The information age has trapped us in cubicles, then given us electronic interfaces and firewalls to the point that we all endure Calgary alone. We are unable to serve each other or witness the thirst in each other. The Joy of Easter is reduced to bits and bytes, a shallow animated image with words that have become shallow and trite MIME. If you have lost your sense of wonder and are among the many walking dead, this Easter acknowledge your Stations of the Cross, embrace your Good Friday and when you meet Jesus in Calgary find your way back to the joy and wonder of Easter.

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We have given great thought to the naming of each little miracle that has come to grace our lives.  So, when the fifth grade social studies  teacher  wanted  students to write an essay about their each person’s given name I relished with anticipation some quality time with my daughter.  I told my daughter I had [...]

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¿Qué hay en un nombre? Como muchos de ustedes ya saben, antes de elegir por fin el nombre de Olaia Kathryn hubo mucha contemplación de qué era lo que queríamos decir con su nombre. Olaia, hace eco del lugar, el País Vasco, donde por primera vez soñamos con tener, con la voluntad de Dios, una [...]

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I remember very vividly the first time I met Uncle Gerry. We were not blood relatives, I was inheriting his acquaintance alongside many other aunts and uncles and cousins by virtue of being married to Jim. We were in at Mom’s house in St. Louis, Uncle Gerry and Aunt Jane and their two kids were [...]

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I sat down to dinner with my children, a big hole was felt as the customary seat my husband fills was empty and dinner was mostly a quiet affair.  I usually don’t sleep well when he is not around – 14 years of marraige will do that, I guess.   I worry. Is he ok? [...]

Read more of Facing absence, uncertainty and senseless loss…

In our house we have debated many times why we like Kung Fu Panda the movie – mind you, our son Javier has perfume by the same name so I clarify. To some, it might seem we have analyzed the movie beyond any screenwriters original intent. We probably have.  But then that is the nature [...]

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Interpret me this: I was having a happy dream. I did not want to wake up I wanted­ to keep the dream going. I had just gotten out from hanging out a hotel pool with Javier and Jaimito. We had been sitting on the steps,  chatting, playing having fun. I remember thinking I love these [...]

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In reading Charles Glenn’s book "Educational Freedom in ­Eastern Europe" (1995) I delve into the world of totalitarian states, regimes that looked to education to perpetuate a carefully tailored ideology that would ensure the perpetuation of the state.  Slowly as I read on, current day issues distract me and compel me search for implications this [...]

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In my break from writing about nationalism and the construction of national identities in the Spanish Basque Country, I often compare my research from a decade ago to my current experience with education. I have a third grader and a Kindergarten-attending young boy.  I often am amused by what I am not putting down on [...]

Read more of The Making of a Puerto Rican O’Malley…

“Mami, Freiken invited me to his birthday and it is going to be in the park with a Brinca-brinca.” Javier says energetically interrupting the sudden silence that filled the car upon dropping off Jaimito and Olaia in school. “OK Javier, that sounds nice. But where does Freiken live?” I ask. “He lives far away Mami.” [...]

Read more of Javier, Freiken, Shishi, and I…