Peace, Salaam, Shalom

Today, September 11, 2010 is the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 near Shanksville, PA. It is a day of remembrance of lives lost, both then and as a result of two subsequent wars. As a result of 9/11, there has been much hatred directed toward Muslim--hatred borne of ignorance and prejudice. Unfortunately, a pastor in Gainesville, FL (who shall remain nameless, having garnered his fifteen minutes of fame) was to have a Qur'an burning today. Fortunately, he rethought his actions and decided not to hold his book burning.

I was fortunate and honored to take part in the Interfaith Service of Understanding and Peace, held this evening at the First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota. It was a moving and overflow service drawing on Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Readings from the Qur'an, the Old Testament, and the New Testament were part of the service. In fact, the most dynamic speaker of the evening was Imam Tarik Al Bouri of the Islamic Center of Sarasota and Bradenton. He was most entertaining in his talk and, in giving some information about the Qur'an, told the gathering that in the Qur'an Jesus is mentioned 25 times (favorably, I might add), while Mohammad is mentioned only 5 times. My small part in the service was reading a part of a larger responsive reading which included people from all three religious traditions.

Hopefully, this and other such services held around the country will lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of all mankind and the various religions that make up this small blue ball we live on. If we can all live in peace and mutual respect, it would be such a wonderful world.

Back Home: Day One

My first day back and I am finally able to unwind. I miss the early fall-like weather I experienced in America's Dairyland. When I arrived last night, it was like going to Saigon all over again--hot and humid.

While I slept fairly well, my ass was dragging the ground through the morning, but I had to hit the ground running. First of all, I had to go to the vet's office to retrieve Bosox and Leroy. They meowed all he way home and were so happy to be back in familiar surroundings. Bosox couldn't get enough of me and was sitting on my lap every chance she had. I also had to go to the post office and retrieve the mail. Naturally, there was a good deal of junk mail to go through and recycle. I was still a bit tired but, after a while, I set out to lay in some groceries and a bite to eat. Returning home, I got them put away and sat down (with Bosox on my lap) and took in a Reds-Rockies baseball game. That sitting on my ass did me a world of good.

After resting for a couple of hours and getting energized by Judge Judy, I did the laundry (3 loads), got it all folded and put away just in time to sit down and watch the Saints-Vikings game. While in Madison, I purchased some 7-year old cheddar and enjoyed that while washing it down with some tasty and dry merlot.

Earlier in the day I talked with Pam and we agreed to push the trip down to Miami back to next Wednesday with a return on Thursday. I have a few things scheduled early in the week and this will allow me to get them out of the way without rescheduling anything else. The one regular activity I will have to miss is the monthly lunch with the Quaker men. We usually go to lunch on a mid-month Wednesday and next Wednesday is the day. I'll have to beg off it for this month. In the end, it will even out. 'cause last Spring, I was the only guy to show up for one lunch. I'm sure they'll do well without my presence.

Now, back to the football game (probably with Bosox back on my lap)...

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog

Made it back home to the sweltering state of Florida... Had a great, but pretty long day. I started off by going to work with David. While he did his thing as a paralegal, I sat in the conference room and surfed the net. At the same time, I was able to meet his boss, an attorney with a practice in family law, mediation, and arbitration. She spoke highly of David, not only as an employee, but also as a friend. Really made me proud of him and his accomplishments.

He took me to the airport, where I had a last chance to grab two Wisconsin favorites--a Usinger Bratwurst washed down by a Sprecher's Root Beer. Surprisingly, as I was in line to board the plane, I saw a Quaker friend of mine, Stan Weldy, who was headed to a company meeting in Washington, DC. We were able to talk for a little bit as we made out way down the jetway. The plane left on time and made it to Detroit in pretty good time. Getting off the puddle jumper, I found that I had to make my way to the main terminal. The only way was through a tunnel that goes under one of the tarmacs between the two terminals. It was quite a distance--probably close to a quarter mile. Fortunately, there are two moving sidewalks in either direction, so that made it a bit easier to take. Caught the elevated tram to the far end of the concourse where, at the north station, was Gate 68. Glad I didn't have to walk any further.

