Welcome to Cambodia, and….. – Page 9 – Charlie Dittmeier's Home Page

Grounded

I’ve been pretty much “confined to base” the last few days. Because of early macular degeneration I decided not to start driving again because I would have to stop driving sometime in the future and it may be good just to make a complete break now. That is one of the reasons I got an e-bike (in addition to just liking to ride!).

But the bike I got, picked out and delivered by my dear brothers and sisters and cousins, turned out to be a bit too big in the frame so Thursday it went back to the store and my brother-in-law (a really SERIOUS bike rider, read three 14,000-foot Rocky Mountain peaks in one day) picked out another one that I loved in a test ride. I can’t wait for it to be delivered tomorrow!

Finding my way

Fr. Jerry Eiffler’s sister died and he presided at her funeral today at Holy Spirit Church in Louisville. Jerry and I are friends and live close by so I attended.

The church is only 2.5 miles from Nazareth Home Clifton where I live and I biked over there, the first time I’ve used my bicycle for a “churchy” event. It was also the first time I wore the black suit I had made in Cambodia shortly before departing. Not to attract too much attention, I put my suit coat in my backpack and wore a windbreaker.

Not so long ago, but far away….

Turbulent skies as I left Phnom Penh. I miss it all!

Indivisible Rally

Today Indivisible Louisville held a rally along Frankfort Avenue to protest the present administration’s policies and practices.

The signs of the protesters were plentiful and creative! The cars honking in support were great, too! About 250 people were at this rally, most of them in the over 50 group.

Bike Exploring

Today was a beautiful sunny day for [1] learning more about my new bicycle and [2] exploring old neighborhoods where I grew up. In the morning I rode about 19 miles to the Portland and Shawnee neighborhoods where I lived from 1950 to 1960. I was amazed at how the streets and everything had shrunk in size since I rode my bike there 65 years ago!

In the afternoon I rode from Nazareth Home to home of my sister Mary and husband Mike. The return journey from there (8.7 miles) is in the graphic above, taken from Strava, an app that records bike trips. Mike is a professional biker and introduced me to the app. Today’s graphic shows two personal records, which can only be made to seem noteworthy because this was the first time to use Strava and that journey is the ONLY one it knows!

US Bishops: One Big Beautiful Bill

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops on Trump’s signature bill:

“The final version of he bill includes unconscionable cuts to healthcare and food assistance, tax cuts that increase inequality, immigration provisions that harm families and children, and cuts to programs that protect God’s creation.”

Immigration: US attitude

According to a recent Gallup poll, the number of American people in favor of immigration has reached a record high, 79%. In 2024, 55% thought immigration should be reduced. Now that number favoring a reduction is 30% in 2025.

The American public has greater sensitivity and more Christ-like values than our present Washington administration.

Another anniversary

Two weekends ago I went to Maryknoll, NY for the 50th anniversary of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners. Today is the third anniversary of Fr. Roy Stiles moving to Nazareth Home Clifton and he decide to celebrate a little.

Roy is partial to watermelon and decided to have a small watermelon party this evening for the guys here in Nazareth Home Clifton with him.

Receiving mail again!

Since I moved into Nazareth Home Clifton two weeks ago, I have received three letters–the first mail I have received in more than ten years. Cambodia had no mail pickup or delivery before Covid. Mail could be received only in a post office box. Then with Covid, there was NO mail in either direction.

It’s strange to receive mail now. In past years if I wanted to send something to the United States, I had to use FedEx or DHL or another courier–at $40 per letter!

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.