CYNTHIA TODD is semi-retired and lives in Phoenix, Arizona in order to be active in the lives of her two grandsons. She works in real estate and volunteers at a local St. Vincent DePaul dining room and at The Gift of Mary Shelter, which is operated by the Missionaries of Charity. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology.
I’m watching a video of myself. It’s the opening scene and I see myself standing at the head of a table. There is an intent look on my face and I am speaking with great fervor about something, my hands busily gesturing a point, though I don’t know...
I might have missed my chance to write the great American novel. A streak of creative genius might have flashed across the horizon of my mind, but I’ll never know because at that moment, I was looking the other way. I was busy fanaticizing about...
There were diverse trials during this journey, but I do not talk about them to gain sympathy. I mention them because they were an integral part of the experience. They were the fodder for growth, for learning to trust, and for learning to accept...
The nine-hour flight to Frankfurt was pleasant and the time passed quickly. I slept through about half of it. While I was awake, I watched a couple of movies and I ate. I thought the meals were pretty decent for airlines food, and the attendants...
For years I’d wanted to work as a volunteer in Lourdes. I’d wanted to go there with an open heart and mind and to immerse myself in being a servant of Our Lady. I had even travelled to Lourdes with a pilgrimage group in order to explore the...
