Squirrels in our midst
I drove to Olean, New York tonight for a dinner with my wife at the Beef & Barrel Restaraunt in downtown Olean. It’s one of our favorite stop and perhaps the best beef house in all of New York State.…
Waiting to hear
This is another good thought from Thomas Merton. Contemplation is essentially a listening in silence, an expectancy… In other words, the true contemplative is not the one who prepares his mind for a particular message that he wants or expects…
Bill Cosby
Last night my wife and I drove west the sixty-seven or so miles that it is from our home in Franklinville, New York to Chautauqua Institution. Chautauqua is one of those lovely contemplative venues that I love. Diane loves Bill…
Three generations
I put together a short video of pictures of my uncle, my Dad, myself and my nephew in uniform. That’s three generations serving the United States of America in uniform. My uncle was the lone Army veteran. Dad, Tom and…
Rewarding
At 0730 last Friday morning I found myself riding with my brother and his family through the Illinois Street Gate at United States Navy Recruit Training Command. That morning was filled with excitement for all on board. It was homecoming…
Grateful living
I got the following in the mail today from Brother David Steindl-Rast, OSB and it arrives at a time of transition for me. Summer is turning to autumn. My daughter has returned to college. I’ve returned from a journey that…
Paradox of peace
I got this quote in today’s mail from the Merton Institute and it really resonated for me. The second sentence here is right on target. Paradoxically, I have found peace because I have always been dissatisfied. My moments of depression…
Pass in Review
Division 290 Ship 11 enters Friday Morning at 0900 the Pass in Review ceremony at Great Lakes Recruit Training Command began and after the preliminary review of colors and a short film about life in Boot Camp we got our…
It still fits
I got out one of my old white hats as I prepare to return to the Great Lakes, IL area tomorrow. It still fits and it’s in very good shape. I thought I’d bring the hat with me so that…
Pass in Review
Thursday of this week will see me traveling to Great Lakes, Illinois. I haven’t been there since February 8, 1973. My nephew is due to Pass in Review. He’s been at Great Lakes Recruit Training Center since late June. Tom…