December 2023

My church, First Congregational UCC of Grand Marais, publishes the Shining Light Newsletter each month. The November issue had two columns that moved me to treat them as a joint guest column here.

The beaver were quite active of course. They often walked through the house taking kindling from the fireplace and wedging it between table and chair legs. Other times they would drag her oriental rugs across the floor towards their indoor pool. When she stepped on the rugs, they would drop them, wriggle excitedly, and make 'chuckling' noises, which she interpreted as having a sense of humor. One night, she woke up with a beaver on her chest. It then ran under the bed and began pushing the mattress up and down so rapidly with its feet that she was unable to sleep the rest of the night.

Running with The Gingerbread Man Deep in the woods, constantly scanning the terrain, ROB PEREZ runs a trail - over dirt, rocks, leaves, puddles, and roots. After a moment, THE GINGERBREAD MAN, brown, about six inches tall, with raisins for eyes, a cherry nose, and icing for a mouth, effortlessly runs alongside Rob, silent, unnoticed.