The days are just packed!

An update of life in the past few weeks:

1. Last Tuesday and Wednesday, I went with Mrs. Kolch's fifth grade class to Balarat, the outdoor education site run by Denver Public Schools. It's about two hours north of Denver. The buses that transported us were decked out - four-wheel drive, immense snow tires, and luggage racks. I had a splendid time with the kids, learning about gold mining, pioneer life, trappers and traders, and of course the splendid natural environment in the Rocky Mountains. For example, did you know that Ponderosa pine trees' bark smells like vanilla and its needles have a faint orange flavor? Also, did you know that at the entrance of mines, each miner would have a little tag with his number on it, which he would take with him into the mine so that the demolition crew would know not to explode TNT when tags were absent? (We hammered our intials into tags as a little keepsake; I sent mine to my mom for her birthday).

In the evening, we roasted marshmallows and I read the kids two Native American stories, made sufficiently thrilling by the full moon. Then we had the famed 'Night Hike' that older kids never tire of telling the current fifth graders about. Basically, after dark, we all walk about five minutes down a wide trail. Then, one by one, in silence, the director taps each child on the shoulder and they have the chance to walk back down the path...alone. In the dark. I was so proud of our kids, they ALL did the hike, even the tiniest girl Claudia who cried to leave her mom when we boarded the bus. When she got to the group of waiting fifth graders, the round of hugs and high-fives lit her up like Northern Lights.

2. I have a place to live in DC! It is the aforementioned house on Monroe Street, within walking distance of the Institute. I will live with 6 women: Carol, Catherine, Karen, Abigail, Glynnis, and Martha, who have their own band, called the Snowflakes. Indeed, I aspire to great heights - perhaps even to be a backup whistler! I assume I'll have to choose my own stage name...

3. Last Saturday, I attended a day of vocational discernment at the local seminary, with three Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan. They are all seminary professors, and have degrees in such things as neonatal pulmonology, plant genetics, and sacred liturgy. They spoke about the fundamentals of religious life (including the symbolism of the habit), communion between persons, and liturgy. It was so fun, intellectually stimulating, and invigorating to interact with these women who have dedicated their lives to the service of Christ. My own vocation remains a mystery, but I am grateful to see the beauty of concescrated religious life.

4. That afternoon, I stayed behind with the Sisters to watch Pope Benedict speak to 25,000 seminarians and youth in Yonkers, New York. When he showed up in the Popemobile, the cheering must have lasted 10 minutes solid. And every sentence of Cardinal Egan's address was interrupted with more wild applause. Really, when else does an 81-year-old man, a German, a professor, different of language and generation, receive the adulation of thousands of American adults under 25? To me, it spoke of the possibility of real communion between persons, regardless of the barriers between them. And that communion is based in a common belief. The Pope humbly accepted the praise heaped upon him by saying, "I am so glad you love Jesus so much!" It was a wonderful encounter. The youth presented him with icons of saints who lived and served in Americas (only one was native-born, a clear indication of our immigrant Church!) and the Pope encouraged all to follow their examples to live courageous, holy lives. I loved to hear him speak, see his gentleness, his total freedom to speak truth in love.

5. Our garden is doing...okay. Due to heavy winds and a little over-eager watering on my part, the tiny seedlings are most decisively NOT where I planted them. So far bok choy (a kind of minitaure cabbage) is the winner, having spread far beyond the one row in which I planted it. Red beets are doing well, as are snow peas, but the carrots and turnip tops have yet to make an appearance. I'm not too disheartened, recognizing both my ametaeur state as a gardener and a new climate in which to plant.

6. One more little tidbit - all of us housemates got free tickets to watch the Phillies slam the Rockies this past Monday. It was a heck of a game, with an inside the park homer, a double play that killed the Rockies' rally, and some exciting steals. I watch baseball like my mom does, cheering for whoever does well, but I was gratified at my hometown Phils pulling it out strong. To be honest, the real highlight was when we all got filmed on the Jumbo Screen, thanks to Budd's amazing dance skills =)

Peace to you all! Happy Easter!