We have been with family now since Wednesday and the time has gone really quickly. Serena our granddaughter is a delight. I know every grandparent says that, mainly because it is true and allowed. We have had great fun. We have managed to adjust to DC traffic which is quite an accomplishment having come from Grinnell, IA. It is amazing how quickly you lose your city driving edge, fortunately like bike riding it comes back quite quickly. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous, sunny and cool, no humidity, We had a lot of fun yesterday in IKEA could have bought up the store, and had to keep reminding ourselves that we are now retired, have all the furniture and household ware we need. saw a couple of thing we may have to go back for before we leave, fortunately it is close by. We did restrain ourselves and "let's think about it!" Bill had went clothes shopping, there is not much choice where we live, and he got pants, ties and his favorite brand of sock - he is happy. Today we go into the city for theater and dinner so there will be much to write about tomorrow, for now enoughSaturday, May 8, 2010
We have been with family now since Wednesday and the time has gone really quickly. Serena our granddaughter is a delight. I know every grandparent says that, mainly because it is true and allowed. We have had great fun. We have managed to adjust to DC traffic which is quite an accomplishment having come from Grinnell, IA. It is amazing how quickly you lose your city driving edge, fortunately like bike riding it comes back quite quickly. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous, sunny and cool, no humidity, We had a lot of fun yesterday in IKEA could have bought up the store, and had to keep reminding ourselves that we are now retired, have all the furniture and household ware we need. saw a couple of thing we may have to go back for before we leave, fortunately it is close by. We did restrain ourselves and "let's think about it!" Bill had went clothes shopping, there is not much choice where we live, and he got pants, ties and his favorite brand of sock - he is happy. Today we go into the city for theater and dinner so there will be much to write about tomorrow, for now enough
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Day 2 May 4
Another beautiful sunny day to travel. The fields of Illinois are beginning to sprout green which gives them a strange almost impressionistic appearance. As soon as we crossed into Indiana the land became hilly, gentle curves to the earth and a fresh greenness everywhere.
Traveling I-70 in Ohio, flanked on either side by suburban homes, I wondered about "average" daily life. Each family is unique in its coming and goings, dreams yet to be realized, and fantasies fallen away. Do they ever look up from playing in the yard, or weeding the garden and wonder where everyone is going at such a speed. Do other drivers on the highway look at these homes and send up a brief prayer (as I did) for the inhabitants, or wonder if they are making it in this fragile economy? How small our personal worlds are? What a narrow focus we have! What is happening in the lives of the millions of human beings who share our universe? How do my decisions, actions and choices impact their lives?
We stopped at a truck stop for gas and were tempted by an old fashioned hot dog bar, we did not resist and thoroughly enjoyed a hot dog with mustard, onion and relish - the first in probably ten years! I trust it didn't wreck my diet!
Traveling through the treelined hills of Ohio I was dive bombed by my first butterfly of summer, a yellow swallow tail, I think, it wasn't hurt and flew off oblivious.
Making our way through Wheeling West Virginia we arrived in Pennsylvania where we stopped for the night. It was a great travel day and blessedly uneventful. Tomorrow we head to Maryland where we will reacquaint ourselves with our grand-daughter (and of course our kids) we are looking forward to our visit!
Traveling I-70 in Ohio, flanked on either side by suburban homes, I wondered about "average" daily life. Each family is unique in its coming and goings, dreams yet to be realized, and fantasies fallen away. Do they ever look up from playing in the yard, or weeding the garden and wonder where everyone is going at such a speed. Do other drivers on the highway look at these homes and send up a brief prayer (as I did) for the inhabitants, or wonder if they are making it in this fragile economy? How small our personal worlds are? What a narrow focus we have! What is happening in the lives of the millions of human beings who share our universe? How do my decisions, actions and choices impact their lives?
We stopped at a truck stop for gas and were tempted by an old fashioned hot dog bar, we did not resist and thoroughly enjoyed a hot dog with mustard, onion and relish - the first in probably ten years! I trust it didn't wreck my diet!
Traveling through the treelined hills of Ohio I was dive bombed by my first butterfly of summer, a yellow swallow tail, I think, it wasn't hurt and flew off oblivious.
