REDONDOWRITER'S SACRED ORDINARY

Back From Israel, Jet Lagged and Thoughtful

We got home from the Holy Land about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday morning and I can only speak for myself. My brain was mush and it took me until today to really begin to shed the jet lag. I was out and about yesterday but I was very emotional at church and felt like I was wrapped in cotton batten. 

Our 12 days in the Holy Land was a life-changing experience for me, but I'm glad I didn't wait much longer to make the trip. It was physically a stretch for me and I don't know how much longer I'll have the oomph to make a 19 hour flight each way. 

Before I say much else, I want to reiterate that Israel is a safe place to visit and if you are planning to visit the Holy Land, don't be afraid. Because of the political mess in the middle east, Israel's tourism is beginning to feel the effects and this is sad. For most people around the world, it's a once in a lifetime visit. Don't miss seeing this beautiful country out of fear. I was fearful before we left but quickly felt comfortable. 

People ask what the high point for me was and I have to say that I can't pinpoint it. I loved the Galilee/Nazareth area and learning about Jesus's life and ministry before the really bad stuff started happening to him. Jerusalem itself is amazing, but I felt weighted down there in comparison to Galilee. Each site we visited in the Holy City marked the final week of Jesus's life and I have not been one to focus on the end. 

Today I'm going to share a few photos with you of Caesarea, the very beginning of our trip. 

This photo of the Mediterranean and the restored Crusader city of Caesarea is one of my favorites.  

It was constructed by Herod in 20 B.C. on the site of the Phoenician anchorage of Straton's Tower and named for Augustus Caesar. For 600 years Caesarea was the capital of the Roman province of Judea and official residence of its governors, including Pontius Pilate. 

The day we visited was rainy and very windy and it was the first time I had ever seen blowing sand that actually affected my vision and covered us with sand granules. Sand continued to wash away with showers, but I'd feel grit every now and then even after we reached Jerusalem. 

This is the site where Peter came to understand that the Good News was not for Jews only, but for the whole world. Here he baptized the Roman Centurion Cornelius and his family. Later Paul would be imprisoned here before he was taken to Rome for trial and execution. 

After a bitter struggle, Caesarea fell to the Persians in 646 but they kept it well. Under the Crusaders it was built as a citadel town of some 50 acres. I took at least a dozen photos here, but if you are interested in the history, you can click the link above or Google it. 

All I know with hindsight is that this was where our pilgrimage to the Holy Land officially began and where I began to feel somehow connected to what I was seeing in a way I've never felt before in my foreign travels. 

Over the next days, as my energy returns and I go back to work, I'll try to fit in photos and some history and feelings when I can. 

 

Last Night in Israel: Ready to Come Home

Today was our last day of pilgrimage and we leave Tel Aviv at 11 am, fly to Newark -- 12 hours. Then another 6 to LA. Today we went to Ein Karem where John the Baptist was born and Mary went to see Johns mother, her cousin, to tell her she was pregnant. Both churches were amazing and the valley lush. Final visit was to Abu Ghosh,emmaus, where the risen Christ appeared to two of his followers. One last walk this afternoon through the marketplace but Mary Lou and I are down to only a few dollars left between us. Our priest has been very ill today and ML has been keeping watch over him: probably food poisoning from fresh squeezed juice bought in the bazaar. Yesterday aft was my own personal way of the cross, from a humorous point of view. We walked the ramparts around the walls of old Jerusalem and we fell behind from our group. It is a physical challenge and then we were alone above and could only see people far below and no other tourists. Then we saw the Dome of the Rock. There are several exit gates-- supposedly but we could not find any of the gates to go down. The beautiful thing was hearing the call to prayer from several mosques. We ended up back at Gethsemane at traffic time and were lost. A nice tour bus guide hailed a cab and Makmoud our driver got us back to the Knights Palace hotel. To me Makmoud was an angel! Wow I was exhausted last night. I have loved Israel but I will kiss the ground in the good old USA.

