The 2018 Road, Day 23: A Father’s Greatest Joy

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 18, 2018 in Family, Historical, Social, Travel

June 17, 2018, Philadelphia-

We began the day with what was billed as “A Farewell Brunch”-and it was enough to last me, at least, until late afternoon.

Here are a couple of scenes from the morning.

Son is explaining to his second cousin about his work on a ship in the Navy, whilst YH and the little guy’s parents look on.

My younger brother, Mom and the lovely bride are enjoying the morning.

Once we had indeed made our farewells to the family, Aram, YH and I headed over to the Korean War Memorial, just inside Penn’s Landing.

We headed back towards the Independence Historic District. A few late model buildings caught our attention. The Ritz-Carlton is mostly high rise, but uses this domed structure for its lobby, convention center and main dining room.

Here, you get a view of Philadelphia City Hall.

We took in the Alexander Hamilton exhibit at The Constitution Center.

Then came a visit to the Liberty Bell.

I managed a selfie with the former Pennsylvania State House bell, now a national symbol.

We then returned to Independence Hall, checking out the East Wing and courtyard, for a bit.

The last act of the day was to head to Jones Restaurant, on Chestnut Street, and enjoy a Midday repast of tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich, hearkening back to my childhood. The best present, though, was having Aram here and getting to meet his love.

Leaving the happy couple to enjoy the Philadelphia evening, I headed south, to Baltimore.

The 2018 Road, Day 22: No Greater Heights Than This

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 17, 2018 in Entertainment, Family, Historical, Social, Spiritual

June 16, 2018, Philadelphia-

It doesn’t surprise me, in the least, that this family of mine has given my mother’s youngest grandchild a spectacular launch into her own little family unit. She is much loved, across the board and has maintained a solid, unifying presence among us, and well before the advent of social media. B helped me with her aunt, when I had to get Beloved to a restroom, down a freight elevator, and through an obscure section of an old hotel, years ago. She maintained contact with those of my nephews who were off, alone, at colleges that were some distance from the rest of the family. She kept in touch with my son, when it would have been easy to leave him to his own devices, in the days of his naval basic training and early regular duty.

So, we all came to Christ Church, expanding our family by one new grandson-in-law and one future granddaughter-in-law for our blessed matriarch to cherish.

The above should give readers a frame of reference. We were asked, by the rector, to not photograph the ceremony or the inside. The newlyweds have plenty of photos to share, in that respect, and I leave it at that.

The ceremony did not start, however, until 4 P.M., so there was time for me to look further around the Independence Historic District, before Aram and YH were ready to meet for lunch. Here is Congress Hall, where the Federal legislative branch met from December, 1790- May, 1800. .

The Main Gallery of Independence Hall is below.

Next along my walk was the Liberty Bell Pavilion, of which more tomorrow.

Here is Old City Hall, which also served as the first U.S. Supreme Court Chamber.

Below is the Second Bank of the United States Portrait Gallery.

Here is a view into the Independence Hall courtyard.

Having to meet Aram and YH, I hurried on over to the Center for Art in Wood. They were suitably impressed by the gallery and by its shop.

The three of us enjoyed a nice lunch at Cafe Ole, across the street from CAIW. We then strolled around Betsy Ross House and briefly considered purchasing a 13-star flag.

For now, though, this shadowy replica of the original Stars and Stripes will suffice.

We will keep the wedding photos within the family, but I do want to share a few of the reception venue: Knowlton Mansion. Once again, the staff did their parts admirably, as did the band and vocalist. As for me, I cut loose and danced more this evening than I have in about eighteen years.

I do wish to share the intact wedding cake- always an affirmation of good fortune and fertility. The first, I wish for the new branch of the family. The second is their business, alone.

In any event, this day will long live as among the most beautiful with which I have had the pleasure of being involved- in at least seven years.

NEXT: Father’s Day, Full Tilt

The 2018 Road, Day 21: In the Streets of Brotherly Love

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 16, 2018 in collaborating, Community, Family, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

June 15, 2018, Philadelphia-

Once upon a time, a teenaged girl looked at her uncle, and wondered aloud whether anyone would care to attend her wedding, when the time came. Uncle said, unequivocally, that he would be there and that anyone who called themselves his family would be there, too.

