Letter from Camp

A Letter from Camp:
August 2006
Hi Everyone:
Had a great day at Columbus Boy's Camp!
All the kids are having lots of fun.
So much happy noise.
The counselors are the best
- they spend lots of time with the boys
- talking with them
- even playing with them
- like older brothers.
Neat!

The Lunch was OK
- hot dogs and carrots and stuff
- lots to eat.

The kids set the tables.
We were starved with all the things we did
- even soccer.

Swim time was in the morning and afternoon
- with the 'buddy system'.
Some guys went out in canoes and paddle boats.
The lake is huge.
There are tons of frogs and snakes - cool.

There is lots of hammering and sawing in the crafts area.
Some kids like to do the wall climbing
- some even go up in harnesses on the high wire
- they are brave!!!

The archery was awesome!!!

We took lots of pictures so everyone can see what goes on.
Everyone should support this wonder-full camp.

Peggy and Bill Wittman
Our experience
Photographing on behalf of ShareLife.

Remember Me

In late October Peggy and I were wondering near my High School - St Peter's Prep in Jersey City. Celebrating my 50 year Reunion. (Please visit my blog poem - '50 Years Ago' - written October 31st. )

We came upon a fresh memorial to Korean War soldiers - located on the Hudson River. One view from the site is toward the Statue of Liberty - a beacon to the heart's possibilities. Looking toward the left you can see the wonder of Lower New York City. Haunted by the World Trade Center space.

On the memorial stone there is a poetic reflection

Written by the survivors of the Korean battles.

Now in their later decades.

Their voices aching.

Longing

Begging.

To be remembered.

For doing what they were asked to do

By those we put in charge.

I felt their plea...

The same for all soldiers

On all sides.

Through the centuries.

Only the dates change...

The result

Always the same

Row-on-Row-on-Row...

++++++++++

++++++++++

++++++++++

You shalt not kill

Which word is so confusing

For all of us...?

Mom Loved Me Best...

There are five siblings in my family. When we lived at home each Birthday was celebrated with an individual Birthday cake.

Mine is still my favorite - an IceBox cake. A pretty simple affair - only requiring a lot of chocolate wafer cookies and an abundance of whip cream to hold the cookies together in the form of a log. The cutting is best on a bias. I think everyone loved my cake the best. I have always felt that is why Mom selected it for me...

My annual B'day delight is now prepared by Peggy.

My grandson Andrew says he likes my Birthday because I have the best cake...

So guess what Gram made him for his Birthday this year...?

Echoes of love - through the corridors of life...

We are wondrously created...

So be sure to pass on the good stuff...

Thanks Mom...

BTW - Blue Berry Pie is for Peggy's B'day - but that is another story...

Fifty Years Ago

When I went to High School

I felt a pecking order

Not sure of my place.
Fifty Years later

I am much the same

 

Back then

Some were smarter
Some athletes
Some were on the fringes
Others on the inside
Some had the package
Some didn't

All unsure

Wanting

To belong.

Now we are summoned

Called through history

To regather

Explore shared foundations.

I wonder

In a mixture of

Longing and fear

Should I go?

It has been

A long time
Who would care?
Why risk?

 

Things have changed
Life has shaped Me

Us

Still searching

Questioning

In the blur

Of spent times

 

What is rich?

What is empty?
Or still to be discovered

Yet unknown.

 

We greet each other

Some a bit tentative

Perhaps uneasy

Gently recalling

Lost loved ones

Lost friends

 

As we share our stories...

Some pretend.
Some are grieving

Some striving
Some retiring
Some ever dreaming
Some in transition

Others confessing

Confusion

Hope

Faith

Love

 

Mystery

Now time is on the shorter side

More precious
For loved ones
For ourselves
Embracing new orders

to life...

A lot to ponder

Our unique bond

Treasured

In our hearts
Till the next time

We are summoned

To regather...

We Are Absurd...

The economic news is confusing -uncertain - perhaps terrible.

Fear grows - darkness surrounds. Buffeted by unknown turmoils. We could lose our resources - maybe everything.

Self preservation urges protection. Tighten down the hatches - be prudent -grasp what is 'mine'.

Yet here we are at Canadian Thanksgiving - and what is our Parish doing? Sharing resources - buying extra food for the local food bank - The Compass. Creating abundance. Stocking shelves. Serving members of the community who have been - are - experiencing difficult times.

The Parish is gathering the power of the Holy Spirit - combating fear with Love. Shining Light into the darkness. An energy for Good. Transforming...

I am called to be joined within our Faith community. Living the teaching of Jesus - the Beatitiudes. It feels right - offers a sign of Hope - to those who are on the edge of losing - to those seemingly lost...

To me.

Perhaps...

It is not absurd...

In uncertain times...

To be grateful...

For the Grace...

Of Giving...

Family Business

To our Confirmation Candidates:

All of us are in the Family Business.
Your membership began at birth.
Your commitment to follow Jesus began with Baptism
With the promises of your parents and sponsors.

Your fundamental skill set contains the Gifts of the Holy Spirit:
- Courage: Strength to stand up for what you believe is right and true
- Wisdom: Discerning the difference between what is good and what is not
- Understanding: Listening to the words, sensing the feelings, recognizing the needs of another - with an open heart
- Right Judgement: Making better choices to become your better self
- Knowledge: Searching for truth so it becomes one in you
- Reverence: Hearing the inner call to enable Love to flow through you into the world
- Wonder and Awe: Tuning to the precious mystery of creation which surrounds all of us
and is us

These sacred tools will be essential to enable you to bring:
- Love
- Forgiveness
- Service
...especially for the vulnerable

The Family Business
Guarantees Lifetime Employment
Always something to do
Now is the time
Follow the leader
Role up your sleeves...

Tradition..

Every Fall - for over 35 years - our family has gone apple picking. It started with Peggy and I and two daughters. In a few years two more daughters joined with us. The picking tradition has continued - without a miss - and now includes three sons-in-laws and seven grandchildren.

Sometimes the geographic distance is too great and we can't all gather to pick in the same orchard - but we all still pick.

This Saturday our Northern contingent gathered for our Fall tradition. Grandson James made his first trip to Chudley's Apple Orchard. Sampled his first fresh apple. Loved it!!!

I took a few memory snaps. They basically look like the same photos I took last year - plus James. If you went back 20 years or more, all the photos look a bit similar - but different...

Curiously, our daughter in New York just called and told us our three grandchildren, her husband and she also picked apples - on Saturday. Go figure...

Our traditions enable us to

experience the Sacred...

In the lives of

Family and Community

Faith.

They give us opportunities to

gather and celebrate

and remember and share our stories

and be enveloped in love.

It seems to be how we are wired.

A mystery.

Traditions are a gift.

God is always there...

Oh - by the way:

Another favorite family tradition is making our own applesauce.

The family gathers tight around the table and the stove.

We all work together - peeling, slicing, dicing, cooking and caning - over 30 quarts -which are divvied-up.

Our Applesauce ROCKS!!!