LocalLit book review: Why God Has Gray Hair'

Sophia Zufa's blog "A Never Ending Path" is the first blog I ever followed, a decade ago this month.

Although Zufa of New Lenox died earlier this year, her blog is still up. There's just a few posts, but they are lovely.

I never met Zufa in person, although I am friends with her daughter now. But I had interviewed Zufa several times over the years whenever she published a new book.

I recently read her tribute to the traditional Catholic education she received in Joliet" "Why God Has Gray Hair." If you grew up Catholic, especially before Vatican II, and attended Catholic school, you will knowingly chuckle at at this collection of essays.

Now I attended Catholic school after Vatican II but many of my experiences were very similar. What makes these essays standout from other Catholic humor is that Zufa teases out the sublime among the humorous and shows the lifelong value in each of her experiences.

That, to me, was the biggest surprise of the book. Because although I expected to laugh, and did, I did not expect to be inspired. And I was - very inspired.

However, "Why God has Gray Hair" is not just for Catholic readers. At the core of these little tales are the life experiences many of us have - and how they impact us later in life.

If you've gone to school (any school), had friends (even one), had to answer the question "what do you want to be when you grow up," answered to authority, bucked authority, agonized over misdeeds, wandered through a cemetery and wondered, ever thought about God, acted childishly or even if you're simply curious about days gone by, you will like this book.

Here is its Amazon's description. I found ever word to be true, especially the last line.

"Those were the days! Pre Vatican II, Sister Hedwig, and Father Thaddeus. Step back in time to the elementary days of the 1930's in parochial school.

"Sophia Zufa offers an insightful, and more times than not, humorous retelling of her youthful days. Meet neighbors, friends, and family, in the sharp-witted and emotionally inspiring collection of tales born of experience.

"Sophia Zufa will make you laugh and bring a lump to your throat with her stories and anecdotes."

Buy "Why God Has Gray Hair" on Amazon.

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