You say goodbye, and I say hello

People kept asking me if I was going to write a blog on this trip. I said I'd send emails and write FB posts. But as I drove to church yesterday I realized that I had a lot on my mind.....more than a FB post and perhaps more than people wanted littering their inbox. If I did a blog post, then people would have to make a conscious decision to read it. Life being what it is, I can't figure out how to start a NEW blog, or change my "name" and since there's something to be said about historical perspective, I'm just tacking this on to an old blog I started seven years ago when I was a sweet young thing. But I am so much older then, I'm younger than that now..... Of course, I also don't know how to tell people how to find this blog. I'll think about that later.... So as I say, I was driving to church. One thing I'm looking forward to on this trip is going to lots of different churches. In general, they will be of the Episcopal persuasion. But yesterday, I started at Pilgrim Congregational in Harwich, MA. And why? BECAUSE SOMEONE (namely my friend and college classmate Bethany Holly Craig) INVITED ME! Hint hint church types out there. I know it's not "cool" to be a church type these days but in these perilous times, I think we all need community more than ever. Of course, the problem is, we don't want to put ourselves in silos, and this is especially true at church. Churches/synagogues/mosques/faith communities, in my opinion, should be open to divergent views and be a place where a variety of people can ask questions, find solace, build relationships. So what if someone stood up at Sermon Seminar (the "talk back" portion of our 9 AM service at St. Mark's) and said "I think DJT is a great guy and I think we should all support him." Would I greet that person with love and reconciliation? Or would I answer back? Keep my mouth shut? That's what our country is facing right now. As usual, I digress. What's more on my mind is that I'm saying goodbye to a part of the country where I've spent the last 40 years of my life. I moved from the Midwest to New England in the fall of 1967 and been in New England or the mid-Atlantic region ever since. I have enough miles on I-95 to qualify for a free washer-dryer combination. And that's going to come to an end in late June when I cross the MA/NY border and head west. Not knowing when I'll return for more than a visit to the grandkids. Very strange feeling to be out of my comfort zone. Comfort? I won't ask how many years I felt comfortable in Williamstown MA. Not as many as I probably thought at the time. Never in Pittsfield, never in Brookline. Absolutely in Arlington VA/Washington DC. The only way the cost of living is going to change in DC is through a major economic meltdown. I'm not hoping for that. So does that mean I can never return? Never say never. There are always group homes. But for now....the open road, the Wild West, the call of adventure, the lure of palm trees, ibis and alligators.