Category: Mission Journal

Memories

Yesterday when I attended a rally in support of democracy organized by Indivisible, it was the occasion for memories of past times.

Shortly after I arrived at the federal building venue for the rally, Bernadette Mudd approached me. Pat Mudd was a best friend and a seminary classmate before he married Bernadette. I had not seen her since Pat’s funeral. It was good to connect again with that part of my past.
Before Bernadette saw me at the rally, I was standing with the others and reflecting how, 50+ years ago, I was in almost the spot as a marshal for a rally and march with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on one of his visits to Louisville during the civil rights era. I have had the good fortune and opportunity to be in the right place at the right time for some significant events.

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.

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.

Slowly, slowly…

I’m slowly accumulating the things I need for living in Nazareth Home and Louisville. Some items are major, like an e-bike for getting around. Others are more utilitarian like a toilet brush. Today I got a wooden executive-type filing cabinet. I was going to get the usual metal two- or four-drawer file cabinet but my sister saw the wooden unit above in a consignment shop and took me to see it. The price in such a shop drops regularly according to how long it stays in the shop. The nice wooden cabinet had been marked at $100 but was in the bargain room when I saw it, and I was able to get it for $20. My sister Mary and her husband Mike picked it up today and brought it to me. Thanks! Now all the papers on the couch can be filed away!

My Hong Kong flag

Last week my sister Jane surprised me with a framed flag of Hong Kong from the colonial era. I was living in Hong Kong in 1997 when Britain ceded control of their Hong Kong colony to China. Remembering what had happened at Tiananmen Square, thousands and thousands of Hong Kongers were fleeing to any place that would take them. The bishop asked those of us from the missionary groups to stay, to try to provide an element of stability and reassurance to a frightened people. On one of my trips home, I brought this flag and Jane had it in her basement and decided my return to Kentucky was the time to return the flag to me.

Visit to Cincy

The last sister I hadn’t seen after my return is Martha in Cincinnati so yesterday two other sisters, Mary and Jane, and Jane’s daughter Emily, drove to Cincy to see Martha. It was a great reunion for me and a wonderful visit for us all.

The four siblings, Jane and Charlie (front), and Mary and Martha.
Enjoying the porch after a wonderful lunch together.

Bicycle Surprise

Today I got the surprise of my life! Because of macular degeneration in my eyes, I am not going to drive any more and was looking for an e-bike to get me around Louisville. I had borrowed my cousin Julie’s bike and today she asked if I could bring it back. I rode it over to her house and when I got there she announced that my cousins had collaborated to buy me a new e-bike! I was stunned–and most appreciative of their caring and generosity!

Nazareth Home Clifton

Office/Living Room
At Nazareth Home Clifton, this is my office and living room. I posted an earlier photo and it looked much neater but that was because I hadn’t unpacked anything. Now a lot of things, especially papers, are waiting to be sorted and a place found for them. One addition in this picture is the large monitor connected to my laptop. Previously I used two monitors but this one is wide enough to accommodate two pages side by side so I can still copy and paste.
This is a view from the window toward the door that leads to the hallway. The white folding doors on the left are a large walk-in closet. There is a similar closet in my bedroom so I have plenty of hanging space and some shelves in them.

Nazareth Home Clifton

Kitchen
This is a little common kitchen for the twelve priest rooms on the first floor of Nazareth Home Clifton. We eat meals in a larger dining room for those of us in the independent living section but this kitchen gets used for breakfasts and pick-up food.
It’s a quite small room but is perfect for us. I always eat breakfast here–we eat breakfast at different times–and occasionally grab a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a Coke Zero.