In reality, there was never any question. Everyone from her youngest cousin (my son) to the family matriarch (Mother) made the wedding, that will take place tomorrow, a top priority. It’s been a few years since B was a teenager, but there has been no break, whatsoever, in the love I feel for that compassionate and powerful young lady. She has made a solid life for herself, following her father’s example of being largely self-reliant and choosing the field of education-which probably had little or nothing to do with her uncle and aunt, on the other side of the country, being educators. I’m glad she chose teaching, anyway. She’s darn good at it.

I arrived in Philadelphia, around 2, by way of Camden. This was a simple matter of not getting good directions from Google Maps, finding myself on the bridge to New Jersey and turning around to get cash from a bodega, near the Camden side of the bridge. Once that was done, I picked up my pre-ordered wedding gift and headed to the Alexander Inn, my residence for the next 2 days.

With time to spend, until the Rehearsal Dinner, at 6 p.m., I ventured to check out Philly’s street art.

Here are a few of those scenes, from the west side of the Independence Historic District.

Here, a father is showing his little girl the power that comes with community working together. I found this appropriate to the present situation. My brother has been a guiding light to all three of his children.

The above long mural has a caption that speaks of the eternal juxtaposition of right and wrong. The young man in the foreground is giving this matter a lot of thought. From the look in his eyes, I would say he will choose right, more often.

Well, the dinner was second to none. The Panorama Restaurant, right on Front Street, did it up fabulous. I am admittedly an hors d’oeuvres hound, anyway, and the grilled ahi tuna did not fail to satisfy, either.

Tomorrow, greeting Aram and meeting his sweetheart, then attending the wedding of the year (sorry, Harry and Meghan), will be a most assuredly full day. Good night, all.

The 2018 Road, Day 16: Unlocking Myself

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 5, 2018 in Community, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Striving, Travel

June 10, 2018, Montreal-

The thieves gave me more than they took, actually. An extra day to enjoy the comfort of Auberge Bishop’s community and to spend twilight in downtown Montreal were unexpected delights.

Here are some scenes of Montreal’s old and new, around the Cathedral of Mary, Queen of the World and St. George’s Anglican Cathedral. Statues honour Sir Wilfrid Laurier and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as well as a row of figures atop the Roman Catholic Cathedral. Below is a scene of the cathedral’s cupola, with CIBC Tower to its right.

The great tower also watches this gate to the cathedral’s grounds.

The Cathedral’s own watchmen are also quite vigilant.

Here is a memorial to the city’s fallen, in World War I, World War II and the Korean War.

In addition to the excitement of Formula 1 Grand Prix, there is a dazzling amount of construction here.

This abstract piece graces the Garden of the Cathedral of St. George, an Anglican house of worship.

This statue honours Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Canada’s Prime Minister during the Fin de Siecle, the turn of the Twentieth Century. Sir Wilfrid promoted both the expansion of Canadian territory and a retreat from Federalism. He espoused increasing harmony between English and French Canadians.

The “Mounties” are honoured here.

This likeness of Robert Burns celebrates Canada’s debt to Scotland, as regards its settlement.

With the dark looming, I headed back to the hostel. There, as an offbeat round of Bingo was beginning, I took a seat at one of the “audience” tables. The “winners” of a call had to perform a silly act. One young man came up and meowed at me. A few calls later, a pert young woman was to ask an audience member to dance. So, I accepted her motion and let myself move to the beat. At that moment, I realized why this extra night in one of my favourite cities happened. Business as usual, with no break-in, would have had me on the road, charging full speed ahead, to New England, It was essential, in fact, for me to slow down and get off the treadmill. So many “daughters” have appeared these past few days, from Toronto to here, offering messages of support and encouragement, in big ways (the policewoman) and small (this pleasant dancer). I went to bed, two hours later, feeling safe among the young.

NEXT: A fine repair and Grandma’s roots.

The 2018 Road, Day 14: All Along ON Route

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 1, 2018 in Community, Matters of Faith, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

June 8, 2018, Montreal-

Late this evening, I have arrived at Auberge Bishop, arguably one of the most welcoming places I’ve been in quite a while. The people are relaxed, indoors and out. Even the House Psycho is not going to be much of a problem- I just need to remember that she hates men.

But, let’s get back to the day’s start. I enjoyed a full breakfast, in Neill-Wycik’s cafeteria, then went up to the penthouse to get a view of downtown, as only the top of a high rise can offer.

I got carried away with writing, whilst sitting at a desk, in said penthouse, so I ended up checking out at 11:15. The uber-officious Day Manager had a field day with this, and $ 25 worth of surcharges later, I left Neill-Wycik, with a promise to myself to not return. Toronto has smaller hostels, and one of them will be my base camp, on the next visit here.

