiest moments of my life since landing in this country. I seem to have undergone a transformation. I live a new life.”
A California Cajun Returns to the Bayou
I’m away from my San Diego home, visiting Louisiana right now, crashing in a friend’s New Orleans guest house. It’s the tail end of…
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Conversation | One Night in Leimert – Four Black Men & Bringing the Joy
I wanted to hear from everyday Black men talking about their lives and where they find joy in the midst of the unrest in this new millennium crusade to substantiate Black lives.
So, I invited small group to join a conversation at the KAOS Network Art Center in Leimert Park, CA.
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