Gone a visiting 8/20/21

One of the things I have been looking forward to with being on the road is the opportunity to meet up with dear people around the country. From far flung friends and family members, to the many wonderful people who belong to the different dispersed communities that I belong too - it has been something that I have imagined will be a special part of our wandering life.

Last year, when we were out in Betty, I had my first taste of this experience when I had the chance to meet up with three women from my online contemplative community, The Light House. In Indianapolis I spent a lovely afternoon having a socially distanced visit in a park in. In Pennsylvania I enjoyed some of the best ice cream I have ever eaten with another friend. And in Virginia I got the wonderful opportunity to walk a labyrinth with another friend. We also got to camp on the farm of one of the members of St Brigid and share dinner out on their lawn. And I got to enjoy Thai food and a much needed catch up with former coworkers in Washington State while also seeing lots of other beloved friends from our old community while we were there. All of these in person visits could never have happened if we hadn’t been traveling through those areas. And they were made even more special by the fact that there was a pandemic raging, and making us feel even more distanced from one another. But we still found a way to safely see and enjoy time with others.

Today I was again reminded that this is going to be one of the highlights of life on the road when I went and had lunch at the house of one of the members of my Benedictine community of St Brigid’s. And not only was this the first time we had met in person - it just so happened that this same person was my novice leader for my first year in the monastery. What a gift to see each other in person for the first time!

We enjoyed an incredible vegan lunch that she had lovingly prepared, and the most perfect, tiny slice of carrot cake that just hit the spot. And I got to see the spot where she calls into pray each day (something we love to know about each other in our dispersed community).

And you know what I think is a sign of a really good visit? You are enjoying it all so much that you forget to pull out your phone and take pictures. The time flies by, and it isn’t until you are driving away that you realize that you did not snap one photo to remember it by.

Today I have no pictures to share from our visit. Instead, I have a Tupperware full of the most delicious zucchini enchilada boats leftover from lunch and a heart full of joy and companionship.

Food and friendship - it doesn’t get much better than that.

It is a wild world these days - and getting to spend time in person with dear ones is not always an option. So when it does work out, it is a real treat. One I will treasure each time it happens.

Tomorrow we leave Dallas and head to Tulsa for more visits with family. Then on to California for more of the same.

I am eagerly anticipating these coming days as well as all the other meet ups with dear ones in our future travels.

If you see me heading to your direction be sure to reach out. I would love to meet you in person and get a taste of the places that you call home.

For now, if you need me, I will be heading down the road - gone a visiting.