Reunion time

It’s been a time for reunions.

Just a few weeks ago I had lunch in Lakeland FL with my niece Anne Weston and her husband Stuart, visiting from London. I’d not seen them since my mother’s funeral in 2001.

Up in Boston I was present for the 20th anniversary celebration of the Ordination of the Rt. Revd. Barbara C Harris - the first female Bishop in the Anglican Communion. We were at the Cathedral Church in Boston, and as well as giving and receiving a great big hug with Bishop Barbara, I was able to connect with many friends and colleagues.


And I went back to St. James’s in Cambridge for Sunday morning worship, my first “homecoming” since I retired from there as Rector in June 2006. Mostly I was happy to see the children – they are dear to God.

I also got reunited with snow. Between 8 and 10 inches fell on Sunday night. I was not happy to be back in the business of sweeping that wretched stuff off my rental car.

Tenderly and gracefully – from all side, I was able to spend some time with the Pope family whose 12 year old son Hunter recently died.

From New York City to Tampa, Gabriel and I were reunited with a train. It’s a 25 hour journey, but the train is comfortable and the food good. It was a beautifully relaxing way to return to Florida. The senior citizen fare is a meager $99. I am happy to see that the new administration will invest deeply in Amtrak - our “national” passenger rail system.

A couple of days after arriving home in SRQ friends of about 44 years, Colin and Lorraine Cooper from Bristol, U.K. came for lunch. They were vacationing nearby.

Then yesterday I had a call from Bob and Monica Jones - former Pittsfield parishioners.
They have retired to North Carolina, and were visiting their son Michael who lives and works in Tampa. I had not see Bob and Monica in all of 15 years, and we had a jolly lunch. Naturally I took them to the restaurant at the Bobby Jones Golf Course!

I am getting reunited with my body and still take daily exercise. This morning I drove downtown and walked over our lovely Ringling Bridge and back. It took about 50 minutes, and I enjoyed lovely breezes from the bay.


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