The flight from Detroit to Atlanta was quite pleasant. The plane was only about 2/3 full and there was a vacant seat between me and the lady next to me. We had a nice visit with each other. She was from Erie, PA on her way to Columbia, SC and her granddaughter's "Grandparents' Cupcake Day" at school. She had never been to the Atlanta airport before and was a bit apprehensive about finding where she needed to be. Ever the gallant man, I saw that both of us had to go to the same concourse, so I had her tag along with me. We took the subway and, once we got to the top of the escalator, we parted company, she to the left and me to the right (directionally speaking, not politically).

The flight to Sarasota was 180 degrees from the prior leg. The plane was jammed packed and most crowded and uncomfortable. Even though I "recycled" the last of my Sprecher's before leaving Atlanta, nature called once again. Seated next to the window, I hated to inconvenience the young couple next to me, but I had no choice. While I was in the head, the flight attendants had started serving beverages and I was stuck behind them. It was a blessing in disguise because, rather than being crammed into an uncomfortable seat, I had to stand in the aisle for about 10 minutes or so while they made their way down the aisle. Having a Wisconsin Badger T-shirt on, the fellow seated in the first economy row was returning from his high school reunion in Madison, so we had a rather nice conversation while I was waiting.

As noted above, I knew I was back in Florida as soon as I stepped off the plane. Heavy, humid air was the order of the day. My good friend, John Steinmeyer, met me and brought me home. I am happy to be home, but my work is not yet done. I have to pick up the cats from the vet's office tomorrow by 10:30. While I was planning on driving down to Miami to pick up Pam and the dogs and returning on Friday, she had suggested to me that I catch my breath and come down to get them later. Sounded pretty good to me, so I am planning on driving down to get them on Monday and return on Tuesday. That will do it for my travels until October when I go to North Carolina to celebrate the 50th anniversary of North Carolina Wesleyan's opening in 1960.

Last Full Day in the Badger State

Well, my short stay in Wisconsin is rapidly coming to a close. Today was, by far, the windiest day I have experienced in quite sometime. In fact, I cannot recall its being this windy in the four years I have been in Florida. The constant westerly winds were in the area of 30-35 mph, with gusts expected to be as high as 50 mph, although I don't think it got nearly that high.

I spent the entire day in downtown Madison. After washing the road dirt and dust off the car, I stopped at East Towne Mall in Madison for an early lunch at the food court. It was then down to the isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona for the balance of the day. First stop was at the State Historical Society Museum, one of my favorite haunts. I spent a good hour or so checking out the exhibits on all four floors.

It was then down State St into the teeth of the wind, headed to the UW campus and the Elvejeum (pronounced "L V M") Museum (because of a rather large donation shortly before we left Madison, it has been renamed the Chazin Museum, but I don't care; it's still the Elvejeum to me). Anyway, I had my classical music playing on my MP3 (no, not "Pictures at an Exhibition") and bathed myself in the artwork. The highlight of my day was seeing the one painting that has really touched me like no other (above). It is an oil painting of a lone man holding tightly onto the last few feet of a sinking ship's mast in a roiling sea, entitled "The Final Refuge". It is such a haunting painting by a Russian artist, Ivan Konstantinovich in 1875. Oddly enough, the painting had not been on exhibit for maybe the last 4 or 5 years before we moved away and I was so thrilled to see it had been placed back on display. I snapped a couple of photos of it so I could take it with me.

It was then back up State St to the State Capitol building where I took a self-guided tour, including the observation deck that encircles the dome. That was an experience! The wind up there was really fierce, so much so that I didn't dare wear my hat. I took it off and firmly held onto it as I made my way around the dome. As I was preparing to leave the building, I had a call from David. I was to have dinner with him and Jojo, but she is still not feeling well. He left work early to take her to the doctor and was on the way taking her back home. We agreed to meet at East Towne and then decide where to go for dinner. The two of us ended up at T.G.I. Friday's, after which David had a softball game and had to run a file by his boss' house on the way home.

Being on my feet all day long and wanting to get ready to fly back home tomorrow, I came back to David's place and am taking it easy before showering, packing and calling it a day.

Labor Day in Wisconsin

Had another great day in southern Wisconsin, the highlight being a trip to Miller Park in Milwaukee to watch my beloved Brewers go up against the St. Louis Cardinals. The game was close for the first seven innings, but St. Louis broke it open with six runs in the eighth inning. The Crew made a bit of a comeback in the eighth and ninth innings and had the tying run at the plate when the final out was made and they lost 8-6.

