The time allotted for sleep seems to be getting shorter and shorter. Late night blogging and early Camino office hours are burning the candle at both ends. Regardless, the journey must continue, and therefore, I’m on.

This morning the Grady/Farquhars prepare a robust breakfast for my long day ahead, a good thing because there is no lunch until 4:00 this afternoon. Mary Grady joins me on this segment. Mutually, we decide to head to Catholic University with an interim stop at Rock Creek Cemetery. Obviously, we both have Saint-Gaudens’s statue of Grief on our minds.

Walking along Piney Creek Road is refreshing in the early morning. We are definitely having more fun than the commuters edging their way to offices by car throughout the District. A couple of wrong turns getting to Rock Creek help us appreciate even more the Adams Memorial sculptured by Saint-Gaudens in 1891 in memory of Henry Adam’s wife. What a stunning piece of sculpture.

A moment of silence seems appropriate given the nature of my pilgrimage and its purpose. Then I decide to tuck into the folds of the sculptured veil of the statue the small river rock that Carrie and I took from the Pemigewasset River in Lincoln, NH the weekend before the walk started. In pilgrimage tradition, a walker carries a stone from his place of origin and deposits it along the path when the “right” place moves the walker to do so. Raised in Lincoln, I wanted a stone from the New Hampshire woods. Both Nathaniel and Carrie loved the magic of this small New England town nestled in the White Mountains where their grandparents lived. At my brother Robert’s burial in May, Carrie and I fished the rock out of the local river knowing that Nathaniel would love its unique qualities. It definitely was a Nan Rock. Saint-Gaudens would wholeheartedly approve the choice of its new resting place along the 
Camino de Nathaniel South. I say goodbye to Mary on the Catholic University campus and go to the first of my  two appointments there–The Alumni Center and The Student Counseling Center.

My undergraduate Alma Mater welcomes me graciously. I leave the Alumni Center with a bag of gifts. More weight for the backpack? I then hurry to the Counseling Center where Monroe Rayburn greets me for our noon meeting. I talk about Nathaniel and he talks about counseling services at CUA. The 5% BDD rate among college students is sobering. If the number is accurate, then we have lots of work to do on campuses to raise consciousness.

Upon exiting the center, I hear the 1:00 chimes from the Basilica tower. Time to meet cousins Anna and Cindy in front of its grand entrance. Together we head downtown to the AFSP headquarter (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention). Twice today I am accompanied to my destinations. How sweet!

With cousin Anna

At AFSP, I meet Nicole Gibson, State Advocacy and Grassroots Outreach. She and I talk about our calling to advocacy, both motivated by a huge personal loss in our lives. I wish Carrie could spend an hour with her  sharing the heartbreak of losing a sibling through suicide. Nicole knows how that feels. She shows me a picture of her brother, and I reciprocate with one of Nathaniel. Both young men deserved to live full lives.

At 4:00 I eat lunch or “First Dinner” at Au Bon Pain. Temporarily refueled, I turn off the GPS and hop on my first public transportation ride in weeks, the DC Metro (Yellow Line) to Alexandria where my niece Kendra and her husband David (and daughter Emily) will feed and house me. “Second Dinner” includes a delicious mixed green salad and a Whole Foods vegetarian pizza, my first in weeks. Hits the spot.

Tomorrow I go to Capitol Hill to tell Nathaniel’s story. It feels like the end is approaching too fast. I want to savor and relish each moment during the two remaining days. But first of all, I need to get some sleep if I’m to be coherent among our elected representatives. Or maybe coherence is no longer a requirement in politics. I’ll see.

This morning Judy and I wake up to the most beautiful of spring days–deep blue sky, no clouds, and mild temperatures (leaning slightly toward the cool). The morning light makes every detail in nature sparkle with freshness. Is this Washington? Karabi and Malay set out a tasty breakfast for us–one that will fuel me forth.

By 7:45 I’m out the front door saying goodbyes again to a host family that has gone out of its way to welcome us. I now firmly believe that great students of the past become even greater adults in the present. I march south toward The National Cathedral where a former Shipley student, now adult, Elizabeth Maddock Eastwick, welcomes me to this amazing religious structure on the highest point in Washington. We visit the Bishop’s Garden and then head inside for a quick tour before opening hours. I feel quite special. Elizabeth holds in her snuggly her youngest child of two, Brooks. What a cutie!

