Going to Boston

I woke up early and turned on the radio in time to hear a re-broadcast of one of yesterday's call-in shows. Co-authors critical of the former Secretary of Defense were selling their ideas, tracing the intersecting histories of powerful people who hold sway over our military policies. But there is a golden retriever to be fed, so I turned it off. I'm in motion a bit earlier today since my flight leaves for Boston at 11:30 and there are things to do before heading to the airport around 9:30.

So, I fed Bass early, then counting on his system to be equally early, let him out in the back yard. I slid open the patio door and immediately smelled that stinking skunk. He/she had to be close. There is risk/reward here. I'm trying to save a few minutes so chose to let Bass do his own thing instead of walking him. How much time would this save if I end up having to find a place to get special shampoo, wash a 100-pound hairy dog, and still be ready for the airport at 9:30? One can't really say to a friend, "Hey, I've got to get to the airport. Could you go to the pet store and buy big container of anti-skunk shampoo and come back and wash my dog...who is reeking in the back yard? I'll be back tomorrow night around 9:00 pm. You can't? Hey, remember the time I lent you my tree trimmer?" Happily, Bass took care of everything without incident. There's time to browse the paper, have coffee, put a few things in my carry-on, and tidy the place.

Somehow inconveniences of a skunk attack don't seem so overwhelming this morning. One of my grown sons is having a tough personal time. My heart is full, and outside of caring and listening, this one is his to solve. He was here last night to do his metaphorical and real laundry. We talked; had dinner. When I went to bed, his stuff was still spinning in the dryer while other stuff probably spun in his head as he lay on the couch in the downstairs family room.
I was flossing my teeth when he came into my room to tell me he loved me. He was near tears.

Now to Boston.

Seventh Grade Journal

Seventh grade English. North Junior High School (subsequently made into apartments, then later torn down). Sioux City, IA.

OK, let’s summarize. I want each one of you to start a journal. Are you with me here? Write in it every day. Write about anything you see or do. Don’t worry about being perfect. I’m not going to grade your handwriting, spelling, or grammar. In fact, I’m not even going to read your journals. All journals automatically get A’s. All you have to do is keep one and show it to me in two weeks. I just want you to get used to writing. I don’t care if you only write one sentence a day; just get going.

My Journal

Day 1

I have to keep a journal.

Day 2

It’s Friday. No school tomorrow. Went to the Y after school with Colin. Played basketball. Touched the net for the first time.

Day 3

Collected with Bill Clark. I am taking his Sunday paper route next week so I went with him. He is going to visit his grandma in Leon Iowa. Sunday papers are heavier than daily papers. I may have to collect for him too since some people didn’t pay. I substituted for him last month and missed two apartments and one house.

Day 4

I collected for the Sunday DesMoines Register with Bill Clark yesterday. We collected in the Sioux Apartments. I think Mrs. DeVries at the desk owns the place. She knows we are the paper boys so we can ride the elevator. The elevator won’t work unless the inside door is closed. We went to the old folks home on Grandview Blvd up the hill from the Sioux. There are two old ladies there who get the paper. The place smells. When people pay, they get a small tab that we tear off their card for the week. Today, I came home from church and watched Bowl-a-Rama before dinner. One of my friend’s mom was bowling. Her name is Lou Borchuk. She also coached my little league team. She is the first lady to coach little league in Sioux City. She can yell.

Day 5

I wrote this tomorrow since I didn’t write in my journal today.

Day 6

It rained today and I got my shoes wet after school at the bus stop. Colin and I were going to the Y to do our fitness events. We got timed in the eraser race and rope climb. The director writes the times on our record. We shot around after the rope climb. Colin and I were chosen to be junior leaders. We had ice cream in the snack bar before we left the Y. Colin’s mom picked us up.

Day 7

I wore my new gray jacket to school today. I don’t have much to say. I guess I can say I carried my violin to school since orchestra practices every Wednesday. The violin case has a zipper cover to protect it. We played March Slav.

Day 8

It was very windy today and the leaves were blowing around. The birds had trouble flying in the wind. There are still robins in our yard. Bill Clark told me that he was trying to collect from some people who didn’t pay last weekend and I went with him. I have his paper route this Sunday. He said the people who don’t pay won’t get the paper on Sunday. He has to tell the paper how many he needs by tomorrow and he leaves for his grandmothers tomorrow afternoon so he needs to collect today. We went to the old folks home and one of the old ladies wasn’t in her room on the top floor so she won’t get the paper. I could see pigeons sitting in her window.

Day 9

I had a geography test today. I think I did o.k. It was about central America. We had to list all the countries and their capitals and list products they produce. The gym coach teaches the class. If we list corn and barley as products he always counts it right. Bill leaves for Leon after school so I have to collect one last time for him and call the paper and tell them how many I need for Sunday. I went to the old folks home and collected from the lady upstairs. She told her friend she was my grandma. She said my name was Keith. She also had names for the pigeons in her window. She will get the Sunday paper. I think there are two apartments in the Sioux that won’t get the paper.

