Category: Daily Life in the USA

Indivisible Palooza

Fratelli Tutti’s spiritual basis for the Palooza rally (described in the post after this one).

“Social love” makes it possible to advance towards a civilization of love, to which all of us can feel called. Charity, with its impulse to universality, is capable of building a new world. No mere sentiment, it is the best means of discovering effective paths of development for everyone. Social love is a “force capable of inspiring new ways of approaching the problems of today’s world, of profoundly renewing structures, social organizations and legal systems from within”.

Pope Francis in the Fratelli Tutti encyclical

Indivisible Palooza

The event had speakers and music inside the venue we used and outside at 12 booths like this one where people could get information and discuss many issues.
The last speaker of the day was one of the most engaging. He probably should have been scheduled earlier in the afternoon because by the time he spoke it was closing time and many people had left. (This was the first Indivisible Louisville rally and the organizers learned a lot today.)

An important part of such rallies is meeting fellow activists. I met two sisters I knew from Pewee Valley and Dan, a member of St. Lawrence, my first parish assignment.
Quite a few of us rode our bicycles to the venue, a small brewery in a downtown neighborhood with adjacent abandoned buildings and factories. Quite a setting!

Indivisible Palooza

Tomorrow the democracy-supporting group Indivisible is having what they are calling a palooza, a community gathering with music and food and speeches to encourage the general public to stand up for democracy and the rights of us as citizens. Today volunteers for tomorrow gathered to hear from the organizers what their roles will be tomorrow.

One third of the volunteers coming for the training today were Dittmeier related, brothers and sisters, a niece, and a cousin.

Website Comments

I have always considered my website just a website and not a blog as most people call it. In my mind a blog indicates an ability to respond with comments, but I’ve always had that turned off because I was afraid of the time it might take to respond to comments–which I generally feel I must do. But now, without some of the pressure of deaf work in Cambodia, I have turned comments on. You may not see the comment box unless you scroll to the end of each day’s message but it’s there now!

Biking

I am REALLY enjoying commuting on my e-bike! Yesterday I rode 30 miles going to a doctor appointment in the morning and then to a computer shop in the afternoon. Google Maps’ bike routes take me through parts of Louisville and various neighbors where I’ve never been before.

I’m having a few problems, though. The display screen on the handlebars (for speed, gears, lights, etc.) is showing the wrong time zone. Tonight I was looking through the bike manual and found where I need to connect the bike app on my phone with the electronics on the bike, and it’s supposed to correct itself automatically.

(Unwanted) Night Light

This is my bedroom at Nazareth Home Clifton. It’s quite simple but just what I need–except for the brilliant security light shining into my room from the wall across a little courtyard. The light wouldn’t be so bad except that the blinds are plastic and translucent, i.e., they let light through. The security light is bright enough that it casts shadows in my room even with the blinds closed. My sister Mary has access to some light-blocking curtains and I’m waiting till she can pick them up.

Guess where it’s from?

When I got my new e-bike—a top end Trek model—I didn’t pay much attention to any of the labels on it. But then a day or two later, I noticed it was made in Cambodia! I knew bicycles are becoming a major export from Cambodia but didn’t know they were making high-end models and I certainly never thought that I’d end up buying one of them in Louisville!

More old friends

Today six of us alumni from the former St. Thomas Seminary met for lunch at Kingfish in Louisville. I really appreciate these gatherings. For two decades or so, my return from Hong Kong or Cambodia would be the opportunity to get together with good friends. Today it was noted this is the last time we would celebrate my return from mission in Asia.

These people are important. If it were not for my family and friends, I would not have returned from Cambodia. Life would be much simpler and easier living in Cambodia than it will be here in the United States.

A Welcome Visitor

Don Stosberg, an old friend from St. Thomas Seminary, drove from Frankfort today for a visit. We had a good sandwich at a picnic table on the old St. Joseph Orphanage grounds while we caught up on our doings over a half century. (Demonstrably, I’m NOT a good selfie photographer!)

Biking Indiana

Sunday I took a bike ride in Indiana where they have some wonderful biking and walking trails. The photo shows the Big Four pedestrian bridge on the right. Now closed to traffic, it is busy, especially on weekends, with many bikers and walkers, including whole families, enjoying the sunshine and beautiful views of both sides of the Ohio River.