Making our way through Wheeling West Virginia we arrived in Pennsylvania where we stopped for the night. It was a great travel day and blessedly uneventful. Tomorrow we head to Maryland where we will reacquaint ourselves with our grand-daughter (and of course our kids) we are looking forward to our visit!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Day One Vacation
Leaving for vacation on a bright sunny cool morning. Our first stop, sort of a travel ritual is at Casey’s for gas, coffee and a doughnut which we share. It signals for us a different pace, We say our traveler’s prayer and we are off to commune with one another, our Creator and the creation,
The fields along I-80 lie prepared, rich brown soil awaiting the sun and rain to burst the seed, send down roots and push sprouts to the surface. Contented cattle graze on rich green grass while others bask in the warmth of the sun. The traffic whizzes by, our 70 mph speed not being sufficient for their journey, but ample for us.
The Thomas Merton quote from Terry Hershey’s blog today was perfect:“Everything has already been given. What we need is to live into it.” It is certainly what I believe, and in my best moments try to live. This mirrors for me the whole concept of vacation. It is a time to rest on the journey; to store up memories and experiences that will refresh the spirit so that one can return to the normal routine renewed. To this end I usually try to plan a vacation that reconnects me with friends and family and includes opportunities that stretch my mind and imagination.
For lunch we stop at the Jubilee Café, Kickapoo, IL. One of Illinois’ best kept secrets. The food is always good, the same waitresses we had on our first visit seven years ago and continues to be “cash only”. We were introduced to it by Fr. Gabriel a monk from St. Bede Abbey in Peru, IL. The main attraction for him, beside it’s good mid-western fare, is the homemade gooseberry pie served with vanilla ice cream. Sound strange? It is amazing! The tartness of the gooseberry, mouthwatering short pastry crust offset by the creamy sweet vanilla flavor has to be savored to be believed. The blue cheese dressing on their salad is another must!Fully satisfied by a good meal, good memories and of course pie, we set off along Interstate 74 with its unremarkable scenery. Unremarkable that is until we stopped briefly and encountered a display of photographs by artist Larry Kanfer. His work lifts up the IL country side from “unremarkable” to significant as he reveals the magnificence of prairie and farmland. His words and images changed immediately my view of the the panorama along the highway. Where before it was flat and ordinary now I saw it’s depth and uniqueness. I saw the way in which earth and sky met on the distant horizon in creative union. As a storm brewed I no longer saw flat boring strips of land but unencumbered skyscapes, roiling clouds, rippling furrows, and resting cattle.
Following the storm the sky burst forth with ascension images, pockets of light reaching down to earth - only the figure of Christ absent.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Preparing for the Journey
I woke this morning early and reminded myself that I didn’t need to rush, I don’t have a Sunday School Class and can therefore take my time, I turned over and didn’t get up until 6:45, I felt quite guilty. I lay in bed listening to the small waterfall that splashes into the koi ponds, felt the cool fresh dry air from the window gently blowing across the bed and gave thanks to God for a beautiful new day.
As I write I wait for the coffee to brew and already feel like my vacation has begun. Today will involve a last visit for 17 days to the Health Center to check on residents. Next the packing will have to be accomplished and then the mini panic as I go through the unnecessary ritual of worry might/could go wrong on the trip. After stated that here maybe I can skip that this trip!
I am very excited about the trip it has taken the usual planning and includes a variety of places that cover the interests of both Bill and myself. Not only will there be visits with family in Silver Springs and sightseeing in DC but on our return trip we visit West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana. We will explore history, glass making, bonsai, Appalachian crafts and education, utopian communities, railroads and rivers. We will drive through country we have not experienced before and relax and renew ourselves spiritually. Each time I prepare a trip I anticipate the adventure and the wonder that within the borders of the United States there is such variety of landmass, culture and people. I trust we will explore with open eyes, minds and hearts all that is offered us in the coming days. I believe every well planned journey is a pilgrimage, where we encounter the sacred spaces of life and land. I am ready for this adventure.
As I write I wait for the coffee to brew and already feel like my vacation has begun. Today will involve a last visit for 17 days to the Health Center to check on residents. Next the packing will have to be accomplished and then the mini panic as I go through the unnecessary ritual of worry might/could go wrong on the trip. After stated that here maybe I can skip that this trip!
