Our Long & Winding Road

 We are still on Sabbatical but we are home in Dedham. I have missed our town but have come home to quite a mess. Backed up sewage in the basement, rotted-out kitchen flooring, and a messy house. I always like to clean things before I leave but we left the dogs here and work has been going on in the house. Alas, nothing could be done but plug away at a long to-do list. I wonder if living in the pop-up would be a preferred life for me. The giant parsonage feels so overwhelming sometimes, where the pop-up you just sweep a little floor and you are often done. Thank goodness I have more help with the parsonage :) Once we were nearing the end of the trip I couldn't wait to get home. I did get the norovirus in the last few days so that may have helped me want to get home- it isn't easy being sick on the road. As you might also remember I got covid after our January trip to Florida so perhaps home is where I want to be sick? Or home is where I can tick off my to-do lists.  My heart is

5/10/23:   Like the beginning of our cross-country journey, this last stretch is far more about people than places.   We spent two nights with the Indiana Pietraszek’s earlier this week, and it was such a treat to be so seamlessly folded into family.   Sword fights with twigs and run-away scooter captures on a walk along the Lake Maxinkuckee, a grand campus tour in the fancy 6-seater golf cart, yummy meals both around the dining table and in the local hot spot . . . Super fun!   Thanks, Steve & Beth.   Last night we were in Columbus, OH, staying with one of my fellow Dandelions.   The Dandelions are fierce.   We are 7 women from the fabulous class of ’93 who have not only kept in touch but also endured quite a variety of significant life challenges over the 30 (?!?!?!) years since we graduated from college.   Our bonds are tight, and it’s a very special treat to have 1-on-1 time together.   Thanks, Tracy. While a significant allergic reaction to a combo of ingested soy and inhaled

4/21/23:  I write from a Super 8, where we'll be for two nights, after staying in a hotel last night, too.  This is luxury at its height!  Hot showers that require neither inserting quarters every 3 minutes nor walking 100 yards from the camper to the campground bathroom...Life is good. Today was a travel day, but tomorrow we'll see Wind Caves National Park, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and Mount Rushmore. 5/10/23: Looks like I neither finished nor published that post.  I can tell you now that all three South Dakota stops were cool.  The Black Hills are sacred lands to a number of Native tribes.  In fact, Wind Caves are believed to be where humans were created.  The Crazy Horse Memorial , conceived of by Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear, is very cool.  In addition to a monstrous blasting project that will eventually create the sculpture below coming out of a mountain 6500+ ft above sea level. Here's the progress thus far as seen through some light falling snow from the Visitor