Oh Thanksgiving weekend, how I love thee!! It’s an exceptional time of year – where the temperatures are warm in the day and just chilly enough in the evenings to inspire campfires! The leaves have changed to their beautiful fall oranges and reds. And it’s a time to start a slow-down. For someone like me,Continue reading “Happy Thanksgiving!”
Author Archives: Jo Ann Ortega
Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part
I have this recurring dream. It’s night time. I’m treading water. I know I’m very far away from shore. I can’t see land anywhere. I am alone. I’m surprisingly not scared. I know how to tread water, I remind myself, as I begin to move my arms and legs in a rhythm that keeps myContinue reading “Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part”
Holes in a wooden door
Today I lost it when I noticed the holes in the back of the bathroom door from where calendars once hung. Tears, sobs, collapse. You see, my extremely busy, extremely committed and extremely efficient mother always hung calendars there, filled with activities and occasions always displayed there. Even in that intimate setting she was jugglingContinue reading “Holes in a wooden door”
“We don’t have sisters, Jo Ann…”
About a month ago my good, old friend said to me, “We don’t have sisters, Jo Ann. We need people at different phases of life”! That was when I was in the middle of a battle royale with an infection that started in a failed root canalled tooth and spread to my face and neck.Continue reading ““We don’t have sisters, Jo Ann…””
You see me, you really see me!
Usually I don’t plan out or edit my blogs. This time what I want to write about requires some explanation so I’ve had to think this through. I don’t share this preface to make anyone feel sorry for me or to martyr myself. But, rather, to demonstrate how incredible actions of incredible cousins gave meContinue reading “You see me, you really see me!”
Why is talking about Church so complicated? Saving our ceiling one plate at a time…
Talking about Church shouldn’t be so complicated. But it is. I was born and raised Catholic, in a predominantly Catholic town. I have found both joy and community in my Church. It has been a place of refuge; a place of encouragement; a place of comfort; a place of learning; a place of social justice;Continue reading “Why is talking about Church so complicated? Saving our ceiling one plate at a time…”
Happy Birthday Mary (Minnie) aka Grandma Allan C!
It’s been a minute since I’ve written a blog. Life is messy and chaotic and busy these days which doesn’t exactly lend itself to time for …well anything, really, least of all reflection. But today I was sitting at mass with Mom, looking around the Cathedral I was raised in and found myself waxing poeticContinue reading “Happy Birthday Mary (Minnie) aka Grandma Allan C!”
Missing You
Sometimes I talk to my Mom; my old Mom; my fierce and fabulous, social justice warrior Mom. She listens to me talk all about work and the clients I’ve interacted with. She gives me tips and tricks of how to deal with difficult people. She asks about my colleagues; if Sara is liking her newContinue reading “Missing You”
I’d like you to meet my Godbrother Sean…
You may have been able to tell from reading this blog over the last few years (I know, I know, inconsistently written) that I love politics!! I grew up in a household that encouraged policy discourse, active participation in all aspects of government and lively debate! I’ve been involved with politics my whole life! IContinue reading “I’d like you to meet my Godbrother Sean…”
Goodbye and good luck, Mary Farrell
I saw Mary Farrell’s post about not reoffering for next month’s municipal election and I’ve been trying to wrap my head around why it bothers me so much. Cause it does. Mary Farrell is someone I didn’t know at all until the last few years. I loved her Mom who was like a Mama henContinue reading “Goodbye and good luck, Mary Farrell”
