Last year while visiting in the village of Chontal, I planned to take a bus a long distance, and was leaving at about 11 in the morning. I went out and sat for a while by a local tienda, on the edge of the large field at the center of the pueblo. While sitting there…
Recently, I passed a short YouTube video of a fishermen handling a large dead fish laid out on a table in their boat. Someone is feeling around its belly, and there’s something large and flat and thin that he can move around. He’s pretty sure that it’s a turtle, so he gets out a knife…
A friend recently sent me an obituary story about Doctor Michael Brescia from New York. Years ago as a young medical researcher, he and colleagues developed a new way to treat dialysis patients that has since become a standard. But he didn’t get rich off it. In fact, he didn’t make any money at all.…
Bird and Magic. Magic and Bird. The NBA in the 80’s was defined by those two. They had played against each other in the college championship. They entered the league together. They played for the two most successful franchises, who had a long history of rivalry, Celtics versus Lakers, East coast versus West coast. Boston…
Two years ago, I was in the village of Chontal in Ecuador for the Holy Week and Easter celebrations. On Good Friday, right after we did a short Stations of the Cross in the midst of an unbeknownst Covid outbreak, it began to rain cats and dogs. And then, the power went out. I remember…
I’ve been walking by the Aquarium on my way to work these days, and I inevitably encounter Eliseo there. A stout man in his 40’s or so from Guatemala, he sings Mariachi and Ranchera songs accompanied by his cell phone and a battery-powered speaker. Cold or warm, each say I pass by, he’s out there…
When I was about 15 years old, I realized three things: one, I can do good voice impressions. Two, I like practical jokes. And three, there is no caller ID on telephones. Muu-ha-ha-haaaa. My voice having passed through puberty, I especially had the ability to imitate the voice of the local parish priest, an Irish…
The areas I spend time in in Ecuador are usually sub-tropical year around, and animal and insect life is abundant. One of the fascinating bugs there are the abundant wasps. All terror aside, you have to get used to seeing them and their nests hanging from eaves. And the way they make their nests caught…
I am in the process of putting together a presentation. Every time I get back from Ecuador, I put together a story summary with pictures and videos to share with people and groups back here in Boston. I haven’t done one since the pandemic, so I’m due. It’s great to share the journey with people…
I recently had a birthday. The night before it, I got my first birthday wishes, by Facebook. It was Nieve. Nieve is a young woman who comes from a very poor family. You’ve probably heard me talk about her family if you’ve been reading these posts for a while. I first met them over 10…
Recently I went out for a walk with a friend and cousin of mine, to a place we had both known when we were kids. We ended up at a wildlife museum that I remember going to as a young child, and especially looking forward to the appearances of the otters that are in captivity…
A while ago I was invited to eat at someone’s house along with a friend. The cooking was amazing and the conversation moved along to questions about what I do. I started to share a little bit about the journey I’ve been on for the past 20 plus years. The hosts were very interested, and…
Some years ago, I used to visit a house of hospitality run be a few nuns, to take a day away for reflection and prayer. They were nice and engaging people, and the space worked out well for me. After hearing more about my background and what I’ve been doing, they mentioned that they saw…
Last year, I finally met up with a friend I hadn’t been in contact with for over 12 years. They got in touch with me, and it was a very good surprise. We met up and caught up for a while. We ended up staying more in touch and catching up once in a while.…
The year 2000. That’s when things started to change for me in life. Starting with the spiritual life, the life inside of me. That’s when I began to notice things differently that happened to me in life. It seemed like every once in a while, something was being communicated to me. What was it? What…
ALM 