Professor Carol 
Okay, this is just the cutest thing. The father of a family dear to us decided to capture an activity that he, his wife, and five children undertake each year: the packing of shoeboxes for the Samaritan’s Purse project. After the family completes its weekend … Read more
Would you be surprised that the Cradle Song is a serious genre within the Western classical tradition? Of course, people everywhere sing to babies and need no musical training to do so! They generally pass on the same folk-based tunes their parents sang to them. … Read more
Have you ever done it? Looked up high at the spire of a cathedral and exclaimed, “Let’s climb to the top!” Up you go, dragging your feet over the endless stone steps, clinging to a centuries’ old railing, glancing down from dizzying heights, and gazing … Read more
As someone who extols the value of observing Advent and withholding engagement in Christmas activities until deeper into Advent, I also belong to a group that has to get involved in Christmas early: musicians! If you’ve ever been in a choir or band, you know … Read more
In a city renowned for massive monuments, the most poignant of Berlin’s memorial structures lies unnoticeable beneath the cobblestones of a square separating the Berlin State Opera from the historic Humbolt University. Anyone crossing this busy square known as Bebelplatz could easily overlook the presence … Read more
The world will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth on Wednesday, December 16. An anniversary of this scale for a composer of Beethoven’s standing has led me to frame today’s Advent Post around the joyous Hallelujah Chorus from his sacred oratorio, Christ … Read more
Scotch tape and colorful paper will be flying off the shelves this weekend, as people face up to the task of wrapping gifts. How nice it is to remember one traditional present that needs no wrapping and, in fact, serves as a kind of decoration … Read more
I had another topic in mind for today—one that would ease us graciously into the Thanksgiving Week, but I cannot get “projectiles”: out of my mind. I’m referring to plastic projectiles that pop out of super-hero toys—nothing more serious than that. But it turns out … Read more
Perhaps you’ve seen articles lamenting lower consumer spending on Halloween this year. The apparent pullback has been viewed by some economists as an indicator of a weak Christmas retail season which, in today’s America, translates into a bad economic sign. On the other hand, perhaps … Read more
It was good to get home Sunday evening. Remember what that pigtailed gal with the doggie said to Auntie Em? “There’s no place like home!” Of course there are always places more majestic than home. More intriguing, more evocative. We saw plenty of them on … Read more