Downtown I drove, stopping briefly at Toronto’s lovely Baha’i Centre. I was let inside by a lovely and gracious lady, who had to then leave. I was allowed, by the office manager, to look about for a few minutes and so I share these scenes. Anyone in the Toronto area who has a desire to investigate spiritual truth for oneself will certainly do well to attend one of the Centre’s public events. Toronto’s Baha’i community is certainly a vibrant one: https://www.bahaitoronto.org/

Whilst on a trip around North America, in 1912, Abdu’l-Baha briefly visited Toronto, en route from Montreal to Buffalo.

I was given the address for Canada’s Baha’i National Centre, in Thornhill, north of Toronto, but gauging my arrival time in Montreal, I opted to leave that visit for next time.

Ontario’s segment of Route 401 features several ON Route Service Centres. These allowed this Yank to get my fill of Tim Horton’s fare, and keep the Elantra happy with gasoline. There is much to see, off-highway, along this route: It is, after all, the Canadian side of the Thousand Islands sector of the St. Lawrence Valley. Again, stuff for next time. After leaving sleepy Morrisburg’s ON Route Esso, with its wary station attendant and taciturn cashier, I was soon in Quebec. Montreal, in its majesty, appeared an hour after that.

A ten-minute Blue Tooth-based conversation later, I had deposited Elantra in a parking garage and found my way to Auberge Bishop. Here, at least, I feel entirely welcome. At Chicha Donburi, a curry house next door, I received an equally robust welcome. The cheerful Japanese-Canadian proprietress, and her chef, never stopped moving, the entire hour I was there. I love Katsu (Japanese-style cutlet), and this did not disappoint.

NEXT: Montreal’s Light and Darkness

The 2018 Road, Day 11: The Essenhaus Kerfuffle

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on June 27, 2018 in distraction issues, Historical, Social, Travel

June 6, 2018, Ridgetown, ON-

On the 36th anniversary of my wedding, I sat on the edge of the bed in Ridgetown Inn, pondering the power of one word. Not seeing the word, tomorrow, on a friend’s post, cost me a fine dining experience, at Essenhaus, an amazing resort property in Middlebury, IN.

All the comforts of the homey Midwest are captured here, and thousands of visitors flock to Essenhaus, each year. I waited for my friends, in the foyer, for twenty minutes, re-read the message that had been sent early this morning, and, yes- as another friend said, not long ago, “It’s the reading comprehension, stupid.”

Not feeling right about dining alone, in the midst of so many happy parties of seven and eight, I headed up the road, found the delightful Hilltop Restaurant, and enjoyed a fish fry/salad bar. I still stood out, being one of the few “English” patrons, in what is a favourite of local Mennonites and Amish, but folks were no more inclined to leer, than in any other small town establishment. I found Hilltop a delight.

Having had the Elantra serviced, earlier today, in Elkhart, I felt confident heading northeast, through Michigan, and across the Ambassador Bridge, the older of the two large commuter thoroughfares between Detroit and Windsor. I wanted to get as close as possible to Toronto, this late night, in the event I was able to meet with two friends there, tomorrow. Their minds, and schedules, change as often as their clothes, though, so I remain open to doing Toronto solo, this time. I love my friends, though, just so we’re clear and we do have a plan to get together, when I make a Trans-Canada trek, in summer of 2020.

Anyway, Ridgetown is a pleasant little burg, in west-central Ontario, so this is where I settled, for what was left of the night.

NEXT: Ontario’s London

I Felt Like The Waterboy

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on June 17, 2018 in Family, Historical, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

June 17, 2018, Philadelphia-

From Friday night until about 11 A.M., today, my biological family was giving my youngest niece and her new husband the respect and honour they completely deserve. The wedding rehearsal dinner, and all that pertained to food, last night and this morning, were among the richest and most generous culinary festivals I have seen in many years, now.

I stuck to grilled fish, as my entree, for each meal, but the hors d’oeuvres for the two dinners were an astonishing parade, and no words could do justice to the intensity of the work done by the planners, the servers and the wedding party itself. Then, there was last night’s musical troupe, who gave their all, with a constant stream of dance-able music. Thus, for the first family wedding, in memory, I was relaxed and out on the floor, tripping the light fantastic, rather than tripping over my two left feet. Like Adam Sandler’s water boy, in the movie of that name, I was hearing the voice of his buddy: “You can dooo eeet!” So I danced, almost constantly, to tunes from the 1960’d through today, though I sat out the slow songs. Some things just don’t get done, for a long time afterward.

