From Christmas at Grandma’s to midnight Mass viewed from the sacristy, memories abound By George Valadie I can recall it as clearly and vividly as just about any memory I have of Christmases past. It’s not particularly holy, nor would it ever make a good Hallmark movie. But it’s stuck …
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The bride was exactly where she was supposed to be
A daughter has dates who are smart and goofy, serious and silly, but finds the perfect match By George Valadie “God will bring the right person into your life at the right time. Always believe that! If they are not there, God isn’t finished yet!” The smiles of the moment …
It seemed like a good day as any for a miracle
The walker’s earbuds go quiet, and the voice of God speaks—or does it? By George Valadie It was a recent Thursday morning, about 11:30 give or take, and it seemed like as good a day and time as any for a miracle. I mean one of those really big ones. …
The economics of a worldwide pandemic
Everything from beer to ink is running low, but so is the most significant item: kindness By George Valadie I loved teaching high school economics. It was without question my favorite above all the others. And I’ve taught a few others along the way. World history, sociology, biology, English, basic …
Lunch, dinner, and the morning Diet Coke
A new retiree and his wife may most often be found enjoying those things on their back porch By George Valadie Hey, what’s retirement like?” It’s a question we’ve been asked quite a bit since we started this new phase of our lives a little over a month ago. To …
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He’s retiring and may be hungry, but he won’t be bored
A longtime principal ‘is grateful for the chance I was given to teach those many years ago’ By George Valadie It was eight years ago to the day. I walked into the principal’s office I had heretofore only visited to sit in the chair that had become my turn to …
The answer to so many questions is: experience
Life is the only teacher for lessons high school seniors have yet to learn By George Valadie Like many Catholics throughout the country, Nancy and I, until recently, have been attending Sunday Mass virtually. We’ve celebrated liturgies from Chattanooga to Boston and points in between. Some churches were empty, some …
Emma on meatless Fridays: ‘I didn’t sign up for that!’
A grandchild’s statement spurs thinking on a number of things we ‘didn’t sign up for’ By George Valadie I wasn’t the first to say it, certainly wasn’t the first to think it. But I wish I had. Because I’ve repeated it often. “If we had known grandkids were this great, …
A heartfelt thank you
Letters to parents are the write idea when it comes to a Catholic education By George Valadie Dear Mom and Dad, How have y’all been lately? It’s been a while since we’ve gotten to talk — too long really. I just wanted to write this short note to thank you …
His wife ‘is on a mission to de-deck our lives’
While emptying out closets is fine, let’s not forget this year to clean out our hearts By George Valadie I can’t believe she made me do it. It’s not even February, and she made me take down our Christmas tree. Not just taking the ornaments off—she’s made me do that …
A brighter year ahead
By George Valadie Wishing you and yours a happy and blessed 2021! I hope. No, that’s not good enough. Not nearly enough. We need to PRAY it happens, not wish it, don’t we? Prayers for even a little bit better of anything would be a good start, wouldn’t it? Literally …
Focusing on COVID, which is no laughing matter
With a case of the virus himself, the columnist has mild symptoms and is trying to ‘keep it light’ By George Valadie They call it the biggest shopping weekend of the year, cars and chaos out early and everywhere, and just like the masses, there we all were as well, …
