Friday evening and Saturday morning I was in Massachusetts for an event with Beth Moore.
Have you ever heard of her or gone to one of her events? She is a dynamic woman who conducts bible studies through Living Proof Ministries.
The first time I was introduced to her was an online Bible Study on the book of Galatians, “fruit of the spirit”. There was a lot of food for thought – pun intended!
The second time was in Atlantic City with two long time friends. The events involve a 2-1/2 hour session on Friday evening and another on Saturday morning. I can’t recall what book of the Bible was involved but I remember Peter feeling like he was sinking when Jesus called to him to walk on water – so maybe it was Matthew!
This time in Swansea Massachusetts and was the book of Luke and specifically Chapter 9 and the transfiguration. Who was there, what it meant, chapters and verses leading to it and after it.
Along with the Bible study there was the most glorious music led by Travis Cotrell and 3 other singers and musicians. I admit there were tears rolling down my face many times during the two days and my eyes still feel a little sandpaper-ish.
I attended with my college friend again and we had such a wonderful time talking and talking on the hour ride, at dinner, in our hotel, and then breaking down the two days on the ride home. We’ve been friends since our freshman year – holy moly – 46 years! We had our time apart over the years when I was living in California but we rekindled our friendship and it’s richer than before.
I have been reading verses in my bible daily along with my daily devotional and I have realized as I read that I really want to dig deeper into various books and what they mean. I will see where what I experienced this weekend leads me.
Physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, and relational. When I looked online for self-care, I found those categories.
Based on the descriptions, I was pretty surprised that I have always practiced self-care but never put the two together.
I eat heathy and work out every day. I write in my journal daily. I read my Jesus Calling devotional every day, followed by the associated bible verse. I read at bedtime and play the New York Times games (almost) daily. I have been working on my relationship with my husband to be more open and honest about things that concern me.
I was going to say that my social self-care would be where I was lacking but I realized – that’s not true! I belong to a group at the library, and attend library events at least twice a month. I meet with former neighborhood friends every month for dinner. I meet with our class reunion committee monthly, which consists of 6 other women who really like seeing each other every month because our next reunion is still 3-1/2 years away!
I could improve on all of that if I could stay off social media!
This weekend in Connecticut is the SEVENTEENTH consecutive weekend with rain on one or both days. That means, since February we have had “weather” on the weekend. We may have had beautiful weather for 5 or 6 days and then, Boom!, the one day you have off or something planned for outdoors, it can’t be done.
Rainy morning
My husband tells me it was predicted and it’s just for the morning which is good because the Travelers Golf Championship final day is happening Cromwell today. It will be hot again after the rain, so hydrate!
I’m curious by nature. I ask (a lot of) questions when I meet someone or when I’m talking to a friend because I enjoy a conversation. Sometimes though, it’s because it takes the spotlight off me.
I like to comment and ask questions of the bloggers I read as well and I like when they comment and ask questions of me (hint, hint 😉).
I’ve been following a blogger, I don’t think she follows me and I enjoy what she writes. She’s from a different part of the country, has a different lifestyle, and still raising children while I’ve raised one.
I’ve read back posts and had been trying to follow the threads of her life, and was looking forward to upcoming events.
I made a comment to her latest post, and now she’s gone. Perhaps in saying I’ve known those feelings in the past, I overstepped the bounds she felt were acceptable. I appeared to be the only person commenting so it must have been something I said! In this case, I’ve tried to ask general questions because it’s a public forum and you never know who else is reading.
I read many blogs that I really enjoy for a variety of reasons, and I’m really disappointed that she has disappeared.
Have you ever felt a well-intentioned comment you made caused someone to disappear in real life or online. Notice I said “well-intentioned” because we know how our keyboard fingers can fly when angry!
Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?
I grew up in a traditional household in the 60s and 70s. Sundays involved the 9:15 mass, picking up newspapers (New Haven Register, New York Daily News, Boston paper) with the possibility of a comic at Boylans, and a stop at my aunt’s house before we were home. Once home, we read the papers, and waited for Sunday Dinner which happened anywhere between Noon and 2 p.m. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating, but some Sundays it felt like it was that late because everyone else was out playing while we were still waiting to eat!
Except for that rare Sunday when we got Kentucky Fried Chicken….
Kentucky Fried Chicken. There was a store across the street from our church that opened at noon. On those Sundays (usually during the summer), my mom would head back out to pick up a box or bucket. They would also get the cole slaw and mashed potatoes and gravy that went with it.