Day 10

I had to pick up my closet. Mom gets mad because I put everything in the closet when I clean my room. I heard shotgun shots today. The owners of apartments and the old folks home hire hunters to shoot the pigeons so they won’t poop all over the place. I went up the street and watched with some other kids and we picked up a lot of empty 12-guage shells after they were gone. Everybody smells gun powder all over the neighborhood.

Day 11

I got up at 5 o’clock this morning and delivered papers. My alarm clock makes a clunking sound because it’s not working right. When I hear the clunk, it’s time to get up. There are 38 people who get the paper. I think I got them all delivered right because nobody called. I went to church and sang in the choir. We sang an anthem with the other two choirs and Colin and I played tic tack toe on the program during the sermon.

Day 12

Some of the other kids said they are drawing pictures in their journals. Some kids haven’t done anything. We have to show our journals on Wednesday. I got a C on my geography test. Steve got an A.

Day 13

Today was good. It was very warm and we had gym class outside since the field was dry. I went to the Y and played basketball and I did my fastest rope climb.

Day 14

It's morning and I am writing. Journal is finished!!! I take it to school today in the music pouch on my violin case.

Animal Sightings

About 8:30 this morning a large skunk crossed the street. It waddled through my front yard, and headed toward the southwest side of the house. I may have a visitor in the storage area under the porch. About the same time, several hawks flew over, going south. I left to run errands, and returned to my desk in time to see an eastern vulture fly over, going north. Then this afternoon around 3:00, my neighbor's blue weimaraner pup loped unattended down the sidewalk. About a minute later, another neighbor drove down the street, then returned with the pup chasing her car. She drove into the driveway of the dog's home where the owner was waiting.

Finally, Tally (yellow lab cross) is boarding here for a few days. Bass (golden retriever) has company.

A view from the office

The garbage is at the curb; dog is walked; coffee made. A quick check of the on-line NYTimes and an editorial catches my eye. Something about habeas corpus. Shepherds beware. If you are mistakenly swept up and sent to Gitmo, somebody else will be milking your goats for some time.

The rest of the day includes running and a weight workout at my health club; getting materials prepared and sent to Bedford ("Bedfit") MA for a seminar next week; picking up a dog that I'm boarding for the next four days; having my hot water heater fixed; and receiving a therapeutic massage for my aching ass (search on "piriformis").

Looking out my my office window I see a gray winter sky, budded maples, and melting snow...a natural solution to the absence of even one snowplow into the neighborhood. Part of the front yard is grassy again, and this morning I saw reminders of slothful neighbors who didn't pick up after their dogs. While I'm on the topic, the snow melt in my backyard revealed a few surprises from my own golden retriever...but, it's my yard, o.k.?

The sun is breaking through the clouds. My next door neighbor just made her characteristic high-speed turn from the street into our shared driveway...one of those turns that causes the left front wheel to plunge into the asphalt. She's been deprived of this pleasure for a while due to ice and snow, and this morning's turn seemed a bit enthusiastic. At least her driving is accurate. Through the years she has managed to miss a wide range of pedestrian types, pets, garbage cans, recycle containers, mailboxes, and shrubery.

Weekend Results

"Cognac Nights"

A flash of light and then a shadow cast.

First warmth and then a chill to overcome.

One heart enlivened seeks a home at last,

And moves ahead, less tender to become.

Come in. Stay here. Be warm. Enjoy your peace.

Take comfort as your destination nears.

Give ear to promise; let your faith increase.

I'll take your hand in mine. I'll dry your tears.

Go forth and love, yet keep a sure reserve,

To use when dreams of love do not endure

To be retold, or savored, or observed.

Hold fast to what you know is true and sure.

In dimmer times I dream of heron flights;

And then awake to think of cognac nights.

Journeys intersect...

During the past two days I have found myself traveling with others, peeking into their lives from a certain distance with permission. One of my sons got engaged, thus marking an official starting point for an eventful journey. The "question" was asked a few days ago, but they celebrated the event with a special stay at a fine inn beginning on Valentine's Day. My thoughts go back to a time in my life. I wish them the joys I experienced, and the skill to avoid what I could not.

I also traveled with a special C into her past. I feel privileged to share time with people who intersected her life. Rediscovered memories become first-time stories to me. C's life affects me deeply.

I'm also looking forward to the safe arrival of the other of my sons who will be driving in from Ohio tonight with a special friend.

More lives to intersect as they journey to, then past me.

...but there is also "need"

I don't want to get too heavy here, but all this pilgrimage talk does presume a "need" to travel and to experience the unknown, even in familiar places with familiar people...and then to talk about it. Daily pilgrimages don't have to be life defining moments or knee-scraping ordeals. The dragons can be very small. And with the exception of life's final pilgrimage, all they need is a starting point, a destination, and a return; with stuff in between. OK, enough. You get the idea of what this blog is all about.

In-House Travel

My watch just beeped at me. It's 9:08pm, a memorable time, and this is my kick-off entry. I chose the title "Daily Pilgrimages" because of two books I've enjoyed. Both suggest that one can wring more meaning out of life if daily comings and goings are viewed as pilgrimages of sorts. There is anticipation, preparation, and the start. There are obstacles and challenges, and meetings along the way; then fulfillment and reflection. I'm going to stop now and embark on travel from my office to the kitchen for a final cup of tea. I'll be back soon. This is a good life I have.