Many trips out of the country have been cancelled over the last few years. What was the last trip that you took that opened your eyes to the great world outside your own backyard?
Photo taken in February, 2020 in Boquete, Panama where there is a large population of indigenous people who work on the coffee plantations.
Copies of my 2019 essay collection, Twilight Time: Aging in Amazement, are available directly from me (signed) or from Amazon or your local bookseller.
I drove cross country, camping, last fall. We were on the road 2 months on our way to Vancouver, where we spent 6 weeks. Along the way, I did not witness the country described by cable tv. Saw almost no Trump flags or MAGA junk; saw racial diverse groups of truck drivers and construction workers hanging out and joking; saw friendly peace loving folks in all the campgrounds. We were in mostly Red States. Whatever the peoples' politics, they weren't promoting them. It was and still is, confusing, especially given the news the ongoing, everyday acts of white supremacy, anti-semitism and hatred towards immigrants.
Part of it must be the media's unquenchable thirst for violence and conflict. But, as you point out, the hatred is real and manifests in real events where real people are assaulted. I've never made the cross-country trip and have always thought it would be the best possible education.
Met up with some friends who walked the Camino in Spain, spent a liesurely week in the northern part of the country before I took myself to Barcelona. I was anticipating an overload of art, perhaps a source of inspiration as I toured the Dali museum, the galleries and the churches, which were filled with gold stolen by the Conquistadors and art also stolen from many countries. By the time I left I was overloaded with depictions of white white white men performing heroic deeds and white women doing nothing but mothering. I was, in fact inspired, although it wasn't the inspiration I was expecting. When I got home I launched into a series of paintings depicting black women having the last supper, black women hanging on crosses, and a black Pieta. It is a strong and vibrant series. I don't see an option to post photos, here....so you'll have to use your imaginations.
I'm trying to figure out the mechanism for allowing commenters to post photos. Would love to see your anti-church. And...of course inspiration can come through enlightening rage. So you walked the Camino? I think if I believed in bucket lists that would be on the top of mine.
I was just looking. I’ll see. It was one year before Chris died exactly and Paul and I were celebrating our 33rd anniversary - and a Mass was offered for us on that day at San Damiano which is where St. Francis heard Jesus speak from the Cross and then St. Clare lived and died there with her Sisters. It was ethereal.
I drove cross country, camping, last fall. We were on the road 2 months on our way to Vancouver, where we spent 6 weeks. Along the way, I did not witness the country described by cable tv. Saw almost no Trump flags or MAGA junk; saw racial diverse groups of truck drivers and construction workers hanging out and joking; saw friendly peace loving folks in all the campgrounds. We were in mostly Red States. Whatever the peoples' politics, they weren't promoting them. It was and still is, confusing, especially given the news the ongoing, everyday acts of white supremacy, anti-semitism and hatred towards immigrants.
Part of it must be the media's unquenchable thirst for violence and conflict. But, as you point out, the hatred is real and manifests in real events where real people are assaulted. I've never made the cross-country trip and have always thought it would be the best possible education.
Met up with some friends who walked the Camino in Spain, spent a liesurely week in the northern part of the country before I took myself to Barcelona. I was anticipating an overload of art, perhaps a source of inspiration as I toured the Dali museum, the galleries and the churches, which were filled with gold stolen by the Conquistadors and art also stolen from many countries. By the time I left I was overloaded with depictions of white white white men performing heroic deeds and white women doing nothing but mothering. I was, in fact inspired, although it wasn't the inspiration I was expecting. When I got home I launched into a series of paintings depicting black women having the last supper, black women hanging on crosses, and a black Pieta. It is a strong and vibrant series. I don't see an option to post photos, here....so you'll have to use your imaginations.
I'm trying to figure out the mechanism for allowing commenters to post photos. Would love to see your anti-church. And...of course inspiration can come through enlightening rage. So you walked the Camino? I think if I believed in bucket lists that would be on the top of mine.
I think they are on my other computer. But I can get some. What a glorious time God gave us to prepare our souls.
I was just looking. I’ll see. It was one year before Chris died exactly and Paul and I were celebrating our 33rd anniversary - and a Mass was offered for us on that day at San Damiano which is where St. Francis heard Jesus speak from the Cross and then St. Clare lived and died there with her Sisters. It was ethereal.
Assisi, Italy…..the trip of a lifetime…..long to return…..
I think I remember when you took that trip. Do you have any photos to share?