What the Crocus Teaches Us

What the Crocus Teaches Us

As spring arrives here in Western Massachusetts, I feel the warmth of March’s sun on my face—and a chill at my back. Not the ghost of winter, but the shiver I feel every time I read or listen to the news. In the U.S., we are facing rising censorship and silencing....
Should I Stay or Should I Go

Should I Stay or Should I Go

“Should I stay or should I go?” It’s a question many people I know are asking—especially in the wake of the 2024 presidential election. But it’s not a new question. It’s one that people labeled immigrant, refugee, or exile have asked for generations. It is the...
Nostalgia for Places of the Past

Nostalgia for Places of the Past

 In September of 2024, I moved back to my childhood home — not the house, but the community of Western Massachusetts where I grew up. I haven’t lived here for decades, but it was time to come back, to spend time with my aging parents, and to have an anchor...

Moving Away

It’s hard to describe the feeling of moving away. I’ve moved from Miami before–during COVID-19–but last year I moved back to the city. This year, I moved away again. It wasn’t the same city as I remembered–of course. The traffic was...
The Garden: Digging into Stories

The Garden: Digging into Stories

To find stories, we need to dig deep. Let’s think about the metaphor of “digging deep” — are we digging for the stories of the dead whose voices have not been heard? Are we digging for “treasures”?  Perhaps we can also think of the...