Moderator’s note: This marvelous FAR site has been running for 10 years and has had more than 3,500 posts in that time. There are so many treasures that have been posted in this decade that they tend to get lost in the archives. We are beginning this column so that we can all revisit some of these gems. Today’s blogpost was originally posted November 24, 2018. You can visit it here to see the original comments.
In November 2017 I wrote about pie baking.
And in November 2015 I also wrote about pie baking.
Photo by Lisa Hartouni
In November 2016, I was destroyed by the “election” and wrote a post in November of that year “For Strong Women” just to help many of us keep going.
In November 2014 I wrote about a gay bar in Puerto Rico, which has since been destroyed by hurricanes.
In November 2013 I was grateful for the release of Baby, You Are My Religion which discussed among other things, the claiming of public space by pre-Stonewall gays and lesbians and three years later we would witness the Pulse Massacre, the largest gun massacre in the US until that point.
Photo by Lisa Hartouni
In November 2012 I wrote about the amazing thing that had happened– the newly elected President Obama mentioned gays and lesbians in his acceptance speech. And that is the year I joined FAR as a perma-blogger, eight years ago.
Photo by Lisa Hartouni
And this November 2018, dear FAR family, I’m happy to just post pie making pictures.
I’m deeply grateful and happy that the House went blue, that Orange County, California went BLUE and that 100+ women were elected to office. I’ll celebrate that and eat pie. This tradition we have had of making many, many green apple pies (this year sixteen!) has been going on over 25 years.
Photo by Lisa Hartouni
Enjoy your traditions. I am realizing more and more that it is the lives we make that are the lives we have.
Enjoy the times we can. I’m deeply thankful for you all, and this forum and thoughtful, spiritual community.
Blessed be.
BIO
Marie Cartier has a Ph.D. in Religion with an emphasis on Women and Religion from Claremont Graduate University. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book Baby, You Are My Religion: Women, Gay Bars, and Theology Before Stonewall (Routledge 2013). She is a senior lecturer in Gender and Women’s Studies and Queer Studies at California State University Northridge, and in Film Studies at Univ. of CA Irvine.
feminismandreligion.com 
Hooray for pies! I remember watching my grandmother making her famous apple pies. Such care she used! And the tastiest ingredients, the best apples, and best spices and crustiest crust. Yes, I also watched her prepare the Thanksgiving turkey, but those pies certainly helped make our family Thanksgiving dinner memorable. My cousin (who lives in Texas) were talking about our childhood Thanksgiving dinners at Gramma and Grampa’s house during a phone call just a couple days ago. We sighed as we remembered the pies.
Marie, I love your pie photos. Stay safe. Bright blessings.
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Those pies look delicious, and you are so right that the lives we make are the lives we have and we need to enjoy when we can. Pies are just the perfect food to share – everyone loves pies! These photos make me happy (and hungry!) just looking at them!
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Thank you for all the good you do in the world. I enjoy your posts, love your book (Baby You Are My Religion) and just the good spirit you put out.
Pies also connect me to others. Every Christmas I make toutierre (French Canadian meet pie) in loving remembrance of my grandmother who passed away over 40 years ago but still holds a very dear place in my heart. I also have a yearly tradition with the neighbors across the street who bring me apples and in return I bring them apple pie. I couldn’t imagine the holidays without baking for my dear ones.
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