From The Oystercatcher of Southwark by Erica Colahan-Ruggieri Copywrite 2022 “O, Holy Night, hmm hmm…” Mary hummed as she helped Mollie into her little bed, tucking the blankets around her. “Pretty, Muter,” Mollie sighed, rubbing her eyes and reaching her chubby arms up to hug Mary’s neck. “I am the most blessed mother in the […]
Guest Post by Melanie Wolfe As I drove down the highway on this cold and windy Christmas Eve to visit my grandmother at the nursing home, I felt nostalgic and sentimental for the Christmas Eves of my past. Christmas Eve was my favorite day of the holiday season when I was a little girl. There […]
“Psst…go back to that empty lot and grab one of those Christmas trees.” Grandmom nudged us back into the minivan. “What?” My eyebrows shot up in surprise. My brother looked at me, then at Grandmom. “You can’t be serious. We can’t just steal a Christmas tree.” “Why not?” Our Grandmom, Edna, was forceful. “Here, leave this in […]
The morning after I held my infant Goddaughter over the baptismal font—making promises to help guide her in her faith journey—I went directly to the paper goods shop and bought a purple leather-bound journal. I got straight to work once I completed the fancy inscription on the inside cover. I intended to chronicle for her […]
We’re clearing out Grandmom’s house. She’s already settled in at the nursing home, reluctantly. I live close by, so I’ve been here all week packing tea cups, glassware, odds & ends—the detritus left behind after inhabiting a place for fifty years. I wrap everything in newspaper, my hands turning black as the tears fall and […]
Mom and I went down to South Philly to walk the path that Mary had walked. I wanted to place my hands on the bricks of her home—where she lived when she met Joseph in 1891, and her life turned upside down. South Philly probably hasn’t changed much since the day the police found her struggling […]