Walking the Way of the Cross

At 5:30 am we began walking in the dark through Jerusalems narrow streets to begin what Christendom's believes to be the most sacred route--the Via Dolorosa. We drew slips of paper for readings and prayers. I read the prayers of the people for station six:Veronica wipes Jesus face with her veil. We actually carried a large wooden cross four at a time and I was in front between station one and two. It was heavy for an old woman but it made it all so personal. We sang hymns between stations and soon a few shops opened, school kids came out, and the ever present cats began trash hunting. Soon there were many clerics and pilgrims from every nation. The last five stations are inside the church of the holy sepulcher. You have to be there to believe it. The large churchs organ was reverberating as a mass was taking place. The church has several caves and grottos. We felt the rock of Calvary in the Greek orthodox grotto and Fr.Ray said mass in the roman Calvary grotto. We walked steep stairs down to the rock of Calvary and visited the tomb. Only one day left before returning home and it may take me the rest of my life to assimilate it. I was a routine Christian when I left on feb. 14. I took my beliefs for granted. I am not the bible thumping type, but deep inside, in a very private place, I have a different understanding of my faith.If you are Christian and can afford it and still have the stamina, I urge you to come here as a pilgrim. Love to all who read here. I am carrying you in my heart. This post is the tip of the iceberg. Forgive errors.iPads are not computers. This is the tip

Church of the nativity jerusalem

Thunder, lightning, wind and rain in Jerusalem. But onward pilgrims. Today was our visit to the church of the nativity which has the cave beneath it where Jesus is believed to have been born.the church is very old, orthodox,and incredibly beautiful.the visit to the cave, down an ancient staircase, was a very moving experience. Bethlehem is inside occupied Palestine and the wall is frightening! As tourists we can come and go through the checkpoints. I have such mixed emotions about the politics. This afternoon we visited the museum where the dead sea scrolls are kept.I learned so much about the Essenes. We saw the kinesset and lots of other places we hear about but don't necessarily ever see. Such nice people on the trip.

I can't believe I'm in Jerusalem

For people who are not Christians, Jews or Muslims, a holy land pilgrimage may seem like a weird vacation. For me personally it is a life altering experience. Even in line with lots of tourists, each site has been amazing.today we left the Nazareth area and journeyed many places of the old and new testament. I am often awestruck and that is something I rarely am. Basilica of transfiguration, Jericho where I amazed my 73 year old self by riding a camel. I was the reader at zaccheus's sycamore tree, toured Qumran, dead sea. Saw Bedouin life in the desert, check points, Palestine, west bank. The areas of wars and strife, and little kids everyplace. I am so impressed with Israel. Tomorrow Bethlehem and the museum where the dead sea scrolls are. Will have lots of photos to share and funny and sad stories. We are a varied group of pilgrims. So very very grateful;that's an overarching feeling.

Tales from the holy land so far

Writing from our guest house by the sea of galilee. On iPad so will be brief. From tel aviv then Haifa, we have experienced so much, walking a lot in Jesus and disciples footsteps. Weather is spectacular, our priest and tour guide are xlnt. Holy places, yes, but we actually learned to dance on our galilee boat ride. We are very safe so no one should worry about coming to Israel. Tomorrow we finish this area and go to Jerusalem until fri next. I cannot begin to recommend GO ISRAEL enough. Everyone here is friendly and bend over backwards for tourists.

Stumbling Toward Ecstasy on My Way to Israel

Since I leave tomorrow for Israel, this is a brief entry for Corazon: Stumbling Towards Ecstasy Sunday.

Yesterday we all celebrated our friend Bruno's 75th birthday and this is a photo at the big old party. That's me on the left, Bruno, his wife Lucille, and Mary Lou. We also celebrated Bruno and Lucille's son-in-law Mark's 50th birthday. It was an ecstatic gathering. 

And in the a.m., Mary Lou (r) and I will begin our journey to Israel. I'm bringing the iPad so when I can get wi-fi, you'll get updates. I look forward to catching up with everyone later. Mollie is going to have more people at home staying with her than you can shake a stick at. So, I'll feel more comfortable. 

 

Gordon Apple's Musings on Computers and Technology

I am a member of our local Mac Users Group, SBAMUG, and one of the really valuable benefits is our e-list where people can ask questions and get them answered, or others post things they have learned. One of our older members was recently lamenting having to buy a new computer--again--to get all the bells and whistles, most he probably didn't even want. Member Gordon Apple responded with this incredible e-mail which he gave me permission to reprint:  

I usually figure the half-life of computer value at about a calendar year (15 months, absolute max).  This includes warrantee, wear, and obsoleteness.  Unlike automobiles and other commodities, computer technology is still advancing at a substantial rate.  Changes are coming at an astounding rate.

