This is a long, long, long and winding tale of a government, a virus and me. As with all stories, plot twists abound, driven by pathos, frustration and, ultimately, redemption. Our heroine tries to bear up under it all, sometimes with grace and sometimes lacking grace entirely, occasionally coerced into screaming like a banshee, and then trying desperately to center and calm the mind. Let me tell you, desperation is not a fit state for a calm mind! How she cursed those gurus who know ways of contentment. She would find herself trying to be reasonable and rational: surely this…Continue Reading

In Rwanda, as in many cultures throughout the world, teenaged mothers are terribly marginalized. Especially in rural areas of the country, many girls are without access to proper birth control or reproductive education. Many are victims of gender-based violence, and yet, of course, they are blamed for their pregnancy. “Once you’re a teen mother here, you’re basically garbage. It’s your fault, your stigma, your shame. Your parents disown you. If you are a victim of rape, you don’t admit it because you don’t expect people to believe you,” said my daughter Bridget Rhinehart, the Rwandan country director for the Swedish…Continue Reading

There is a deepening sense of unease here. If I still lived in the states, I would be horrified, angry, insulted about the war in Ukraine – all of the emotions my American friends and family are feeling and perhaps more. I would not, at least not immediately, be adding to that an anxious unrest and an inkling of fear that comes from living in Europe right now. World War I, World War II, these were Europe’s wars. Yes, America was deeply involved, but the fighting was in France and England, Brussels and Italy. And even though Ireland is not…Continue Reading

This is a tale of the raven, the crow. For most of my life, if I may borrow liberally from Edgar Allan Poe, my feelings about these corvids and their cousins could be summed up in a single word: nevermore. Nevermore would I see anything redeeming in these bulky, black, opportunistic creatures who scatter their smaller avian brothers and sisters to grab the tastiest morsels for themselves. Oh, smart no doubt, that was obvious, but using that intelligence as a robber. And that screeching! That a group of crows is called a murder, I found not at all surprising. Nevermore!…Continue Reading

I am a traveling neophyte, despite my rather advanced age. In this, I have no expectations or preconceived notions, but also not a lot of savvy. You can plan and plan in advance of a trip, visiting many websites, reading articles, looking for the best airfares and lodging to fit your budget, but in the end, unexpected surprises are bound to occur. And there was more than one for me, as I wended my way to the Algarve region of Portugal recently – my first foray to the European continent since moving to Ireland. The size and magnitude of Albufeira,…Continue Reading