Dolly

For the last ten days, I have abandoned my initial Wordle guess for a decidedly non-strategic choice.

D-O-L-L-Y

Somehow, it just makes me feel better to type those five letters every day.

It's strange to experience Parton's loss so significantly, having never met her. But that's the thing about Dolly. She made you feel as if you knew her. It didn't matter that her soul was wrapped in rhinestones, and glitter, and wigs. Despite her enormous fame, she remained the country girl from the mountains of East Tennessee. 

This past weekend I went to Santa Barbara to preach at the Unitarian Society, a tradition known for its inclusivity. When I approached the front door, I noticed they had placed Dolly's words on their placard.

Of course they did. Because Dolly's heart was big enough for all of us. No wonder I miss her....

“You don't even have to believe in anything to be good to people." - Dolly Parton (January 19, 1946 - August 25, 2026)