Growing up Episcopalian, I understood pageantry and pretend. The church sanctuary and the liturgy were familiar backdrops where I learned about beautiful music and poetry and drama. To a child, the stained glass chancel was like a stage adorned with ornate props. When parishioners weren't around, I used to pose behind the scary eagle lectern,…

Earlier this month, Mac and I spent a long weekend in Lyon, France. We took the train through Geneva with big plans to see a soccer game, and then to spend a few days exploring the historic city. The first afternoon we took a walk in the old square, and I was surprised when he…

Is there such a thing? Yep. Most of us think so. We're all critics - we look at a painting or a sculpture or a poem, and we think, is that any good? Or, we say, that's something even I could do. When we first looked at this apartment, I walked in and saw this oil painting. Instant…