This weekend was special in another way: My son and his girlfriend came, clear from South Korea, for the wedding. So, Father’s Day was also the most meaningful in years. We went about taking in the historical core of Philadelphia, in particular, the American Constitution Center, parts of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center. The Korean War Memorial, near Penn’s Landing, was also of interest to Y.H., she being a Korean national.

Summer is in full swing here, sticky and hot, but the sky has been clear and calm, all three days. After a light supper, I have to bid farewell to Philly, to my new “little family” and to the new Mr & Mrs. I’ve watched that girl grow up and with her entry into the full bounds of marriage, I found tears coming even more readily than in betrothals past. Long may this, and all my family’s unions, last and bring happiness.

Grama in Time

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on June 13, 2018 in Family, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Social, Travel

June 12, 2018, Plattsburgh-

My maternal grandmother, Estella Myers Kusch, was born here, in 1892 and passed on in 1960, in Stoneham, MA. It’s been a long-standing desire of my siblings and me, to spend time in this area. Last night, and this morning, I got the chance.

Sunday brought me back to Auberge Bishop, which now takes its place among the places where I feel a special measure of love. These places exist in every part of the world I’ve visited and are sure to grow in number. As another friend pointed out, the opposite is also true. Yes, every place has its shadows, as well as its light. I was, however, enormously comforted by my young friends at Bishop, forming a cordon of love around me on Sunday.

Monday came and went, nicely. I had no problem getting cleared by theU.S. Consulate to leave Canada. The auto glass replacement took mu h of the day, but it, too, got done. I fetched my bags from Auberge Bishop, then navigated my way to TC-15 and the border. By 8 p.m., I arrived here, my Grama’s hometown.

Grama was an anchoring presence in my first decade of life. She watched my sister and me, when our parents went shopping on Saturday morning, always warning us to behave, lest Mom get “terry”-her term for being angry. I loved going up to her house, about a mile from our duplex, from which we moved when I was four. In fact, the first time I caught a hair brush to my backside, was when I walked up there alone. I was three. I can only imagine my Mom, crying and trembling, even as she tended to my punishment.

I saw several people around Plattsburgh, who resemble my Grama, my maternal Uncle Jim and few others in the Myers-Kusch family.

The town itself is a most picturesque place, with a compelling story, especially relative to the War of 1812.

I will have photos of Plattsburgh, nearby Ausable Chasm, and all the places before and after, when I get my new laptop and The 2018 Road series resumes.

She became seriously ill, when I was eight years old and I didn’t see her anymore after that.

The 2018 Road, Day 8: A Day of Being Blocked

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on June 6, 2018 in impediments, Inner Struggles, Matters of Faith, Personal goals, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

June 3, 2018, Lowell, IN-

I set out, in earnest, for the Baha’i House of Worship, Wilmette at 9 a.m., fully intending to meet a mentor- friend who lives north of there, in a timely manner. The problem was, I left at 9 a.m. from Carthage, on the west side of Illinois. I stayed within the good graces of the law, clear to a point about 20 miles south of Rockford, getting there about 1 p.m.

Inching eastward, using a variety of state highways, I got to Wilmette way too late to visit with said mentor-friend. So, takeaway # 1: Never stay more than 2 hours from Chicagoland, if the goal is to meet someone in Chicagoland, the next day-even from Saturday to Sunday. In fairness, the same holds true for New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and even Philadelphia, where I will stay in the center of the city, in two weeks’ time.

Other things got done, spiritually. It is my eleventh visit here, and this is the first-and last-time that I have tried to make a same day visit to the Temple, from outside the 50-mile radius. I also had a lovely full meal at Ridgeview Grill, a wonderful place on the west side of Wilmette, served by engaging and attentive Lisa D. I think that will be my dining place of choice, in future visits to the House of Worship.

Needless to say, there are no photos from this Day of Being Blocked. I made it to a campsite here, in Lowell, IN, around 9 p.m. Amen!

	slmret on False Equivalence
	Patty Wolters on Limits of Responsibility
	Sagittarian Seeker on Limits of Responsibility
	Patty Wolters on Limits of Responsibility
	Sagittarian Seeker on Limits of Responsibility

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