Music has moved from records and CDs to totally electronic distribution.  Video tape is gone and DVDs are not far behind.  Network television is dying and being replaced by VOD.  Books are totally moving to Kindle/iPad.  Newspapers are going totally electronic.  USPS is dying.  No one sends mail anymore (except junk mail).  Checks are now obsolete (England is totally discontinuing them).  Home phones are almost gone.  Money is almost obsolete.  (The next iPhone will support near-field standards for “cash” transactions, receipts, coupon redemption, vending machines, gas pumps, etc.) PicturePhone (which I worked on at Bell Labs in the early ‘70s) is finally here in high-resolution color and portable (FaceTime).  Education is moving out of the classroom onto the web.  Cameras are mostly gone, now part of phones.  Maps have been replaced by GPS and maps on your phone.  On and On.

Prediction: TVs, phones, and computers will eventually be replaced by corneal and other implants.  These will also monitor your health, call 911 if needed, remind you to take your pills (my age is showing).  They will also recognize the person you are speaking with and remind you of their name (gawd, I need this one   :-)

Dottie's Love/Grief Quilt Just for Mary Lou

Last Friday my friend Dottie hosted a small luncheon for a few of her gal pals, including me. Widowed almost 10 years ago, she got a small rescue dog last year named Maxie to keep her company and it has made such a huge difference in how she is feeling lately. There were five of us at the lunch; three women were widowed, I'm divorced, and one woman is still married. Our lives have been changing so much as we grow older but we raised kids together and we forget sometimes that we aren't spring chickens. 

I wrote about my friend Larry dying almost six months ago and his widow is Mary Lou. She and I are going to Israel together next Monday and all of us have witnessed Larry's long illness and her graciousness in caring for him. But, how she misses him. Dottie, who hosted the lunch last Friday, came up with the most perfect love/grief gift I've personally ever seen. On the day of the funeral she asked Mary Lou if she could have several of Larry's old shirts which Mary Lou gave her. Dottie made these pieces into a quilt. Here is Mary Lou in Larry's old chair she watches TV in with Dottie's quilt made out of Larry's shirts on her lap. 

Dottie asked what Larry's favorite color was and Mary Lou said black. The back side of the quilt is black and logos from old tee shirts from Larry's favorite teams and his favorite hometown restaurant in Ohio are stitched on the back. One of the quilt squares even has a pocket in it. 

Dottie, who is a multi-talented seamstress, artist, craftswoman, and miniature maker, is shown here with Maxie. Dottie said she made similar quilts for her own son Jackie, who died more than 25 years ago from spina bifida complications, and for her daughter Patty when Jack, Dottie's husband and Patty's dad, died. She even made a quilt for the Bishop of Chicago. Seems a woman in her church is the Bishop's brother and he frequently receives liturgical stoles for gifts--more than he can ever use. The sister, as a surprise, had Dottie make those stoles into a quilt. 

In 2008 I wrote about Dottie's love of making miniatures which you can read and see photos of at When Life is So Big Sometimes You Have to Make it Small. 

As I've written here before, my own mom was a quilter and I cherish the few that I have--and the one that my niece Rose made me for Christmas which I wrote about in Queen of Procrastination Down to the Wire on Christmas Eve.

When I was writing stories in my years of being a Director of Communications it was the features I liked the best. Can you tell?  

 

Memories of Chinese New Year at the Huntington Gardens

When I visited the Huntington Gardens on Saturday with my family, we were totally unaware a Chinese New Year Celebration was going on that weekend. Here are a few of my photos I thought you might enjoy. 

Incidentally, for those of you who may never have visited the Huntington Library and Gardens, their website has a wonderful set of online video and audio tours as well as many podcast lectures and virtual galleries. 

You can experience the inspiration behind Liu Fang Yuan, The Garden of Flowing Fragrance at The Huntington at this link as well as seeing other online tours and podcasts available. 

 

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