Author Archives: richp45198

About richp45198

I am a clinical psychologist and have an abiding interest in matters spiritual.

The Catholicism of My Youth

Posted on March 12, 2021 by richp45198

I still consider myself Catholic but a very different one from the Catholic I was as a youth. That Catholicism was heavily based on guilt and fear with a great emphasis on sin. At some point during my efforts to … Continue reading →

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On the Power of Family

Posted on February 19, 2021 by richp45198

Years ago when I was going through a bad time, my father said something simple that has stayed with me: “Don’t forget. We’re all in this together.” It was a simple statement about the power of family and the longing … Continue reading →

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On Successful Marriages

Posted on February 5, 2021 by richp45198

I’ve been married to my wife for a long time. You can tell by the halo above her head. As such, people will sometimes ask “How did you do it?” Much research has been done and many books written on … Continue reading →

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On the Music of Harry Chapin

Posted on January 22, 2021 by richp45198

Sadly many do not remember Harry Chapin. He was a singer/songwriter whom I first heard in the 1970s on PBS. Many of his songs were ballads — stories of people trying to face life. His story-songs ranged from one about … Continue reading →

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Facing The Dark Side: Spiritual Challenges of the Capitol Attack

Posted on January 8, 2021 by richp45198

I love our Capitol. I remember visiting it on a tour when I was a boy. I was awed by the statuary. I was excited to see Everett Dirkson on the Senate floor. Yes, I am aware that some scoundrels … Continue reading →

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The Christmas Truce Revisited

Posted on December 18, 2020 by richp45198

Once again this year my wife and I watched Joyeux Noel, a wonderful dramatization of what became known as the Christmas Truce. During World War I, men of all sides — German, French, and British — agreed to a truce … Continue reading →

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On Claiming Your Roots

Posted on December 4, 2020 by richp45198

Yes, I’m from Scranton. Nowadays, upon learning that, most people ask if I know Joe Biden. (I don’t but do have some interesting connections with his family). It used to be that people would mention the TV show The Office … Continue reading →

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The Long Thanksgiving Dinner Revisited

Posted on November 19, 2020 by richp45198

In the past, I have written about Thornton Wilder’s beautiful one act play “The Long Christmas Dinner” in which the life cycle of a family is portrayed over an imagined dinner in which persons come in through a white birth … Continue reading →

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On Viet Nam Veterans

Posted on November 6, 2020 by richp45198

Veterans’ Day is next week and I am proud that it is now a national holiday. I have been humbled by the fact that my status as a veteran has meaning to the many vets I meet daily and am … Continue reading →

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On the Kindness of Strangers

Posted on October 23, 2020 by richp45198

My brother directed me to a piece last night featuring a boyhood friend of Joe Biden. The piece opened in front of a place called Hank’s Hoagies. That image brought back a flood of memories of what used to be … Continue reading →

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