Last week the verse "And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." haunted me. I tried to interpret it into my own being. I have this flaw within me that wants to help and give until it becomes unhealthy. ...

Thorns In my thoughts today I'm reminded of thorns. Thorns come in all shapes and sizes to the human existence. We have emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical thorns to deal with all throughout our lives. Summer is the time of relaxing, holidays with family, and lazy days. ...

Fathers Have you ever seen a man that loves to hold infants? The babies that are fresh to the world and just little squirmy, helpless creatures? This is one of the reasons I love my husband so much. He loves holding tiny, helpless babies. It's just so endearing to watch him...

I've been on earth almost half of a century. My life has had many highs and several lows. To stay sane you have to just roll with the changes trusting that whatever storm we are facing will pass just as those fun, love-filled times did. Through it all we have to put our best foot forward and finish our race. Which foot should we use? What pace should we run? All these come from our moral compass...

Just a Dog In my mind I'm thinking about beloved pets specifically dogs. Remember your childhood days? Were you lucky enough to have a family pet? If you didn't, I can honestly say you missed a lot of love. I have always loved animals and much to my mother's dismay brought several home as a child. ...

Mother's Day is upon us. Mothers come in many varieties. They leave such a strong imprint on their children. No matter the type of mother you are born to, you always yearn for that mother's acceptance, approval, and love. When I think of my mother I remember her whipping up the best meals and rarely sitting down to enjoy them. ...

In Acts 14:11 the crowd cried out. They were amazed. A man lame from birth was walking about. The crowd starting announcing thanks to Hermes and Zeus. The apostles were distraught. How dare they when they had witnessed a miracle in the name of Jesus, the son of God. Where is their faith?...

In my mind today I'm focused on my first cousin. I attended her wake this past Monday. Her precious mother sitting there receiving visitors to give condolences for losing her oldest child. Aunt Linda is now a member of the "Parents who outlived their child club" or as I like to call it "The Eternal Hole in My Heart Club." Heart-crushing...

In my mind, I'm thinking of how 50 years ago Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. It makes me ponder if we are any better for it today? What would MLKJ think of our country? Watching a PBS presentation at home with my kids the other night, I shuddered. ...

In my mind today I'm thinking of Holy Week on the church calendar. Sal the Youth Minister Gal is weak and weary. I had a very long, busy week and weekend. I could barely hold the communion cup at mass Sunday. We pulled off a pancake breakfast and egg hunt between services. I'm so proud of my church and the youth. It is melding into such a group of loving servants...

In my mind today I'm thinking about how spring break engulfed me. Boy, students I really took a sabbatical. Back row, that means a huge break. I indulged myself in watching college basketball, making out tournament brackets, and reading. Oy vey! I made out twenty-five different tournament bracket predictions. ...

In my mind today, I have lots of situations in Sal the ALS Gal's world that need attention. There are loose ends which need tied everywhere! I need to make calls, make lists, organize my calendar, and run errands. Ack! I'm drowning! I had to literally force myself to open my meditation materials first before diving into the tangled web of loose ends that are looming over me. I hear the back row snickering because Sal the Cool as a Cucumber Gal is having a bit of a meltdown...

In my mind today I'm thinking like Brittany Spears, "Oops I did it again." I haven't been able to write as of late because I've done it again. I'm going to ballgames, teaching at church, and being a youth minister. Some call it "burning the candle at both ends" but Sal the Dharma Gal calls it living with ALS not dying. ...

In my mind today I'm thinking of all of the blessings of 2017 and how things have changed from my childhood. Remember as a child how the 2000's seemed otherworldly? They seemed so distant as we envisioned a world like The Jetsons. We've yet to have flying cars, but we have rumbas, drones, and FaceTime which are amazing when I think of my techno-free childhood...

In my mind today, I'm thinking of obstacles. I've had lots of obstacles lately but haven't we all? I've been desperately wanting to write, but life has gotten in the way. I've had to deal with my youngest having Influenza Type B, DSCC fundraiser, Valentine's Day, Ash Wednesday, book club, and Vanderbilt doctor appointments. Whew! Obstacles...

In my mind today, I'm thinking of prayer. You hear and see it often among friends and family. Being Catholic, prayer is key. We have many formal prayers: the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Glory Be. These are common. Prayer is a way to "love others as we love ourselves."...

In my mind today I'm thinking about growing up. I'm thinking that soon Sal will be a 1/2 a Century Gal. Every morning I read, read, and read some more. What stood out today was our milestones of growth. I remember the old saying "Love is Wasted on the Young." Why is this? I think it's because we are living with abandon full of vim and vigor. ...

In my mind today, I'm thinking about true partnerships and commitments. Yesterday was a dear friend's birthday. We've know each other for years, but as of late we've become "soul sisters." Our lives have eerily paralleled. ...

In my mind, I'm thinking about snow days. In my healthy, ambulatory life as a teacher, I lived for snow days! Last night as our little burg buzzed about the cancellation of school, a part of Sal the Snow Day Gal was giddy! Then the alert dinged my phone informing us about the cancelling of school, I was ecstatic! This morning after my husband was ready for work he came to my side of the bed, jerked off the covers, and raised my head with the remote. ...

In my mind today, I'm realizing Christmas is quickly approaching. Yesterday was to be my first day of infusions, but my veins blew. It's okay and this happens. Friday I should be getting a port inserted. This will be used for my "new normal" of infusions. Every setback happens for a reason...