It seems right and fitting to write on Valentine’s Day from New Hope, a town where I celebrated Valentines in 1991—dinner at Hotel du Village—two weeks after getting engaged, senior year in college. If you’ve followed my story at all, you already know this lifetime vow lasted twenty years. After that, many years passed during … Continue reading Valentining
Author: Cressey
Making Peace
The soul is made of love and must ever strive to return to love.- Mechthild von Magdeburg Reconciliation seems to be a thread running through my life at the moment. When I started going back to church, one of the things I recalled was this sacrament. At my Catholic grammar school, all of us were … Continue reading Making Peace
Vater Schläft*
Within the boneIs marrowWithin my heartIs an old storyWith a new ending Once we wereA family of threeI, the childAnd in our marrowWas faith and trustBut when Dad diedSome of it left with him Mother’s pain and mineServed not to easeBut to sharpen the other’sAs I grew upI did my part to hurtAnd she did … Continue reading Vater Schläft*
Hidden in a Teardrop
One must never let the fire go out in one’s soul,But keep it burning.- Vincent Van Gogh It was the summer before college, and as a graduation present, I was on my way to Caracas to visit a friend, via Miami. But first, my wallet and passport got stolen—an anxiety nightmare that lingers to this … Continue reading Hidden in a Teardrop
I Believe I Believe
‘Here I am. Send me’…‘Be ever hearing but never understanding.Be ever seeing but never perceiving.’ - Isaiah 6:8 She struggles. I pray. If you met G today, you would never know how much she struggles. If you met me, you would never know how hard I pray. It is dawn on Easter Sunday. For the … Continue reading I Believe I Believe
Trigger Warning, Ohio Part 10
TRIGGER WARNING! Today my girl turns 21And as much as I wantTo post the chronologyOf her from infancy,I am honoringBoth her wishAnd her accomplishment:The completion of the firstAnd largest componentOf the sculptureShe has been creatingFor over two years “But I Misunderstood:[6 houses and a porch]”Is part of an ongoing pieceThat includes much moreCalled “Gratified Bulimia” … Continue reading Trigger Warning, Ohio Part 10
On Writing, Writers and the Written
We are not idealized wild things.We are imperfect mortal beings, aware of that mortality even as we push it away,failed by our very complication,so wired that when we mourn our losses we also mourn, for better or for worse, ourselves.As we were. As we are no longer. As we will one day not be at … Continue reading On Writing, Writers and the Written
Grateful Adult Child
"The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely."- Carl Jung Three things: One, in my childhood home there was a baking table in the middle of our kitchen. It had two giant metal drawers for flour and two heavy smaller drawers above them that were impossible for me to open. My mother had to … Continue reading Grateful Adult Child
Lead, Ohio Part 9
A baby sock. A baby bottle nipple. Poker chips. A domino. A yellow “Sorry” piece. Dice. A container of red glitter. Marbles. Broken glass. Even when I thought the area around the convent was cleaned up, I would find another piece of broken glass. And another marble. One made me fear for bare feet and … Continue reading Lead, Ohio Part 9
Integrating Hope
“Late have I loved you,O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!You were within me, but I was outside,And it was there that I searched for you.”– St Augustine Recently I have had this intermittent sense that I need to call home, to call my mother. I haven’t spoken with her in … Continue reading Integrating Hope
Where I End & She Begins 