Cometsgirl

I awoke this Sabbath day in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Having arrived last night, I’m now rested up in anticipation of what this 2nd Sunday in Epiphany will bring.

Rising early, I made my way to a nearby Starbucks. The morning sky just about painted my way.

The barista showed me her art creation before securing the lid.

A heart-filled way to begin this day.

From there I made my way to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. I chose this parish by the welcome to all sense I had when visiting the church’s website. The associate rector is a woman and that’s always a draw for me.

The moment I walked in, heard the choir, and entered the sanctuary, I knew I was in the right place for worship this day. I will thank you because I am marvelously made; your works are wonderful, and I know it well. Psalm 139:13.

The service was filled with all manner of prayers and hymns that were unfamiliar to me. Each enriched worship for me.

From there I headed off for the reunion with my childhood friend. What a joyous meal it was! Talk was nonstop about our lives then, our lives now, our lives in between then and now. Between us we almost had total recall. We agreed that we grew up in a far different time than our grandchildren do today. More freedom to imagine, to run loose, to PLAY. We are so grateful to have lived our childhood and youth lives the way we did in the 40’s and 50’s.

We could have talked much longer that the hours we had, and indeed we will do this again. Perhaps next year’s Epiphany trip. Here we are many decades later.

Following lunch I headed to a yarn shop, actually The Yarn Shop, aptly named. Unfamiliar with knitting materials and patterns, I sought help from the store manager. He did his best to guide and direct me. I took photos of possible yarns, shared them with Beth, then took a leap of faith that I would make good choices.

Likely you can figure out which one will be my hat.

The young man helping me shared with me how much he likes the yarn on the left. He recently used this particular color to knit a cardigan for himself. He’s hoping for cold weather so he can wear it. I’m hoping with him.

I was instructed to ask that the yarn be wound into a ball. Well, I did ask, and then I was shown how to do it, and wound it Myself I did! When done I remarked about my success and received this response: “we like to empower people.” Considered me empowered as I await the flight from Houston.

Next stop dinner then on to Santa Fe.

Traveling mercies.

At last! As I type this, I am “sitting in a chair, in the sky”, to quote a well-known comic. Ah, the gift of flight. The gift of travel.  The gift of a traveling friend. I am SO grateful for all of this.

I’d much rather fly in daytime.  I love to gaze out the window, watching the clouds drift by as I try to ascertain just where I am.

Tonight is a night flight.

Flying in the dark does have different scenery – the lights of small and large towns and cities below.  I’m so curious about their names, so I’m generally logged in online so as to map my trek across the country, and thus identify the cluster of lights below. Here’s Little Rock.

I’m arriving a day early.  Given some inconvenient airline schedules, it makes more sense for me to get to Albuquerque this day, so tomorrow evening when Beth arrives we’ll immediately be on our way north… after we stop for dinner at a new favorite place.

I’m arriving late enough that I’m grateful I don’t have to drive any further than a few blocks to my hotel.

Tomorrow brings worship, reunion, shopping, and reunion.

I’ve researched Episcopal churches in Albuquerque and have decided on one in particular.  I’ll let you know about my worship experience later.

Because I’m a day early, I’m able to reunite with the woman with whom I was friends growing up in Denver. When asked what kind of restaurant I prefer, my response was “when I’m in New Mexico all I want to eat is New Mexican food”.  Stay tuned for how this turns out.

And I have errands to do.  I’ve just learned about the women’s march to be held on the day we return home from this Epiphany retreat.  Beth wants to knit “pussy” hats for each of us to wear on our separate flights home, to be in solidarity with those who march.  I was hesitant when I heard this– I’m not really a pink-hat-with-ears type, but I’m told I can choose my own color.  Since that works for me, I’m tasked with getting the necessary yarn for each of us so the hats can be knitted for the flights home. (Stay tuned to learn how that works out for me.) Not requiring pink, my guess is it will be easy for me to find a suitable color for my hat, maybe not so easy to find pink yarn (specifically local to the area, and wool) for Beth.  Not being a knitter, I suspect this yarn shopping could be quite an adventure in itself.

And lastly, tomorrow will be retreat-companion reunion, with travel north.

Traveling mercies.

Retreat is defined as a place of refuge, or seclusion, or to withdraw.

I’ll be doing all of the above in a few days as I journey to Northern New Mexico for my 2nd annual Epiphany retreat.  Beginning in 1995, and continuing for the next twenty years, my best traveling friend and I have spent some part of Advent in New Mexico.