But I digress. When David and I arrived at the stadium, I was a bit thirsty and all I could think about was a cold beer. Once inside we found a bar with a short line and the both of us had a good old Wisconsin beer--Leinenkugel's Classic Amber. Of course, being at a ballgame in Milwaukee, one has to have a classic Brewer Brat. Once we got to the Terrace Level (level 4, or top level, for the uninitiated), we found a food stand and I got my brat. Unfortunately, while I ordered one with kraut and Stadium Sauce (in fact the guy repeated back to me, "kraut and sauce?"), once we got to our seats in the middle of row 18, I opened my brat up only to find there was no sauce. David, the dutiful and considerate son, offered to trade with me, as he had put sauce on his. Reluctantly, yet eagerly, I accepted his offer. While it was not like the old County Stadium days when they'd slosh the brat in a pan of heated Stadium Sauce and throw on the sauerkraut before serving it to you, this will have to do.

Made it back to his place and I was thirsty the whole way because of the aforementioned brat. Couldn't wait to get my hands on a cold Landshark Lager that was awaiting me in the fridge. Never had a beer that hit the spot more than that one did. Now, I am watching my other team, the Tampa Bay Rays getting schlomped by my former favorite team, the Boston Red Sox, in the 5th inning 11-2. Oh well, I guess you can't win 'em all. Tomorrow's another day.

Sunday in Madison

Another long but satisfying day in Madison. Starting off, I drove into Madison from my son's home in Lake Mills to worship with my old F/friends at the Madison Friends Meeting (Quakers). Arriving earlier than I expected was serendipitous, as downstairs in the meeting house were dear friends, Karl and Tracey Bietz, whose marriage committee I convened for their wedding some 15 years ago. We had a good half hour to sit and schmooze with each other. As the hour neared for the monthly Meeting for Business, I was able to see various other dear friends. Worshiping with my original Quaker meeting was such a treat for me, having left Madison some four years ago. At the rise of meeting, I got together with even more and more of my old friends.

The planned meeting of JoJo's family did not take place, regrettably. She was ill upon awakening this morning and, as a consequence, neither she nor David made it home. In fact, she is still recovering from whatever has gotten her down. Such being the case, I was on my own all afternoon. I took the opportunity to drive back into Madison, via Cambridge, WI, a quaint village south of Lake Mills. I ended up stopping at Pam and my favorite eatery, Pedro's Mexican Restaurante (http://www.pedrosmexicanrestaurant.com/) for my favorite meal, shredded beef chimichanga, washed down with a Corona cerveza and strawberry Margarita for dessert.

Now, it's just relaxing and chilling for the rest of the evening.

Saturday in Mad City

Well, I am spending my first full day in town (Lake Mills, actually) for the first time in four years. Madison certainly isn't Florida! It is a beautiful sunny day outside, but a bit cooler than I'm used to and the usual wind coming from the northwest. First thing I did was borrow a sweater from David.

Driving into Madison, I made a side trip to Sun Prairie, the Madison 'burb we lived in for our 26 years in the area. Altho' we lived in Sun Prairie, we lived on the west end, just off the first exit from Madison. We were Madison-oriented the entire 26 years and I really considered myself a Madisonian rather than a Sun Prairieite. Anyway, Sun Prairie has changed markedly since our departure. While the downtown area is still the same, Main St, west of downtown to the U.S. 151 intersection has been updated, with a median and some trees planted in the median. While our first home on Sunfield St and the neighborhood looked the same, our second home and Castle Drive is maturing from its development in 1987.

After that tour, I headed down to Madison's Capitol Square and the Dane County Farmers Market, a weekly event around the capitol building from late spring 'til late fall. One of my longtime friends, Glenn Clark, is a baker and his Sugar River Country Bakers has had a stall here for years. In fact, one of the primary things I wanted to do was visit Glenn and get some of his delicious scones. I purchased a package and Glenn gave me a complementary one, to boot (breakfast for the morning). I had also thought about an elephant ear from Oakwood Bakery but seeing they were humongous (about 14" or so across), I decided to pass and just savor Glenn's scone, instead.

