NORTH BUT NOT TO ALASKA

I left Oak Harbor, Thursday afternoon. I had Peter, Paul,and Mary's CD "Songs of Protest" blaring on my radio. Singing along with "The Great Mandela" and feeling as though I was flying down the road, even though I was only going 55 mph. I had been looking forward to this since Christmas. This was my Christmas present from my son Bryan. For Christmas, he gave me 4 days and 3 nights with him at the Fairmont Chateau, in Whistlers, British Columbia with him. That was the best part of the gift, I would get to spend 4 days with him! Love spending time with my children. He was going to ski at what was said to be on of the best skiing resorts and mountains to ski in the world. I was going to "Ski Bunny" at what was considered one of the best ski resorts in the world. That was okay with me, seemed like a fair division of labor.

Well, here we are at Saturday and we leave tomorrow evening. It has been all I hoped for a more. We have had a wonderful time. Bryan found the skiing not that good the first day, kind of ice chunks, but today he said he knew why they called it the best skiing in the world. He said the conditions were fantastic.

I have been swimming in their indoor/outdoor heated pool. I've been in the sauna, the steam room and the whirlpool. Feel completely relaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxed! I walked around the Village today. Not much to see, but it was fun to look at the stores they did have. Found a great kitchen store. Because I love gadgets, I can always spend time in kitchen stores. I imagine that kitchen stores for women are like hardware stores for men. I remember, on a Saturday morning, Gus could go off to the local hardware store for a box of nails, and I might see him back by mid afternoon. He might have the box of nails, or he might not, but he had a wonderful day! Same for me with book stores and kitchen stores. I can easily spend a day in either one, and may or may not buy something, but be perfectly happy with the experience.

We have had some wonderful conversations. I feel so blessed to have really interesting children. They have great thoughts and opinions and I always learn something from them. Yesterday, we discussed what constitutes racism vs prejudice. Found a whole new way of thinking about racism. Need to think more about it.

Tomorrow, we are thinking of trying their "luge" run. Hope we do, I've always wanted to see what that would be like to tear down hill. I use to be a "wild woman" on a sled. Once, on a dare, when sledding under the cars along the side of our hilly street. Tore a little hair and skin off the top of my head, but won the bet!

Well we're off to dinner.

HAPPY 2011

It's been a long time since I posted anything. It was a busy end of 2010 and many interesting developments and challenges. I believe the new year will be a time of growth and visioning for St. Stephen's and I hope for me. Charlie and I are still wandering around but not too far these days. We'll have to get out and about this week because I hear snow is coming next week. Oh No! I left Boston so I wouldn't have snow.

I'm learning to really value sun shine. We had a couple of lovely sunny and clear days last week and it was wonderful to see the mountains and to feel the sun on my face. I hear that Vitamin D is what everyone uses in the Northwest, I'll have to try it.

For many years now, I have avoided making New Year's Resolutions but I think I'll try to reflect on some possibilities:

1. I heard Billy Graham say his only regrets were that he wish he had prayed more and meditated more. I think he's right so I'm going to rectify that so I won't have the same regret.
2. I keep saying I'm going to write a book. Many of my friends have told me to write about my life. I thought it would be boring but they say not. I don't know if I'll write a book or about my life, but I think I'll write more of something.
3. I always feel so much better when Charlie and I take long walks, and when I have gone swimming on a regular basis. So I think like prayer and meditation, more exercise is something I want to do more of.
4. Traveling. I don't know how that would happen with my current economic situation but I remember 15 years ago when I didn't have two cents to rub together and I saved by emptying my wallet of change at the end of the week. When I had $20 I put it in a savings account. It took two years to gather $2000, but at the end of that time, I had enough to go to Paris, France. So, the manila folder is out (that's where I kept the change until it reached saving's bank level), and the change is going into it at the end of each week. At the rate of inflation, I hope it doesn't take 20 years instead of 2, but I am a person of unbounded hope!

