Musings by Catherine

We love our pets. Some of us are obsessed with our “children,” the cats, dogs, and other non-human creatures at home. During this COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine, the desire for a kitten or puppy has blossomed into a kind of obsession on a national level. A number of news reports have told us that people who have never had a pet, now seem desperate to adopt one. But why … [Read more...] about Adopting Pets for the Wrong Reasons

It’s true. While I was in Chicago last week for a conference, I tried every morning to find a strong, yet tasty cup of coffee. I figured I wouldn’t find chicory, though there may have been some place in Chicago that I could have found online. But I was working, no time to search for what I have every single day. I’m not really a coffee-aficionado. But I drink it every morning. … [Read more...] about I Couldn’t Get a Good Cup of Coffee for 5 Days, and Other Causes for Outrage

O What a Night!  It’s 5:45 pm, on the corner of St. Ann and Bourbon Streets. Hot, still dripping a bit of shiny raindrops around the mugginess that is New Orleans in July. Tourists traipse along Bourbon, some moving quickly, more moving slowly so they can see what Bourbon Street is all about. They’ll never really get it, will they?  I was focused on the groups, … [Read more...] about 2019 Gay Appreciation Awards: Personal Reflections

Affirmation of self is something we may forget about sometimes, deny, or just not know how to do, because we’ve never felt self-affirming.  It strikes me that many in our community, spanning age and stage, are asking difficult questions about life, goals, expectations, with a healthy amount of trying to figure out a personal kind of existential angst. Younger members of … [Read more...] about Affirm Yourself: Find Purpose, Go Forward

You will probably be reading this the first week of July, when we will celebrate the Fourth of July. Historically, freedom is the overarching theme of this holiday. We celebrate freedom in all of its forms--for the opportunity to achieve at the highest levels; to worship in any way you would choose; and freedom to be who you are, love who you love, and act … [Read more...] about The Importance of Freedom: Is Inner Freedom Like Inner Peace?