After doing the Farmers Market, it was down State Street to the UW Library Mall and the University Bookstore, one of my hangouts for 26 years. It has changed quite a bit. Instead of the usual two floors of books, plus the basement full of textbooks. While the basement remains the same, the general books cover about 1/3 of one floor and that's it. The biggest change I saw was the replacement of the University Square shopping center, a single story quad with a court in the middle with a high rise of about 8 or 9 stories with various shops on the ground floor. Some of the shops on State St have changed but it is still as eclectic as it ever was.

Lunch was at one of my favorite Chinese restaurants, Happy Wok, where I had my favorite meal, garlic chicken. It was then on to the Mousehaus Cheesehaus for some seven year old cheddar, something I have sorely missed (not that I really need it). Finally, back to David's where I'm just gonna take it easy while David and JoJo attend a wedding reception this evening.

Looking forward to worshiping with my F/friends at the Madison Friends Meeting and meeting JoJo's family at a birthday celebration for her grandfather tomorrow afternoon.

Day Four: America's Dairyland

Well, I finally made it after another long day behind the wheel. Had a good night's sleep and putzed around the hotel room for a bit before grabbing some breakfast and hitting the road. Breakfast didn't start out all that well. It was a serve yourself setup and I decided to start off with a waffle. Unfortunately, the batter was a bit soupy and the waffle would not cook. I guess they figured out the batter was too thin. In the meantime I decided to settle on scrambled eggs, three strips of bacon (the first bacon I have had in I don't know how long), home fries, OJ, and coffee. I was hoping that my misfortune with the waffle was not setting the tone for the day and, fortunately, it didn't.

Hitting the road around 7:00 AM, I headed out for a long day's drive. Since I was in the neighborhood, I decided to stop at Superman's hometown: Metropolis (Illinois, that is). Knowing they had a large statue of Superman on the town square, I just had to visit the homage to my boyhood hero. Got a few pics but, unfortunately the Superman museum (a storefront) was not open, even tho' it was past the posted opening time of 9 AM.

Hitting the road once again, I had a beautiful day for traveling. It was mostly sunny most of the way, but very windy coming out of the west and traffic was not bad until late in the afternoon. What with this being Labor Day weekend, I was hoping to beat most, if not all, the traffic. Alas, such was not to be. It wasn't bad at all until about 20 miles, or so, north of Bloomington, IL. Traffic really started to build up quite a bit and, the nearer I got to Rockford, IL the worse it got. At the same time, it became quite overcast and stayed that way for the duration of the trip.

The only traffic jam I experienced was about 5 miles south of Madison. Being on I-39/90, as I neared where I-94 coming from Milwaukee joined I-39/90, traffic slowed to a crawl. Fortunately, I got off the interstate before the I-94 intersection, so I was able to get moving once again. Calling David, we decided to meet at the Madison Friends Meetinghouse since he and Johanna were to attend a women's volleyball game at the nearby UW Field House.

Meeting my future daughter-in-law was a pleasant treat. She is a real cute one, tall and slender, and is as sweet as she is good looking. David is one lucky fellow and I hope all goes well with them and that they enjoy a long and happy life together. I am very pleased to have her become a part of the family. We decided to go to dinner at Bluefie's, a nearby restaurant Pam and I enjoyed when we live in Madison. I had a great grilled portobello mushroom sandwich and a beer. Very tasty and not overly filling at all.

We parted company afterwards and I made my way to David's place in Lake Mills, about 20 miles or so east of Madison. Looking for his place in the dark proved a bit of a challenge, but I guess my old insurance adjuster instincts are still intact and I was able to find it on the first try. Now to chill, relax, and get ready for a fun weekend with David, Johanna, and my old friends.

Day Three: The Longest Day

Well, it's been the longest day of all today, not only for the length of the drive but making it through Alabama. Geez! I spent a week in Alabama today. With all due respect to my dear sister-in-law who hails from 'bama, if I never see that state again, it will be too soon.

