The Monk

The Monk

BROTHER MATTHEW FLIES AGAIN The Abbey rose among the swelling green hills of central Massachusetts, a handsome sprawling stone compound echoing medieval Europe, a beautifully mystical place of monks chanting in the dimly lit chapel their morning lauds and matins, the...
Pride Goeth Before the Fall

Pride Goeth Before the Fall

It’s just too easy to roll back the years, and be there. I’m back to eight years old. The images are strong – I’m there, digging my toes in the dirt and stirring it until it becomes a fine powder at least 8 inches deep, thus violating the rule to always wear shoes....
House Boys and Candlewax

House Boys and Candlewax

We were going home – to a home we didn’t know yet.  What would it be like, on the other side of the world? Behind a giant V-spray of water, for 21 days our MATS transport ship muscled the sea out of its way, leaving behind spouting whales – and sometimes,...
Joe and the Carving Knife

Joe and the Carving Knife

JOE and the CARVING KNIFE The wild sight is burned in my memory – Chinese Joe the cook, enraged, crazed, chasing fleeing terrified Lupe the housemaid with a carving knife held high to plunge into her back. His slitted eyes were on fire, his lips drawn back from his...
On Father’s Day, remembering

On Father’s Day, remembering

In Memoriam, to a wonderful father (Excerpt from Fly Over Down Under) 1946 – WW II is over… we are joining my father in Luzon. The transport ship pulled in to dock at destination Manila. A brass band played with great gusto and feeling, “Kiss me once, and...