Going Home

I believe it was Thomas Wolfe who warned You can't go home again. Thomas Wolfe was right. Once we leave that proverbial nest, it's never the same when coming back.  But we still try, don't we?  My own most recent attempt was last week-end, a trip to my old parish church.  I attended Christ the King until I moved out of state a few years after I married.  So many important life events were celebrated in that little church, so it's no wonder that I have longed for many years to visit it once again.  When I was growing up, my parents were always heavily invested in their faith.  Missing mass was never an option, even in bad weather or tough times.  When the church burned and mass was moved to a nearby mission church, we traveled the extra 15 miles each way, even though the mission church had no heat and snow was on the ground for most of that winter.  Rosary rallies, Holy Name Society, spaghetti suppers, Altar Society, choir practice, church picnic, CYO, Bible school, baptisms, funerals, weddings.  The Church had us covered--spiritually, physically, and intellectually.  And we were always ready to give back.  Mom sewed curtains, drove us to CYO, prepared meals, and taught CCD classes.  She did it all while taking excellent care of four growing and demanding daughters. Dad's job was to raise money for projects, set up chairs and tables for all celebrations, organize the Church picnic, pass out the bags of fruits, nuts, and candy to all the kids at Christmas, take up the collection at mass, and do just about any other job that he was asked to do.  Their friends had surnames like Zando and Kappa, second generation immigrants from Europe who had originally come to work in the coal mines or in other industry.  We learned the old ways--no meat on Friday, fasting before Communion, and prayers on hard, wooden kneelers.  We prayed the rosary and chanted Latin verses that we didn't understand.  When I left that small Catholic community in the early 1970s, there were two Sunday masses and one mass on Saturday.  Almost 40 years later, there is one priest shared by four parishes.  One mass is celebrated on Sunday for  fewer than 30 faithful, and there is serious talk of closing Christ the King permanently.  At one time, the Church fed us, consoled us, and educated us.  Now there is the distinct possibility that the little church will disappear completely.  Its influence, its high moral standards, its beacon of hope.  All will pass away.  Like burned votive candles in an empty church.

Christmas Wish

Mom at Christmas, early 1970's

I have thousands of photographs, slips of Kodachrome in squares and rectangles. Faded black and whites with crinkled edges.  Polaroids whose images appear more ghostly with each passing year.  There are hundreds of sharp digitals and videos. Albums of archived memories that I've organized by year.  I spent the better part of one summer sorting and numbering negatives into neat drawers of cataloged envelopes.  And though my production of hard copies has slowed a bit with the advent of my digital phase, it's fair to say that my habit is a true obsession. Yet among all the pictures in my wide collection, this one is my favorite. It's a picture of my Mom.  It was taken at Christmas, sometime in the early 70's. Time for a story. It was almost Christmas. Mom had been away for four weeks, leaving the day after Thanksgiving to answer an important call of duty.  Though we missed her, we knew it was our responsibility to carry on until she was able to come back home.  Someone had to clean and decorate the house, string the lights, bake the cookies, wrap the presents.  It helped us to stay busy, and there was plenty to do to get ready for the big holiday!  Finally, it was Christmas Eve.  We all spent the entire day in completing the final preparations for Mom's homecoming. Surely she would be here in time for Christmas!  The tree lights were sparkling, the ham was glazed, and a delicious cake sat on the counter. Darkness fell early in the small community.  But still, no Mom.  Finally, in the waning hours of Christmas Eve, the family Plymouth pulled up in front of the little house.  When the back door opened and Mom rushed in, we all knew our Christmas gift had just walked through the door. Though she was tired and it was late, she had this beautiful smile on her face.  A smile that said simply, I would rather be right here, right now, than at any other place in the entire universe.  A happy homecoming.  A special Christmas.  Whenever I look at that picture, I remember that wonderful feeling we all had that Christmas.  I don't remember much about the gifts or the food, who else was there, or what we did.  But I do remember very well the feeling that things were right.  I remember the love.  And I remember the smile on my Mother's face.  As Christmas this year approaches, I want to enjoy every minute.  Not at the usual frenzied pace. And not the super size holiday that exists only on the set of a Martha Stewart show.  I find myself wishing for a simple celebration. For fewer gifts.  For less stress. For time to appreciate one another. For happy faces that tell me I would rather be right here, right now, than at any other place in the entire universe. 

Small Change - A Vegan AND Heart Friendly Recipe

Whole-wheat Tortillas

Let's be honest. No matter how you slice it, change is hard. And changes in diet and eating habits can be some of the most difficult to work out. Giving up most of the foods you love, all at once, can send any of us over the edge.  So try to make small changes instead.  Introduce more fruits and vegetables into your daily diet.  Try at least one new vegetable each week.  Lose the salt shaker.  Try a heart healthy recipe on a day when you have a little extra time to enjoy your food.  My family and I tried a wonderful burrito recipe this week.  Not only is it heart healthy, it's also Vegan and Vegetarian friendly.  Try it and let me know what you think.  Better still, tell me how you changed it to make it your favorite. Don't forget that small changes add up to big results.  

Black Bean Burrito               Serves 8


1 tbs olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 large tomato, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 bay leaf
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
3/4 c fat-free, no fat added chicken broth
3 c (about two 15 oz cans) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 tbs red wine vinegar
1 tbs cilantro
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
8 whole wheat tortillas


Directions 

Saute the onion and bell pepper in the olive oil until soft, about five minutes. 


Add tomato, garlic, bay leaf, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, and cilantro.  Cook until tomato is soft, about three minutes.


Add broth and bring to a simmer.  Add black beans and cook over low heat until beans are heated, about six minutes.  Stir in vinegar and simmer while you warm the tortillas.

Microwave tortillas individually between two damp towels, about 10-12 seconds each.  Lay a heated tortilla on individual plates, and add 1/8 black bean mixture to each tortilla.  Roll up burrito style or see package for directions.  


For variety, add 1 tsp low-fat sour cream and 2-3 drops of Texas Pete Hot Sauce. These burritos are very filling so you won't need more than two per person. The filling can also be used as a side dish to grilled chicken.  


Filling/One serving - 99 calories, 5 g protein, 195 mg sodium, 0 cholesterol, 16 g carbohydrates, 4 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 2 g total fat (<1 g saturated fat).


Tortillas - Choose whole-wheat for lowest calories and highest fiber.  See label.

Recipe Source:  AMA Healthy Heart Cookbook:  Delicious Recipes for Healthy Living.