The day started off great. Had a full seven plus hours of sleep last night and got on the road around 5:30 this morning. Driving north from Panama City on U.S. 231, I was headed to Montgomery, AL in order to hook up with the Interstate system. Reaching Troy, AL, home of the Troy University Trojans, I figured they must have gotten hosed. After all, how many colleges (besides Southern Cal) were named for a prophylactic? Looking for a Starbucks of Borders Books (aren't they in every college town?), I was out of luck and, with nothing between Troy and Montgomery, I decided to settle for McDonald's. I pulled in and found quite a number of people waiting around. Asking one fellow if he was in line or waiting for his food, he said he was waiting for his order. There were three or four people behind the counter enjoying each other's company and paying no mind to those of us who may have wished to placed an order. In fact, one of the girls made eye contact with me but kept on with her conversation. I muttered so that those near me could hear, "This is (effing) ridiculous" and walked out. Hoping to find a Wendy's or Hardee's on further up the road, I was s.o.l. Hitting I-65, I continued on the trek north and, about 20 miles north of Montgomery, I saw my favorite travel sit down restaurant, The Waffle House. I pulled in and got a seat at the counter. The lady doing the cooking greeted me. To my immediate left was a booth that a couple was seated at. They finished and left, naturally leaving the dirty dishes on the table. A family of five came in and sat on the chairs set up inside the entrance for those awaiting a booth. The waitress cleaned out the booth, the family sat down and the waitress came over, handing out the silverware and getting ready to take their order. Foiled again, I got up and left, ending at a McDonald's down the street. That was great, The manager immediately greeted me and took my order. I thanked him for serving me, telling him my tale of woe at the previous two stops I had made. I guess third time is truly charmed.

Back on the road, making it to and through Birmingham. About 40 miles north of there I found a temporary orange diamond sign saying "Slow Traffic Ahead", a real understatement. I-65 is three lanes wide at that point and, as I came up over a hill, I saw traffic slowing to a stop ahead of me. Being in the lane next to the median, I stayed there and came to a stop. It was then bumper to bumper for the hour or so. Traffic crept along, going maybe ten or twenty feet at a time (even about six inches at one point) then would stop for about five to ten minutes. This went on for about 5 miles I would estimate. Keeping my place in line in the inner lane, I felt a bit vindicated when a couple of cars ahead of me got into the middle lane and I passed them, leaving them far in the distance, as that lane remained stopped or slower than my lane. As I neared the end of the backup, I found that the three lanes of traffic were being funneled into a single lane. I was so glad to be moving again and making my way through and out of Alabama.

One thing about that state that did not impress me at all was the memorializing and apparent idol worshiping of the bigot of bigots, George Corley Wallace. I saw a sign, pointing the direction to George C. Wallace Community College and a couple more indicating Wallace University--this town and Wallace University--that town. I was reminded of a phrase used to describe Charleston, SC: "Two hundred years of history unspoiled by progress." Sorry, Regina, but that seems to fit the state of Alabama.

Made it to and thru Tennessee without spending a single dime. I bought gas in Alabama, picked up a map at the visitor's center, and made it into Kentucky without stopping. In a perverse sense, I take pride in costing Tennessee at least the price of a map. Nashville was a bit hectic to get thru. Besides road construction, the Tennessee Titans have a game tonight and traffic was starting to build for that as well as the beginning of the rush hour.

I finally called it a day at the Holiday Inn in Hopkinsville, KY just outside Fort Campbell. While I am proud to humbly display a peace symbol on the back of my car, I felt discretion was the better part of valor and stashed it in the trunk, lest it be stolen or the car vandalized. I stopped here after a long 12 hour day and am looking forward to relaxing this evening. I had dinner as an "OK" Chinese buffet across the street. Showering down, after dinner, I am simply chilling and looking forward to making it on to David's place sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Day Two of the Trek North

Well, I'm finally well on the way to Wisconsin. Leaving home at about 5:45 this morning after a good night's sleep, I took the Sunshine Skyway over Tampa Bay and kept heading north until making a left turn at the Big Bend of Florida and am now in Panama City. The trip was uneventful, as I expected--no cops; no accidents; and no dead animals (that I caused, anyway). One thing did strike me, though: I had not seen a crop duster since leaving central Wisconsin in 1980. But yesterday, on the drive from Miami and this morning about halfway between Bradenton and Panama City I saw two crop dusters. How unusual is that? None in the past thirty years and now two in two days. Life can be strange at times.

I stopped in to see Mom when I blew into town and am now chilling at my brother's house with their three dachshunds: Jazzy, Heidi, and Sally. This evening we are taking Mom out for dinner at a local beach eatery, Pineapple Willy's. After another anticipated good night's sleep, I'll be headed north once again, passing thru Montgomery and Birmingham, AL and Nashville, TN on my way to Paducah, KY where I plan to spend the night. Weather looks to be good for the entire trip to Madison and I can only hope it stays that way. 'til then...