Last year we shifted to retreating during Epiphany in January. A grandboy’s birthday necessitated the shift.  Missing the Advent trip was a sad, sad time last year.  The surprise was realizing the new Epiphany retreat in January was quite possibly better than all the December Advent treks. It’s much quieter in January; you can hear the silence.

Not a fan of change, I would not have thought I’d find the empty Advent days of 2016 transformed into full Epiphany days of 2017.  Now ready for Epiphany 2018, I’m filled with anticipation.  And longing to be on retreat in northern New Mexico once again.

Last year a new coffee spot had opened just a week ahead of our arrival.  We spotted the place as we drove into Taos.  You couldn’t miss it! The Coffee Apothecary.

We quickly became regulars, to say the least. We were on a first-name basis–Lydia and Pablo. A wonderful young couple filled with hope and enthusiasm for their new business.  Now a year later, it will be delightful to be in their midst once again.

Along with retreat will be reunion.

In 1983 my sons went to a camp in the Pecos National Forest outside Santa Fe for a month. This was an effort on my part to instill the “mountains” in my sons’ hearts and souls. We were living in Texas, after all, and so it was necessary they travel beyond state lines.  I chose New Mexico because it was a distance I could drive to pick them up after camp.  My heart and soul needed an annual mountain fix. They continued to attend this camp a month each summer for many years- and yes, I am certain mountains took up residence in their hearts and souls.

When it was time to pick up the boys that first camp year, my dear friend Lynn and I drove from Houston to Santa Fe, allowing several days to enjoy the area before it was time to claim the kids and return home.  On that trip we stayed in a B&B in Chimayó, a small village located about 30 miles north of Santa Fe. La Posada de Chimayó was owned and run by a women from Michigan, who upon returning from service in the Peace Corps, migrated to this remote area of New Mexico and opened up a guest house, as she called it.  She was the first woman in New Mexico to open up such a business.

My friendship with Sue grew over the next two decades of lodging with her, until she shuttered the guest house. We have maintained the friendship, meeting for a meal during each Advent -now Epiphany – retreat. We’ll reunite for a meal on the drive up to Taos.

About the time Sue closed her business, I met Abby.  A potter living outside Taos in an Earthship community, we were introduced by the owner of an Earthship B&B where we were now staying during our December trips. The friendship with Abby has flourished and I am gifted more than words can say as we spend time with her during each trip.

Our lodging for the past eight years as been in a small casa in Taos.  Abby introduced us to Georgia, a local artist who rented out this casa, located just behind her home. Sadly  Georgia died three years ago.  On our last stay not long before she died, we hung out with her in her studio, while talking about illness, death, and decisions – and just how to do all of these difficult things.

Happily Georgia’s daughter manages the casa long distance, so once again we will have our little place just off the Taos plaza where we will relax, rest, and invite Abby for dinner.

There is an additional reunion for me during this Epiphany retreat.  During my adolescent years, I was best friends with a girl who lived just down the street.  We both played the piano and during the summers we competed in talent shows that took place in local neighborhood parks. Our “signature” style was playing duets looking at each other, not the music. We did a good bit of growing up together during those years. We stayed friends for many years, actually living near each other once again in northern California during our early married lives.  Then we lost touch.  Now recently back in touch, and given that she lives in Albuquerque, we shall meet for lunch as I await Beth’s evening arrival.

Delicious is how I describe all the meal reunions I’m anticipating.

Traveling mercies.

At the moment I write this, there are just over three hours left in 2017. What does that even mean? A literal take is just that. In 3 hours, 25 minutes we end one year and begin another.

So how does this feel? Is there anything to feel? Seems to me it’s more symbolic than a physical feeling. More of an unseen traversing of time.

I know it’s often tempting to say something like “I’m so glad such-and-such year is over!”  Or, “I can’t wait for 2018 because there is hope for a better year”.  How are better years measured?  What does it mean to hope for a better year?

“The time has come
To stop allowing the clutter
To clutter my mind
Like dirty snow,
Shove it off and find
Clear time, clear water.

Time for a change,
Let silence in like a cat
Who has sat at my door
Neither wild nor strange
Hoping for food from my store
And shivering on the mat.

Let silence in.
She will rarely speak or mew,
She will sleep on my bed
And all I have ever been
Either false or true
Will live again in my head.

For it is now or not
As old age silts the stream,
To shove away the clutter,
To untie every knot,
To take the time to dream,
To come back to still water.”     May Sarton

I have been with my sons and their families for eight days during this Advent. It was a blessing beyond measure.

I receive a word each day during Advent from the Virginia Theological Seminary. Saturday, a week ago, the word was AMONG. God is AMONG us. Certainly God has been among we who have been among each other for a time.

