à la carte spirit by ilona fried
Freedom
How Have You Been Silenced?
The Orlando bloodbath has left many people, myself included, speechless. What is there to say, after the umpteenth mass shooting in this supposed greatest nation on earth, a country where, in some places, it’s easier to buy a semi-automatic than Sudafed? Temporary speechlessness, in the aftermath of a shock, is not the same as silence. Perhaps the ultimate … Continue reading
The Water Gives. The Water Takes.
Last Saturday I arrived at Walden Pond around 6:30pm. A firetruck and two police cruisers, lights flashing, were already stationed on the side of the road. The parking lot remained open so I turned into it, found a spot, grabbed my swim gear and walked to the pond’s main entrance. “It’s closed,” said a uniformed cop at … Continue reading
We Are Still in Exodus
Passover begins this evening. Although I won’t be celebrating the holiday in its traditional forms, the essence of the holiday is profound, one worth serious inquiry much of the time. Frequently, not just once a year, I ask myself: What does it mean to be free? What if true freedom means embarking on, or remaining in, an … Continue reading
Facing a Frantic Bird, Facing Fear
I love being in nature and observing wildlife; that helps me feel centered and connected to the cosmos. When wildlife comes indoors, however, inner peace flies out the window. I morph from a quiet, harmony seeking human to a frantic, freaking-out idiot. To wit: years ago a bat entered my third floor apartment when I lived in Somerville, … Continue reading
The Political Soup: Bernie Sanders for Executive Chef
When à la carte spirit gets political, the menu concept comes in handy. If the United States of America is a melting pot, then it makes sense to ask: what is in the pot, what is the pot made of, and who is stirring the pot? It’s an election year and we have new choices. Do we want to … Continue reading
à la carte spirit by ilona fried 
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