On my way back home from running an errand not long ago, I saw a fence where I hadn’t seen one before.  Curious Kate that I am,  I started looking around as I drove and saw that there were quite a few fences already ensconced in our neighborhood.   I knew that a number of the barriers  had gone  up around backyards and sideyards, but I had suddenly become aware of seeing  some new ones, a few of them running the length of  the sideyards. Thankfully, none of them are across the front. There’s still the clear space of lawns. We don’t have deer here in this neighborhood  as we did…

  From time to time,  certain words  or phrases pop up in our language usages, catch on with the public, and stick around, at least for a while.  One such phrase in recent times is “walk back.” I think it originated with journalists who have used it when a politician or some other  prominent person  retracted or “took back”  something they said. Applying the  negative words to  the individual  made him or her look guilty of equivocation or weakness or even outright lying. Well, I don’t know what it says about me, but I had to walk back one of my pronouncements. For years I was adamantly against having  any…

  If you listen to the news on television and the radio or read the newspapers, you’ll agree that people are worried about the state of our planet. The Earth doesn’t seem to be able to hold up in its present condition.  Scientists are sounding the alarm, holding conferences and summits to discuss the problem and get the word out,  mostly to those they think are causing the problem. The dire warnings hinge on climate change. The United Nations and world leaders are collaborating on strategies  to  help preserve the planet and life on it. Well, one billionaire who foresees  a terrifying scenario for humanity on Planet  Earth  wants to…

  It’s that time again—time to put the spotlight on women. It seems that thinking about  women in a deeply  consequential way is reserved for one day in the year. The rest of the time, it’s business as usual. But there doesn’t need to be  a lot of hyperbole about women, their specialness, and their gifts to humankind. Nineteenth century society did that already. At that time, women were considered delicate and precious,  genteel creatures incapable of participating in public life.  They were unique beings to be kept under wraps, their anatomical parts not to be seen or spoken about. In this regard, you may read with amusement  linguist Albert…

It’s both a month for love and a month for celebrating  the African American experience. February is loaded. It boasts  two major cultural events: Valentine’s Day, the day for love, and Black History Month, a time to assess and appreciate Black heritage.  It’s ironic  that the  the  love month  is paired with the experience of Black Americans, a seeming incongruity in light of the  prevailing racial attitudes in our nation. Yet, the two are not mutually exclusive; however, having them both occupying the same space  points up  the reality that being the recipients of genuine expressions of love hasn’t been  a  part  of  the Black  experience—here in the U.S.— or…

    A year  ended and another began—seamlessly, effortlessly—like turning on  a light in a dark room. One moment there’s darkness, the next light.  It happened—with precision, unaided.   We went to bed, and when we awoke this morning, there it was—a new year.  We couldn’t do anything to hold it back. What shall we do  with it now that it’s here? Make  big resolutions  we very likely won’t keep? I’ve been thinking  about what to do with this marvelous gift of a new year, and the word defenestration came to mind. Yes, it’s a strange one, but it has a lot of potential for helping us do something positive about…

The story is now an  old one, and  all its parts, from the cradle to the Cross, fit together perfectly. Indeed, the Cross was the reason for the manger.  At Christmas,  the old story  gathers new meaning and luster.   For God so loved the world That he gave his only begotten Son That whosoever believeth in him Should not perish But have everlasting life. John 3:16 (KJV) And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. [2] This census first took place while Quirinius  was governing Syria. [3] So all went to be registered, everyone…

The many special times and seasons we celebrate have their particular focus. Birthdays,  weddidng anniversaries, Easter, Christmas: all have something unique at their core, and our mind fixes on that essential element when we c0mmemorate the occasion. This month we celebrate Thanksgiving. In the national psyche, this day has its collective focus, which,  more often than not, is a far cry from what the real emphasis ought to be. As the day approaches, it would be good for us to take a few moments to reflect on our individual focus for this major holiday. From years of observing the preparations for celebrating Thanksgiving, I would hazard a guess that we…

  Hello Everyone, Here is a trailer for my new book, Island Hearts. My publisher has prepared this eye-catching trailer that gives you a taste of the story and  invites you into the book to read, enjoy, and share with friends. Copies are available on Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble. Get your today. Regards, Judith