I think that's a fair amount for this blog. What's your plans for the coming year? Any regrets to rectify?

Happy and blessed New Year and Epiphany.

Pat and Charlie

DO WE CHOOSE FEAR OR HOPE?

This evening, I saw a commercial on television that was sponsored by Homeland Security. The commercial began with the announcer saying, "In the case of a terrorist attack, do you have a plan"? Then the commercial showed a series of children, each one asking, "Am I going to be safe"? "Are we safe"? And, "What do we do if there is an attack"? I was horrified that the fear mongers were now targeting our children. It is bad enough that we are constantly told that the "other " is dangerous, not wanted, or will take away our job, but that we are supposed to pass that fear down to our children is unconscionable.

I remember as a child, we had atomic bomb drills. We would hide underneath our desks, or we would go out into the hallway, where there were no windows, and on our knees face the wall and cover our head with our hands. We now know that were there an atomic bomb, all the drills we did were nonsense and would not have saved us. As a child, however, we didn't know the drills were useless, and so we were often afraid that we might die on a beautiful and clear, sunny day when we were in a places that were supposed to be safe, our homes, our schools, and our neighborhoods.

I thought how blessed my children were that they didn't have to grow up and worry about cosmic fear. If they were afraid at all, it might be a fight in school, a bully on the playing field, or later on the dangers of alcohol and drugs. They are grown now and I am thankful they are not children worrying about their own lives ending in some horrendous, cataclysmic event.

Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was part of a Trinity Church, Wall Street panel discussion September 11, 2001. After the plans had crashed into the World Trade Center buildings, and the first building had toppled, he came out onto the street. He was struck by the dust floating all around him, especially the dust that coated the cars parked on the street. He wrote a book about his experience that day. He called it "Writing in the Dust". The cover had words written on the front page as though a child had written on the window of a dirty and dusty car. In the book. he says, in terms of response to the attack on the World Trade Center, our leaders had a number of possibilities. He mentions two. The first was that we could immediately do nothing, but take a step back and try and understand what had happened and why it had happened. Not taking the burden of the responsibility for the event on ourselves, but recognizing that events are shaped more then just by one side's position. Or, he says, we could immediately find someone to blame for the attack and set about a revenge response using a military response. He believed that the second response would lead to a culture of fear in this country.

He believed, however, the first response allowed our leaders to assure the people that they were safe, and that their leaders were taking time to understand what had happened and how best to respond to it. He didn't say that a military response was not reasonable, he just felt that time was required to understand the issues that underlined this event.

We know now that the second response was the one that was chosen. On the East Coast, immediately after the event, the highway signs that lit up when there were icy conditions on the road or an accident ahead, now stated "If you see anything suspicious, immediately call the authorities." If you see anyone suspicious, immediately call the authorities. They didn't detail on the signs what an event or person who was "suspicious" looked like, but in the newspapers and on the television there were constant pictures of middle eastern men and women, with swarthy complexions who would instill fear in us if we saw them.

As time went on, especially men, who looked middle eastern, were taken into custody and the jail at Guantanamo Bay begin to fill up. We became wary of people who looked different and talked differently.

I have struggled long and hard with this particular blog. Because I wanted to be careful of how people may perceive this, and the fact that we have many military retired and active in the parish and I do not want to insult them or hurt them in any way. As a priest, I feel strongly that, at times, events call for me to challenge what may be the prevailing mind set. I am not against war, however, I pray that our leaders will always take slow, deliberate discussion and thought prior to entering into any armed conflict, especially where the lives of our young men and women are at jeopardy.

I ask you to reflect on what I have written. If you wish, I hope you will share those reflections with me. I ask that we pray for wisdom for me, our leaders, and each other.

God bless from me ...and Charlie!