I am very excited about the trip it has taken the usual planning and includes a variety of places that cover the interests of both Bill and myself. Not only will there be visits with family in Silver Springs and sightseeing in DC but on our return trip we visit West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana. We will explore history, glass making, bonsai, Appalachian crafts and education, utopian communities, railroads and rivers. We will drive through country we have not experienced before and relax and renew ourselves spiritually. Each time I prepare a trip I anticipate the adventure and the wonder that within the borders of the United States there is such variety of landmass, culture and people. I trust we will explore with open eyes, minds and hearts all that is offered us in the coming days. I believe every well planned journey is a pilgrimage, where we encounter the sacred spaces of life and land. I am ready for this adventure.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Easter Transformation Cheer
Is there such a thing as “blogblock” if so I think I must have been going through it! I have been busy, but not really so busy that I could not have put my thoughts on paper. During the last few weeks I have avoided both my paper journal and my blog, not for any conscious reason, simply because when I have been before them I have gone blank. I’m not going to over think this, but find it curious!
One thing I was challenged to do for an upcoming event was a “Cheer”; the theme "Transformation." Since this is Easter weekend it seemed fitting to share it here.
Easter is indeed about the hope of transformation. We are reminded that at any moment in any day the circumstances and conversations can be a catalyst for change. To allow transformation to occur we must willingly open up to the moment. Resurrection reminds us that even the most tragic events can become powerful agents for change in us and the world. May this Easter event bring hopeful change to our world.
At any age transformation begins in us and spreads to others.
One thing I was challenged to do for an upcoming event was a “Cheer”; the theme "Transformation." Since this is Easter weekend it seemed fitting to share it here.
Easter is indeed about the hope of transformation. We are reminded that at any moment in any day the circumstances and conversations can be a catalyst for change. To allow transformation to occur we must willingly open up to the moment. Resurrection reminds us that even the most tragic events can become powerful agents for change in us and the world. May this Easter event bring hopeful change to our world.
Transformation
At any age transformation begins in us and spreads to others. Turns life around
Renews the spirit
Awakens the heart
Names truth
Seeks options
Forgives freely
Opens community
Respects others
Maintains hope
Advances peace
Trusts God
Inspires action
One in Christ
Now we begin!
May we have the courage to allow transformation in ourselves, our planet and the universe that we may see a new day of peace and sustainability.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Caught
It's been awhile since I found time to blog. My resolve to record some of my thoughts on my journey to 70 (October 2010) gets railroaded quite often. I have been doing some daily journal writing, weather, diet, "busy notes" but nothing substantial.
Time to change the subject; January was a beautiful month, if harsh. The Wolf Moon and three days of amazing hoar-frost clothed the landscape exquisitely. I penned a couple more Haikus, and am really interested in finding time to learn more about this form.
Wolf Moon
Wolf moon setting
In morning’s wakening sky
Makes way for sunlight
radiant with hoar frost thorns
beneath leaden skies
Memoir has been on my mind and I have been reading Natalie Goldberg, Peter Gilmour and William Zinsser, they have been helpful in providing focus. I am becoming clearer about what is needed to begin to answer the questions my son posed for me. I don't think I realized however, that I would be delving so deeply into relationship. I think I viewed the task more as recording stories from the past and vignettes of relatives. I now see that answering the question "Why did you leave home?" demands revelation of me and my relationship with my mother - do I want to go there? Caught! Caught in a story that spans my life and one I have not been willing to explore. Is this the year? Certainly it is no easy assignment.
Time to change the subject; January was a beautiful month, if harsh. The Wolf Moon and three days of amazing hoar-frost clothed the landscape exquisitely. I penned a couple more Haikus, and am really interested in finding time to learn more about this form. Time seems to be the issue at the core of my life…I must make it my friend!
Wolf Moon
Wolf moon setting
In morning’s wakening sky
Makes way for sunlight
Hoar-Frost
Bent barren branches radiant with hoar frost thorns
beneath leaden skies
Monday, January 25, 2010
Procrastination
Today I finally took needle and thread and sewed on two buttons that have begged to be returned to their rightful spot for almost a year. They mocked me as they revealed once again that "procrastination" is a flaw in my tightly knit life that I am not only accustomed to, but with which I seem to be very comfortable. In a strange way I thrive on this trait energized by deadlines and near misses. On the other hand I love to pursue silence and seek to live in the "moment". Mystery......
I have been invited by my son to take a closer look at my life's journey, explore the mystery, separate the threads, and share my story. It will take time, but as an introduction I bumped up against an image that has been with me for about fifty years. I do not remember the circumstances under which I was first introduced to the "white stone" of Revelation, but it immediately captured my imagination and continues to do so. Mystery.........
Inspired by - Revelation 2:17
White stone secret
White stone rests in hand
Smooth, tumbled, lined, water’s gift
A secret revealed
A promise hidden
Journey stone humbly received
White, smooth, gently held
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)