Totally aware that Sidwell Friends is not that far away, we chat casually as we walk together. We get to observe a maypole dance in the church’s sanctuary by students from the Beauvoir Elementary School. This will be part of a graduation ceremony within a few days.

A forced march north on Wisconsin Avenue brings me to Sidwell Friends School, the fourth and last school on my spring tour. The counseling team, Dr. Parker and Ms. Grebsky, take time out of their schedule to talk about mental illness issues at the school and how the school’s support systems work. Based on our conversation, I can see that Sidwell tries hard to respond effectively to student mental issues. In the spirit of my walk, we explore other possible best practices to widen the web of support.

By 11:00 I’m descending Wisconsin (all downhill) toward Georgetown to cross the Potomac River on the Key Bridge into VA. I no sooner enter DC this morning than already I’m exiting the Capital for VA for my 2:00 appointment at NAMI’s (National Alliance for Mental Illness) headquarters in Arlington. I’m already getting a feeling that today’s mile tally with be significant. No surprise there. Every stage of this year’s pilgrimage has overshot my original estimates.

NAMI’s offices cover three different floors, each section focusing on a different aspect of the organization’s overall mission. I meet with Darcy Gruttadaro in policy. Both of us affirm the incredible importance of spreading awareness.

Now comes the hard part–the trek back up Wisconsin Avenue to tonight’s host family, Tom Farquhar and Mary Grady. I meet Andre, a young man on the sidewalk trying to solicit monthly contributions to Planned Parenthood. I politely decline, but he asks good questions about my project. I’m grateful to tell him Nathaniel’s story.

Now it’s all back uphill from Georgetown to Porter Street. No wonder this morning I made such good time. My hosts, Tom and Mary, welcome me in to their lovely home. They are such dear friends. Their son, Drew, and our Nathaniel spent hours playing together back at Westtown years ago. Strong bonds of friendship can endure geographical separation.

To crown off a perfect spring day in DC, I meet Mike Spigler, former Programs Director at IOCDF, for a Thai dinner on Connecticut Avenue, a half mile away from Porter Street where I’m spending the night. We eat good food; catch up on family news, and share stories of our most recent activities–mine walking the Camino de Nathaniel and his doing a brand new job in a non-profit organization that focuses on food allergies. Lucky them to inherit a dedicated, able organizer.

It’s late and time to close shop. Tomorrow’s activities will be equally demanding. Better get rest now!

My hosts Ann and Richard prove to be–as has been my experience this whole trip–warm, welcoming, and generous with their attention to my needs. For dinner we feast on a grand salad to inaugurate the summer. I sleep well, but wake a few times, not to the sound of gentle rain on the roof, but a deluge. “Oh, please stop by 8:00!” I pray.  Well, my petition is only partially heard by the heavens. The deluge scales back to a gentle but annoying rain by daybreak. Every pilgrim encounters this eventually. Ann offers me an SUV-sized umbrella, and I graciously accept. It works for the downpours but is less effective with lateral splashes of cars speeding past. I quickly get soaked, but the day must go on.

Walking with a raincoat on is like wearing a sauna, and I hardly need to lose any weight at this point. I make it to BTC (Behavioral Treatment Center) of Greater Washington. The Center’s founder, Dr. Charley Mansuetto, greets me. Shannon Shy and Carter Waddell, both IOCDF Board members, join us as well as others who practice there. Reinforced with “second breakfast,” OCD Mid-Atlantic tee-shirts, and a team of fellow walkers including Dr. Mansuetto, Shannon, David, Kate, and Brad, we start the 8-mile trek to NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health).

It’s not raining, but it is hot and humid. I love the company, but I’m not too sure my companions love the walk. (I do this daily. They do not.)