Rev. Pat

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETT

I arrived in Boston last Friday. The weather was beautiful. I had heard there had been a lot of rain and that the summer had been brutely hot. Friday and Saturday were beautiful, but it is hot again and will probably stay for the week. I leave on Friday and can't wait to get back to Oak Harbor and St. Stephen's.

Friday, my youngest son Bryan and I went to a meeting a Sherrill House where my husband Gus is a resident. The first floor, Alzheimer's unit had a BBQ for the families and residents. It was really nicely done. I had time to sit with Gus. My sister=in-law and brother-in-law also came with us. At first Gus didn't really know who I was. The longer we sat together and I talked quietly to him, there seemed to be a recognition of me. I said "It's your sweetie" and he said, "Yes". We walked around the patio and looked over the edge at a beautiful garden below. As we stood there with our arms around each other, he laid his head on my shoulder and I laid my head on his. We stood there for quite a while, and when we looked up, he reached down and kissed me. There are moments of grace in all situations. God is good. All during Gus' illness, there have been those moments when he seems to be aware of me and reaches out to me. I treasure those moments and know that it is God's gift to us.

As we were leaving the patio, the Monkey's song "Day Dream Believer" came on the radio. That was one of our favorite songs, and Gus started to move his hands and feet as though he was dancing, so did I. It was lovely - again our moment of grace. There are so many of those if only I can realize that they don't have to large, over the top - but moments of grace are personal, intimate, and truly a blessing of little gifts.

We had a meeting afterwards with his team of Social Worker, Doctor, Nurse, Psychiatrist. They are concerned that he has been displaying much different personality actions. He has always been nonaggressive, easily managed, but he now seems to be agitated, walking quickly up and downt he corridors, pushing at doors, trying to open outside doors, and setting off alarms. They say he seems angry. I said, "I bet he is, I would be too." Of course, because this is unusual, they are concerned that something else, besides the dementia is going on. I told them, previous doctors had clinically ruled out all other types of dementia, Picks' Disease, Frontal Temporal Lobe, etc. They were concerned there might be a brain tumor. They want to have him see a Neurologist and get a Cat Scan. Then if nothing else is wrong, they will change his seizure medication and that might calm him down. Please keep him in your prayers.

We had lovely news yesterday from my son's girlfriend. They are on a vacation to Russia, Sweden and Paris. My oldest son Will, while on this trip was going to ask her to marry him. She emailed that she had said "Yes", and sent a picture of the lovely diamond ring he had bought her. We are all really happy because she is a lovely young woman and they are great together. Well I'll sign off for today.

Don't forget Wilma Patrick's 91st Birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday, Wilma!

I THINK I'LL FLY - BY PLANE

My youngest son Brian, has been sky diving but I think I'll take a larger conveyance for my journey to Boston! I leave tomorrow. After driving 14 hours, 10 hours one day and 6 the next, I arrived back in Oak Harbor. As I drove over the Deception Pass Bridge, I shouted a loud YEAH, I'M HOME! Oak Harbor really does feel like home. It was nice to sleep in my own bed, make a cup of tea and just relax quietly. Charlie did really well on the trip. He's a great companion, I just wished he'd say something, or at least laugh at my jokes - oh well maybe in the next life.

Charlie is staying home this trip. He's going out to George and Vickie's north 40 with Brandy - George's dog. They get along well so I think Charlie will enjoy the vacation. He'll be able to run free, play with a friend, and get spoiled by George and Vickie - I hope he behaves himself.

I'm looking forward to Boston. I'll see Gus, and Bryan. Will is in Russia. Christie, Will's girlfriend has always wanted to go to Russia. He bought an engagement ring and, while they are in Russia, he is going to ask her to marry him. The younger generation certainly does things in a big way. Gus asked me to marry him in the Dedham Mall, in Dedham, Massachusetts, as we passed a jewelry store. Looks like we'll have a wedding in the future. I won't get to see Kathryn because she's in Philadelphia and I don't think I'll have time to go down there. She is moving out here to Eugene, Oregon in November, which is only 6 hours away from Whidbey Island.

