In Memory of Asal Khanghahi (1.16.1975 - 5.19.2011) Written May 19, 2012 | By Vangie Castro Deloras Park, San Francisco. SF Pride Weekend 2006 “Be Who You Are and Say What You Feel Because Those Who Mind Don't Matter and Those Who Matter Don't Mind.”-- Dr. Seuss A year ago, I received a phone call late at night from a friend in the Bay Area. She said, "are you sitting down?" I told her, "it's late here; I'm laying down." "Asal is no longer with us," Emme said in a somber and even tone. I...

Remember that scene from "Sleepless in Seattle," when Meg Ryan’s character, Annie, tells Walter she’s developed feelings for Sam Baldwin, even though they’ve never met? She basically falls in love with the idea of him after hearing him speak for a few minutes on a talk radio show about his late wife. And I’ve always been like… wait, what? Because she just spent Valentine’s weekend with Walter picking out china at Tiffany’s. They’re engaged. This man is committed, present, and very much real....

“The next day the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!’” —John 12:12–13 (NRSV) Palm Sunday. The beginning of the end. The moment when people welcomed Jesus as a savior. Waving palms. Shouting “Hosanna,” which literally means, "Save us." And within days? Those same voices were shouting for his...