by Susan Mattern | | Forgiveness, Life, World Peace
Every Miss America contestant wishes for it. Hallmark must want it badly because it’s on almost every Christmas card. Everybody hopes for it. I’m pretty sure you want it. I know I do. World Peace. Peace on Earth. Peace on Earth is a tall order. But even...
by Susan Mattern | | Christmas Eve, Convent, Life, The Bell Tower
“Time for bed, postulants! It’s 7:30!” Sister Miriam’s scratchy voice penetrated the walls of the study hall. It was Christmas Eve, and all of us first-year nuns, called postulants, had been sitting obediently at our desks. Suddenly, we were...
by Susan Mattern | | Diet, Life
I started a diet a few weeks ago. The doctor wanted my husband to lose a little weight because of his back problems, and I saw it as an opportunity to be altruistic and selfish all at the same time. I would help him out by going on the same diet (the altruistic part),...
by Susan Mattern | Jul 20, 2018 | 1020s Candy Bar, Chicken Dinner, Chicken Dinner Candy Bar, Father, German, German-American, Immigrant, Starting Over
My dad left Germany in 1927 to come to the United States. His father had already arrived here, and was working as a bricklayer. He told my dad there were many jobs for carpenters and that he really should come to America. So my dad left Hamburg. He was lucky to leave...
by Susan Mattern | | Friendship, Human Connection, Istanbul, Life, Travel
Rick Steves, the travel expert, wrote an editorial in the LA Times last year. His message was: “Afraid of terrorism? Get on a plane!” We are so bombarded by reports of terrorism that we forget that most people are just like us –– not just in the...
