Random Reflections
Today is an unconditional gift—no walking! I bathe in the freedom from movement and no requirements. Toni and Bruce sense my deep appreciation of the gifts I now enjoy. I sit outside their lovely home, on a wooden bench under a shade tree, watching the puffy white clouds float by as I remain perfectly still. This must be heaven.
Camino de Nathaniel South Office Hours are flexible today. (Happily, the office was closed during the middle of last night). I am now answering e-mails, writing and sending a few more, confirming appointments for next week, sending out appeals for contributions, and staring at the Google map of tomorrow’s route.
In the stillness of the outdoor space of Evans’ home, I remember several events of the past week that never made it into my blogs. As our dear friend, Hugh Cronister, used to say, “Welcome the limitations.” I agree. Given the high mileage and unrelenting heat, I couldn’t adequately write about all the events of each day.
So here goes. Did I mention…
- The two senior ladies in the Catonsville, MD McDonald’s (no, I wasn’t buying anything there) who offered me $25 for my cause after hearing what I was doing? Their generosity was extremely sincere and touching.
- How about the town of Catonsville itself where, back in 1968, Daniel Berrigan and his brother, Phillip, both members of religious communities, founded an interfaith coalition against the Vietnam war and burned 378 draft files in the parking lot of the town’s draft board in a non-violent protest? They were my heroes in college. That act took immense conviction and courage. I am honored and blessed to be passing through this sacred space.
- Or Mike, the clerk at the other 7 Eleven on Thursday, who rang up my picnic items earlier in the day, and several hours later crossed paths with me again on the sidewalks of another town? I had to give him a WWN card for showing up twice in one day.
- Did I tell you about Jack Samuels at Johns Hopkins who listened attentively to Nathaniel’s story during my visit with Dr. Nestadt and company and then walked with me through the many long corridors of the hospital buildings and accompanied me for several blocks on Orleans Street as I left the city of Baltimore? During that short time together, we established a deep bond.
- Have I sufficiently thanked my host families to date for their gracious hospitality? Angela Blaschke & David Francis, Peter & Lorraine Doo, Bill & Gena O’Keefe, and Toni & Bruce Evans? And then there are the future hosts lined up for next week: Karabi Acharya, Ann and Richard Fieldhouse, Tom Farquhar and Mary Grady, Kendra and David Mehring, and Robert Hordan. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
- What about the unexpected dinner invitations from Mike Spigler and Steve Hilbert in DC next week?
- And have I described in enough grueling detail the insufferable heat, the intense traffic, and the dangerous roads to warrant your empathy? Remember it may say a certain degree on your thermometer, but the late afternoon pavement effect produces a “Bikrim Pilgrimage,” a sustainable alternative to the new yoga variety. Namaste!
There are more stories to share, but I’ll stop now. Instead I’ll finish today’s Camino Office hours early and enjoy the clouds passing by before it’s my turn to move at the same speed as they do tomorrow.