Once cleared through NIH’s security, our group finds Building 10 where Dr. Judith Rapoport welcomes us. She apologies for the NIH Director Thomas Insel’s absence from our gathering. Apparently, he was called at the
last minute to the Oval Office by President Obama for a summit on mental health issues. (OK, that is a good excuse.) At the exact moment I am visiting with Judith Rapoport, the president speaks to the press: “We whisper about mental health issues and avoid asking too many questions. The brain is a body part, too. We just know less about it. And there should be no shame in discussing or seeking help for treatable illnesses that affect too many people that we love. We’ve got to get rid of that embarrassment. We’ve got to get rid of that stigma.” (The synchronicity of my pilgrimage’s purpose with his message is startling. Perhaps he has been reading my blog!)

Being in the presence of Dr. Rapoport is pure delight. She is a pioneer in OCD research and treatment, and how grateful we are to enjoy her wisdom and company. The hour passes by too quickly.

After goodbyes to my walking companions, I head to Chevy Chase where Westtown host Karabi (Bhattacharyya) Acharya and her husband, Malay, welcome me along with a group of Westonians who live in the DC area: Meg Greene, Dan Sanders, Tina Hoffman Warwick, Scott Roby and Tacy Paul, David Levinger, Steve Sawyer, and Andrea Littell. What a lovely group of individuals to spend several hours with! The depth of our connections has not diminished over the years since we last saw each other when I was their teacher. The Westtown bond is eternal. Thank you for coming, Westonians. (Photos of the gathering to be posted later.)

The day ends with good food, good company, good fellowship, and Judy, who joins us at the Acharya’s home after having spent the day on Capitol Hill attending the Green Ribbon School Award Ceremony and accepting a beautiful plaque for Westtown School’s sustainability efforts. What full, rich days we have both had, and what warm hospitality we receive from Karabi and Malay, who pamper us with all kinds of delectable food, deluxe accommodations, and superb company.

A delicious Saturday night dinner at Tony and Bruce Evans with guests Trish Cope and friend Ron sets me up well for today’s 13.5-mile walk between two springs–Sandy to Silver Springs, MD. (The former actually has a spring.) However, I’m not too eager to slip my fragile feet back into shoes after yesterday’s barefoot freedom. I think I hear screams from both feet as they hop back into the saddle. 9:00 Meeting for Worship at Sandy Spring Meeting helps the transition. We sit in profound silence enjoying the breeze from open doors and windows. What a beautiful Meeting House.How familiar the silence feels–an experience in kyros time (full presence), an endless sense of no time passing at all, except the clicking of the clock, I’m reminded of my long days on the Camino de Nathaniel South path where time doesn’t exist.

At break of Meeting, I introduce myself and explain my journey. Rich Engler, a Westonian of the 80s, attends so that we can reconnect–a fine student who now has become a fine young man with family and a child in the Sandy Spring Lower School.

The four of us, Toni, Bruce, Rich, and I, set off together. We cross the Meeting House grounds, enter the Friends Home campus, move on to the school campus, and finish with the infamous ropes course kingdom in the woods, The Adventure Park. I think I’m entering Ewok Country. What an amazing setting!

Goodbyes are harder when the time together has been exceptionally rich, and it has been. Route memorization today is simple–Route 182 followed by Georgia Avenue South straight to tonight’s hosts, Ann and Richard Fieldhouse.

At the junction of 182 and Georgia Avenue, Harry Hines, high school class of 1966 at St. John’s, and I meet. A little quick Subway stop refuels my empty tank, and off we go together. It may not be in the 90s today, but the air is nevertheless noticeably heavy. (I remember this humidity from my 1967-1971 chapter in Washington when I was an undergraduate. Now I remember why I moved north to PA.)

Reminiscences from our St. John’s Days flow easily. Harry and I are only recently reconnected, so the 45 years of separation provides us with many stories to catch up on. Harry is wearing his “Walking with Nathaniel” hat proudly, a gift I offered him last June at our reunion. He empathizes with Nathaniel’s struggles and wants to learn more. I share freely.

We part company after traversing the I-495 Capital Beltway, a tangible sign that the greatest distance of my pilgrimage is over, but a week of many meetings in DC with walking times between them is about to begin.

May my experience in kyros time both on the Camino and in Meeting today guide my conversations this week in Washington. May I speak from a centered and grounded place, letting each word that emerges testify eloquently to the integrity of Nathaniel’s life and suffering.

Luckily I make it in time to today’s destination to watch a rain storm arrive with force as I sit in the dry safety of  my new hosts’ home. How sweet it is to be indoors!

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.