Chapter 10, Page 16 She's a goy

In case the title is confusing, 'goy' is Yiddish for non-Jew, goyim is the plural. Now, why would such a thoroughly goyish family have a book on Yiddish? For that matter, why would that family have an Elijah cup? (A cup traditionally used during the Passover.) Well, why not? We worship a Jew, after all.

Chapter 9, Page 20 Awesome

You don't usually expect this sort of thing from someone who looks like Dad. Well, I suppose it's getting more common now that people who grew up with rock are getting to be Dad's age, but it still takes a lot of folks by surprise.

I think it's fun. Dad being like that and the reaction people have to it.

I'll be taking a bit of a break until the new year to try to draw a bit of a buffer for MQC. Also spend time with family over the holidays and try to figure out what I'm doing for the cover of the next chapter. Anyway, thought I'd let you know.

Chapter 6, Page 38 Is there a God?

Quite heavy stuff to end the chapter on, eh? Well, the next chapter starts a little heavier but gets lighter after that. Just an FYI.

I could have gone on with Dad's explanation, but that would get long and I don't want to sound like I'm preaching. (Especially since I know there are readers out there who don't hold the same world views as I do.) Trying to find a balance between the importance of religion in Mary's life and making this work accessible to a wide audience is a little tricky. I'll just leave it at Mary's question about the existence of God gets answered in a satisfactory manner.

Chapter 6, Page 8 Jumping Logic

This story assumes, as Becky said, that no communication is possible between Heaven and Earth. Mary doesn't understand the reasoning behind that assumption, but the reason for her confusion goes rather deeper than that.

Actually, it's part of the main plot for this chapter, so I shouldn't give too much away here.

Chapter 5, Page 42 To love and like

Christians are supposed to love everyone and not to hate them. That's not easy. In away, what Mom said made the concept easier to accept. But it's still difficult because the words 'love' and 'like' are so closely connected in people's minds. That and what usually goes along with 'love'.

I think the Greeks had it right in having different words for different kinds of love. So many people hear 'love' and think of romance and sex. But that isn't all there is to it. That idea of love falls mainly under eros. There's also philia, which is friendship. Storge is the affection usually felt among members of the same family. Agape is what we must feel toward everyone. It is general affection and has been used in ancient texts to describe anything from the feeling toward a good meal to the feeling toward a spouse.

It sounds like, well, 'like.' But it's also different, at least to me. I can be sad that a bad person has been killed because they've lost their chance at redemption, but I can also be glad that they can no longer do evil things.