What does it mean to be among? When I am among, or in the midst, of my children (sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren) I feel surrounded in a cover of love, care, plentitude. Abundance of recognition, acceptance.  And joy.

While being in the midst of my children is infrequent, God among me is constant, in all ways, in all times.

AMONG. ALWAYS.

I am no longer in the midst of my children, and the immediate quiet is almost too quiet. Yet, it is in this quiet that I seek out AMONG.

The Advent word today is Greeting. As a member of the community of Christ’s family, I am encouraged to develop a spiritual practice of greeting a new person for my always increasing Christ’s family every day.

Most assuredly I am AMONG.

The party/passage is over…

Its time to head for the hills.

What a time this has been!

One for the road…

Traveling mercies.

This fourth day of celebrating Georgia’s graduation and related accomplishments, brought the great gathering to a close.

A slow and casual morning as we moved toward the culmination of this moment in time.

Commencement!!

Three of us arrived at the arena where graduation was to be held, TWO hours ahead of the ceremony so as to get good seats, actually an entire row of 20 seats. We scored the perfect row!

Over 1,500 USC students graduated today.

One final extraordinary meal gathering.

This passage now complete. There are passages ahead for Georgia as she moves from this time and place.

There are passages ahead for the rest of us as well. For now, the recall of smiles and laughter, of applause and whoops of joy, and the presence of family, will set each of us on our path toward our next passage.

This Sabbath day began at Starbucks, of course,

Frosty is here too.

A short, brisk walk brought us to Trinity Cathedral. We filled 3 pews. I love worshipping in cathedrals. The sights and sounds, the “echoes” during the spoken word, and the sheer size and design of the place. Awe-filled for me.

The sermon was about John the Baptist, and whether or not he, not Jesse, was Elijah. Arguments for this can be found in two references in Malachi, and in all four Gospels there is confusion about the relationship of Jesus and John, and who was Elijah. What matters this day is that as baptized Christians we are called to a ministry of proclamation.

After church, Georgia led us on a tour of the campus Horseshoe, where all the buildings that form the horseshoe are from the very early days of the university.

Then it was time for brunch. Time to eat fabulous food, once again,

A short break after brunch for lounging, walking, or, wait for it, Starbucks.

Then it was time for the Revocation ceremony. Additional family arrived just as we entered Rutledge Chapel. The Dean of the Honors College explained that Convocation is to gather at the beginning, and Revocation is a way to conclude; the status of being an active student in the Honors College is revoked and one receives a new status – alumnus.

Each graduate spoke about their experiences as Honors College students.

A reception followed at Rutledge Hall, the very first building of the University of South Carolina.

Todd summited the high point of Hall.

Another campus walk to the hotel to change clothes,…..

…..because it was BBQ time!

Another amazing day of family and friend time as we continue to celebrate and honor Georgia,

After Friday’s School of Nursing commencement, other family members arrived and joined in the joy. A short time later, an impromptu walk to Starbucks a couple of blocks away, allowed for a chance to revel in these family members while sharing stories with them of the earlier event.

This morning sons, various grandchildren, papa and I, trickled down the road to Starbucks to begin the day, and from there a tour of some the must see local art nearby.

Walking around in 29 degrees – brrrr!!, we came across Soda City Street Market, Columbia’s downtown street market – open every Saturday morning year-round, rain or shine. It was great fun. Local produce, arts and crafts sellers, food trucks and a variety of musicians.

Later we gathered for dinner, another feast of sustenance and celebration.

All these events have been laced through with accomplishments, the presence of family and friends, joy and pride.

The act or process of moving through, under, over, or past something on the way from one place to another.

I’m currently a passenger in a car headed to The University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. My first grandchild and first granddaughter is graduating over the next few days in a series of ceremonies marking her completion of her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, the revocation of her membership in the Honors College, and finally the full university degree commencement.

Move-in day 4 1/2 years ago.

There is this day a gathering of family from near and far who have come to honor and celebrate Georgia Grace.

Now continuing this blog post, the College of Nursing Convocation was held this afternoon. Candidates for a number of nursing degree program were presented. Pins were placed on each graduate as proud families and friends rejoiced. Honors all around.

And smiles.

Listening to the various speakers this afternoon, it was made clear that earning a degree from the University of South Carolina Nursing School is a rigorous undertaking. Conversations during visits with Georgia over the past four years have confirmed this.

And now this day, it is completed. Yet more awaits in this passage process, as the next steps are taken toward promise and possibility.

But first, over the next few days there are more rituals, honors, and celebrations ahead before this passage is completed.