My Extended Labor Day 2025: One of the Best Ever?

I hope you read my previous post about My Labor Day Reflection. It’s been an interesting holiday. As North Carolinian songsmith James Taylor wrote, “I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain. I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end. I’ve seen lonely times where I could not find a friend.” (Except that last … More My Extended Labor Day 2025: One of the Best Ever?

Celebrating Juneteenth with Two James and a Queen

One of the columnists in one of the newspapers I read wrote today that this Juneteenth felt hollow. To him, it seems that true freedom and equality between black and white people in the US seems farther away than it did in 2021 when Congress made ““Juneteenth National Independence Day” a federal holiday. I totally … More Celebrating Juneteenth with Two James and a Queen

Celebrating Ramadan with Feasting and Philoxenia at the Divan Center

Last night I had a very special opportunity to celebrate the Islamic spiritual practice of Ramadan, even though I am not Muslim. Ramadan is one of the most sacred traditions in Islam. It commemorates the revelation of the Qur’an through a month in which Muslims shift their focus from their material world to their spiritual … More Celebrating Ramadan with Feasting and Philoxenia at the Divan Center

Happy Mardi Gras!

Laissez les bons temps rouler! Let the good times roll! It’s the third holiday in a week. So even I, the ultimate holiday celebrator, am a bit worn out. So tonight, instead of making a big dish (I’m still eating the leftovers from Losar and Ramadan), I made a Shrimp Po’ Boy sandwich. It celebrates … More Happy Mardi Gras!