Author: Edward Ortiz

To My Mother

Today, I’m sharing another poem by my grandfather-in-law, Pedro Rodríguez Miranda. The poem, To My Mother, was written and posthumously dedicated to his mother, María Miranda Talavera, and comes from the Love Poems in Old Age section of his book. I hope you enjoy the poem. A Mi MadreCuando el sol se apagó en tus ojos azules,Se apagaron … Continue reading To My Mother →

Rockin’ Thursday LXI

Yesterday, various organizations around the world commemorated the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, a devastating conflict fought from November 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975. I was born just before the war ended, and as a teenager growing up in the mid-eighties, I didn’t fully understand how deeply it had affected … Continue reading Rockin’ Thursday LXI →

Book Review: Bittersweet

Bittersweet—that’s a word we hear often, probably several times a week. My 1995 Webster’s New World Dictionary defines it as "pleasure mixed with sadness,” which is okay, but not nearly as powerful as how Susan Cain describes it in her wonderful book, Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole. Here is Susan’s description: “The … Continue reading Book Review: Bittersweet →

Rockin’ Thursday LX

I heard this song yesterday and was instantly hooked. I figured I’d share it with the community, and hopefully you’ll enjoy it too. Today, I’m featuring “Worthy” by Mavis Staples. She’s an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, as well as a civil rights activist. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame … Continue reading Rockin’ Thursday LX →

Neighbors in Need: A Simple Way to Make a Big Difference

My plan for today was to review the final draft of a book review I’m working on and then publish it, but my heart is pulling me toward writing about something more important: hunger relief. As you all know, politicians in Washington, D.C. are fighting each other, cutting budgets, and working on legislation that is … Continue reading Neighbors in Need: A Simple Way to Make a Big Difference →

Rockin’ Thursday LIX

Today I'm featuring "La Grange” by the American rock band ZZ Top. The song was released in 1973 and reached number 41 in 1974. This was one of the last appearances of Dusty Hill—if not the last. Dusty Hill died on July 28, 2021. I hope you enjoy the video and have a wonderful, Rockin’ Thursday! https://youtu.be/Gg9cNGHl-bg?si=wrUcnhCU9bRJTCPQ … Continue reading Rockin’ Thursday LIX →

This Isn’t About Standards. It’s About Suppressing Women in the Military

Today, I want to share some thoughts about what we keep hearing in the media—that we need to raise the standards in the military and revive lethality and the Warrior Ethos. By the way, for those who may not know, here is the U.S. Army Warrior Ethos:1 I will always place the mission first. I … Continue reading This Isn’t About Standards. It’s About Suppressing Women in the Military →

Rockin’ Thursday LVIII

Today is Siblings Day. This U.S. holiday was conceived by Claudia Evart in 1995 to honor the memory of her brother and sister. Inspired by the loss of her siblings, Alan (age 36) and Lisette (age 19), at a young age, she created the Siblings Day Foundation with the aim of establishing a National Siblings … Continue reading Rockin’ Thursday LVIII →

From Army Plans to Dinner Plans: Discovering Robin & Willow

I’ve been blogging for over a year and a half now, writing about social issues, politics, philosophy, book reviews, music, and publishing poems from my grandfather-in-law—even including a couple of my own poems. But after reviewing all my posts, I realized I’ve never blogged about food or recipes per se, so I figured today’s the … Continue reading From Army Plans to Dinner Plans: Discovering Robin & Willow →