Oh that chicken! So crunchy and greasy. I probably ate it for the skin more for the chicken. You can have those big old chicken breasts at the bottom of the box or bucket! Give me a leg or thigh for that juicy dark meat. As a last resort, I’d eat the breast but I’d need a lot of cranberry sauce to wash it down.
My father would jokingly swear that the cole slaw tasted “just like ice cream” and I’m sure we choked it down. Not like now – I love cole slaw!
Stores still exist, but the one across from our church is long gone and it’s probably a good thing because, like anything else that tastes so delicious, that skin is not good for you!
The last time I had it was in 2022 when we were traveling in California to visit my father in law and we stopped to pick it up and bring it for a dinner with him. It was as good as I remembered it and I’m sure as I did every other time I ate it, I told my husband the stories of my families KFC Sunday dinners.
Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.
I feel joy when I am riding my bike.
I received my first bike when I was about 7 years old. It was a second hand bike that my dad painted and put a new seat on. I would ride it all over the neighborhood. On weekends, my dad would take me, my sisters, and anyone from the neighborhood who wanted to join us on rides around town. The bike gained a banana seat with sissy bar and upraised handlebars when they came into style.
My first bike – 1967
I outgrew the bike and riding during high school but then received a 10-speed bike my senior year of high school. I brought my bike to college and rode around campus and up and down the country roads.
Woodstock Connecticut Route 169
When I moved to California, I brought my bike with me (in pieces, in a box!), but based on the rides my husband to be and his friends did, I bought a new bike designed for my short stature and for long miles. My longest ride to date is a 100K through the hills of Sonoma Country. I never did become fully comfortable clipping my feet in to the pedals!
Dry Creek Road area, Healdsburg California
After moving back to Connecticut, the road rides ended but we would take our mountain bikes with us on camping trips and ride from our site to the beach at Hammonasett and Rocky Neck State Parks or ride around Lake Waramaug. We also took our bikes on the ferry to Block Island and Martha’s Vineyard for traveling around.
Sights to see on Block Island, Rhode Island
Recently we purchased e-bikes to ride on which are electric, but pedal assist, which means you still have to pedal to move. People get the wrong idea because there are other types. When I first started riding my new bike, I would turn the assistance on and off and at the same time try to work through my gears. I quickly realized I need to just leave the assistance on at level 1 and just work through my gears and it created a much more enjoyable ride!
My bike – 2025Farmington Canal trail undergroundOne of the trails
So why does it bring me joy? I love the movement both in my legs and traveling a distance quickly! I love the feel of the sun on my shoulders in nice weather. I’m not incredibly fond of cold weather but my first ride was on ice and I can say I finished that ride! Some of the rides involve gravel, uphill and downhill, and I feel challenged, physically and mentally, to get up the hill and DOWN the hill! I’m always in the back of our 6 person pack but I’m getting better! The bike pedals allow for my shoes to clip in or remain free and I currently remain free.
Here in Connecticut, it has rained at some point during 15 consecutive weekends. Maybe one day, maybe both days.
When we moved back here in 1995, me, the Connecticut native, told my husband, the California native to expect at least one day on a summer weekend to be rainy. I think I did pretty good with that assessment. Overall, this has been a Really Wet Year and it doesn’t look like much is changing.
Now that we are in “summer”, the humidity rises. And falls. And rises. I can handle it but my poor husband suffers from the Jekyll and Hyde atmospheric pressures. Vertigo, sinus conditions, headache – he’s had them all!
Do you have constantly changing weather where you live?
The Memorial Day parade in my town is a long-standing tradition for residents. I’ve been attending as long as I can remember, watching the parade from the same location on the east side of Main Street in front of Caplan’s supermarket. After I moved back to town in the mid-90s we moved to the sunny side of the street!
The parade route has always started at Dutton Park located at the northern end of North Main Street. Early newspaper articles listed a much longer route that involved a few hills. For any locals, in 1928 it was: Down Center, right on Colony, up Church, left on North Whittlesey, up Christian, up North Main Street to the Monument where speeches, singing, and a rifle volley would take place. The parade would then “countermarch” back down North Main Street, past the “new” state armory and back to the corner of Center Street. Whew! These days the parade start at Dutton Park and ends about 1-1/2 miles straight down the road to the WWI, WWII, and Korean War monuments in front of the town Hall.
