Ghost Ranch
Abiquiu, New Mexico
26 October 2009
Filed under Friends, Ghost Ranch People, Ghost Ranch Views, Lent, Photo
You will be pleased to know that the Sackville-Bagginses did not obtain the property. We certainly were.
However, the new owner, while extremely excited to purchase such a unique and valuable property, does not plan to operate The Shire as a half-star bed (you’re on your own for breakfast – Starbucks is down the road). Thus, you will need to find other arrangements when the Trail brings you to the Louisville area. Of course nothing you find will match the non-existent, exacting standards of The Shire. But do the best you can.
Know that The Shire management deeply appreciated the patronage of each guest. We appreciated those of you who wish you could have stayed at the Shire but who never did. For those who wanted no part of the Shire … well so be it.
We wish you all safe travels and peaceful, joy-filled rest.
Thank you for a great journey!
The door closes. The light remains off.
… come to an end.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Family, Friends, Louisville
Originally posted about a year ago,
it seems appropriate to repost this one
in the aftermath of the sale of the Shire.
No rings, no wizards,
no reforged broken swords,
not even a walk to Mordor,
where of course no one simply walks,
but a fellowship nonetheless graced
the halls of the Shire.
Rooted in minimalist hospitality,
this fellowship of family and friends
knitted together over food and games,
movies and song,
conversation and camaraderie,
Jameson and other libations;
never present all at the same time,
always present in spirit,
the fellowship of the Shire
blesses me daily,
graces my living
and travels with me
wherever the ongoing road might lead.
In the hope that the Fellowship of the Shire has meant
and means as much to the other members
as it has and does to me.
The Shire, Louisville
19 April 2012
With thanks to the Rev. Dr. Hyunju Bae who invited me,
with thanks to several friends who advised me,
with thanks to family and friends who are praying and will pray for me,
tomorrow I leave for the Republic of Korea.
See you along the Trail!
Presbyterian Parallel Event
57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women
Church Center for the United Nations
6 March 2013
A place
A spot on a map
A time
People
Relationships
A refuge
A sanctuary
Our castle
Where we can always return
Where we cannot go again
A place to land
A place to launch
Journey’s end
Journey’s beginning
What is home?
I don’t watch much television. But for some reason a few weeks ago, I recommendation made by my friend Sid Birt came back to me. I remembered sitting in my living room in Louisville watching Sid watch Battlestar Galactica: the Mary McDonnell and Edward James Olmos version. Sid’s recommendations have always led me to wonders and joy. I pondered the memory and then finally took the plunge.
Sid came through again. The show hooked me. Complex characters, splendid acting, intriguing, unpredictable story lines. It has it all. The show ponders significant questions that dance through the plot and episodes. Through it all, one remains: what is home?
Tonight, as the series draws to a close and the characters prepare to dismantle Galactica, characters spoke the question aloud.
What is home?
How do you answer?
See you along the Trail?
I sit in warm comfort in Memphis, Tennessee, preparing for speaking gigs over the next two days. But my thoughts turns to New York City and the people of the Northeast.
Snowmageddon, in some form, has struck. Many people are or will be inconvenienced by the storm; some will be threatened: people who have no shelter, people still recovering from Sandy, and people who must, for whatever reason be outside. My heart aches with worry for my sisters and brother.
The invitation to visit Memphis came last fall. I purchased the ticket in December, scheduling the flight for Thursday.
Early last week, I pondered changing the ticket to leave New York today – Friday. The change fee proved more than I was willing to pay.
Only after I had decided not to change my ticket did I start paying attention to the weather. And I realized that I would still be in New York if I had made the change. Airlines had begun cancelling Friday flights by the time I arrived at LaGuardia on Thursday afternoon.
Part of me gives thanks that I made it to Memphis. I am with good people, eating too much good food, and having great opportunities to share about the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations.
Part of me wishes I were in New York – as the city and the region deal with Nemo.
All of me wishes for safety for all people who are in the path of the storm.
All of me gives thanks for all people who care for sisters and brothers – going in harm’s way or providing shelter from the storm.
See you along the Trail.
My friend Irene will run her first half-marathon on April 7: the Santa Cruz half-marathon.
She will run in memory of our mutual friend Cindy Bolbach.
In Cindy’s memory, Irene will raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
I have contributed to the cause. You can too.
After she learned of my contribution, Irene sent me a message of thanks.
“What more can I do to support you,” I asked.
Irene was online at the time as well. She replied, “As part of my training, I will not eat sweets or dessert until I run. You could do that, too.”
I stared at the screen a long, long time before responding. The folly of asking questions when he answers might be acceptable occurred to me.
But I have a deep admiration for Cindy. And cancer has claimed too many friends and people I do not know through the years.
After what must have seemed like an eternity to Irene, I responded. It took about three or four days of sporadic electronic conversation before I agreed.
On January 1, I started. No sweets. No desserts. And I have done it. I wish I could say I cut out those categories all together. But I have not. I simply have replaced them with nuts and crackers and chips.
A chocolate Guinness Jameson shake identified by my friends Bruce and Nancy has tempted. Sorely tempted me. But I have resisted.
Several late nights I have wanted to head to the local convenience store and exchange a fistful of dollars for a sackful of chocolate. But I have prevailed. Sometimes I go and get more nuts. But I have prevailed.
For almost a month I have resisted and prevailed. It has been a challenge. But not as difficult a challenge as I thought at the beginning.
I do really miss Ben and Jerry’s though.
However, the point of this is not about me, remember. I told you at the beginning:
My friend Irene will run her first half-marathon to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory Cindy Bolbach.
I have contributed to the cause. You can too.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Friends
While in Dublin waiting for
Roja and Joel’s wedding,
I visited Dublin Castle with
Tricia, Bruce, Nancy.
There I discovered,
artfully disguised as
miniature purple rabbits,
the guards who stand watch
over the Dubhlinn Gardens.
27 April 2012
Dubhlinn Gardens, Dublin Castle
Ireland