Travel is exciting, exhilarating and tiring. I'm going to make sure on this leg of the journey that I spend one day sitting at a beach, reading. See you soon!

I DIDN'T LEAVE MY HEART IN SAN FRAN BUT ON OAK HARBOR

I'm here in Palo Alto, California just south of San Francisco. The weather is about the same as Whidbey Island so I feel right at home, overcast in the morning, sunny with a slight breeze in the afternoon, and cool at night. My kind of weather!

I had a great trip down. It was longer then I realized, 14 hours, but an easy ride. I went down most of the way on I-5. If your traveling down that road, there is a lot of construction so expect delays. The scenery was tremendous. Each part of the journey was very different. When you get into Oregon, your in the mountains with tall spruce and pines. Lovely lakes each turn of the road. California has the rolling, yellow gold grass hills for miles and miles, and then you come into a low valley with cattle and sheep farms, and fields of vegetables, and fruit trees. I stopped at a stand and bought peaches, pears and plums, plus "Washington Cherries". Had to come 800 miles for what I could get at home, oh well!

It is wonderful to see my cousin Barbara. She has been very ill this year and is recovering. She is an amazing person. She is a very special person, loving, giving, and has tremendous strength of character. She has been through a lot but doesn't give up. We have been close since we both were children. Her brother Chuck was my best friend growing up, and we all spent time together. Family is so important. I don't have anyone left in mine except for my cousins, and I cherish Barbara as my family. God gave us our families to help us to be truly who we are meant to be and to some times challenge us to be humble and forgiving. These are two attributes, I think, that are difficult but filled with grace.

Barbara is a middle school teacher, and we will go into her school this week and set up the bulletin boards. I remember helping teachers do this when I was in middle school. Should be fun! I like being teacher's pet, don't you.

We have Allison, Barbara's daughter's wedding shower on Sunday. I'm looking forward to meeting all her friends and family I haven't met before. It's been a long time since I went to a wedding shower.

I hope all is well at St. Stephen's and I am keeping you all in my prayers.

SERVING GOD'S PEOPLE

This past week was really wonderful! I had so many opportunities to see St. Stephen's parishioners in action. One of the first conversations I had with this congregation was about the many ministries the congregation individually and corporately support both in the Diocese of Olympia and overseas. This past week I had an opportunity to see both individual outreach and our corporate outreach.

Wilma Patrick was kind enough to invite me to The Whidbey Hospital Auxiliary picnic and BBQ. The work this group has done is truly amazing. Forty years ago, they started with 20 volunteers. Over the years, the volunteer numbers have grown and they continue to encourage many to join. They have built a hospital, financed important medical equipment and programs and they are now beginning the work for a new hospital wing. Whidbey Hospital has become an important gift to Whidbey Island and their satellite facilities have added a much needed local resource. They need to expand their ability to serve this community and I know we will want to support that work. I learned a lot about the work of the hospital, and was treated to the auxiliary's hospitality. They were extremely warm and welcoming to me and I am grateful to Wilma for giving me this opportunity to meet them.

Saturday, I had another wonderful experience. I went down to our "Apostle's Build" for Habitate for Humanity. There I saw many of our parishioners working away. There were others from the community also helping. They were putting up wall board that day. On Sunday, many of the workers came to church with arms raised to praise God from holding up wall board. I also met the new owner of the house. What a wonderful woman. She has helped on many other houses, and now she will have a new home for herself and her two sons. God is good!

I leave for vacation this Friday and I will take with me the many gifts I have received from this parish. I will take my pride in the services people offer to others. I will take with me a sense of being home on this Island and in this congregation. I will also carry all of you with me and keep you in my daily prayers as I know I will be in yours. I'll take Charlie with me for the first leg of the journey, but he will be staying at the "North 40" of George and Vicki Churchills from August 25th to September 3rd. Give him a hug for me while I'm gone. SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!