Start of 2025 Memorial Day Parade
The park was named for Arthur Henry Dutton, a 25 year old town resident and graduate of West Point, who was injured in May of 1864 at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia during the Civil War and died from his injuries 10 days later. The Arthur H. Dutton G.A.R. (Grand Army Republic) Post 36 was created not long after the end of the Civil War for veterans, not unlike Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion organizations. The land for the park was donated to the post by a town resident and in 1904 the post turned the park over to the town to be used as a park forever.
Markers of veteran organizations in townFirst veteran post in Wallingford
The park contains a Civil War cannon pointing south, a stone listing the 24 young men who died during the Civil War, and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. This monument was conceived 1885, dedicated in 1902 and unveiled in 1911. It is topped with a life sized minute man holding a rifle and is inscribed with the battles the members of the Grand Army served.
Names of Civil War soldiers killedSoldiers and Sailors Monument
100 years after the idea for the Soldiers and Sailors Monument came to be, another monument was dedicated. That would be our town’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This monument was designed and created by Wallingford resident and Vietnam veteran, Ken Polanski. It was dedicated on November 11, 1985. A very nice article about the monument can be found in our Wallingford Magazine. When I saw the date, I realized, I was at the dedication! It’s a really good article so I hope you read it!
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
This year’s guest speaker at our event was David Flood, a Vietnam Veteran. It was chilling to hear him talk about his time in Vietnam. Ken Polanski, the monument creator, was there as well. Mr. Flood is the father of an acquaintance so it was a treat to run into her and her adorable son, whom I’ve only seen in pictures on Facebook.
Color guard, MC, and guest speaker
Once the ceremony was over, my husband and I hustled to our friend’s house along the route to enjoy the parade and indulge in the delicious food she serves to her guests. We see family, friends, and “once a year” friends at her house. We enjoy watching the parade and clapping for everyone who walks by – especially the little kids! Some are not sure of what’s going on, and others are very into it!
Scenes from the parade
The parade always ends with the fire trucks. We decided it’s because if there’s a fire, they can get away quickly!
As I sit here, writing of Memorial Day, I pause to thank all of those brave men and women who died for our freedom. May we continue to remember them throughout the year.
American Cemetery, Normandy FranceArlington National Cemetery, VirginiaWritten by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, First World War
The television show, Madam Secretary, had been on my Netflix Watch List for a very long time. Just when I went to start watching the six season show in early April, I discovered it was leaving Netflix forever on May 14th!
97 episodes. Could I do it? That would be an average of 3.5 shows a day! Highly unlikely. But I started watching anyway.
As my bedtime approached last night, I had managed to get through 4 complete seasons – 67 episodes. Many days it was 2 episodes a day, one at lunchtime and one in the evening. One rainy Saturday, I managed FIVE! It wasn’t totally “unproductive time” as I could knit and watch, and many times, scroll on my phone and watch.
Obviously, I really enjoyed the show! Since it ran for six seasons I felt it must be a somewhat realistic look into the federal government and the State Department in particular. Handy for our current situation!
I learned of how we aid(ed) countries around the world and I learned what you see on the surface is not always what’s happening below. Foreign Ministers, corrupt governments, and who’s helping who behind who’s back.
I enjoyed Téa Leoni as Elizabeth McCord, the Secretary of State. A former CIA agent, she was realistic, but could be emotional, she could be tough but remained diplomatic. Her Department staff as well. Assistant, speech writer, press secretary, foreign policy advisor, chief of staff, no idea of many of these positions before this show, and now my eyes and ears perk up when I see or hear those words.
Tim Daly as her husband who was a professor at the war college (and was recruited for some CIA work), and her three children, also grew on me. When the show began, she had been tapped as Secretary when the current one’s plane blew up over the Atlantic Ocean (season one’s mystery!). They had to move from their farm in Virginia or somewhere, to Washington DC, so culture shock and living in a fish bowl hit them hard. They learned to navigate it over the seasons.
This morning, my Netflix popped up and Madam Secretary was gone.
I still have 2 seasons (30 episodes) to watch and according to my local library’s catalog, they have all five seasons on DVD. Lucky me because I still have a portable DVD player! I’m going to give myself a little break before I head to the library to pick up Season 5.
Have you ever watched the show? Did you like it? Think it was realistic or not? Let me know!
Thoughts From The Passenger Seat 