"fortuitous happenstance"

What a lot of serendipity there has been in me life.  Each and every time I meet another person in life I am reminded just how wonderful the whole process of life can be.

Mind there be some met in life who might think that meeting the old geezer was zemblanity.

'je ne sais quoi'

My dears, you will have to bear with this old geezer and his re-use of old snaps to flavour posts.  I am still without a private machine and have not downloaded the newer snaps taken this past months.

Of late me life has taken on a certain je ne sais quoi flavour and of the mind that it suits this old geezer rather well.  It would be a bit hard to define clearly the many events and folks that have played a role in my recent travels.  Travels that seem to never end, not so much the physical but of the mind and soul.  How is that for profound?

Recently met a fellow papist from Minnesota.  One tends to think most that live there as followers of Luther.  This chap is quite worldly and upon first meeting one would not credit with having an active involvement with the church.  It is always a pleasure to meet up with one who is quite happy to acknowledge his love of God and his church.  Not the flag waving sort of faith, more a quiet and sure feel for what he believes and practices on a daily basis.  In these hard times, what with so much negative press directed at the church, it is still a wonder that many do not give up on Holy Mother Church.

In a recent email exchange, the chap wondered why this old geezer was not a priest, or at least a deacon in the church.  It got me to wonder and thought I would explain self to him and to other readers who have wondered about this old geezer and his continued love of the church.

Avid readers of me blog will no doubt be 'au fait' with the abuse suffered by this old geezer in childhood.  That abuse was at the hands of priests and religious who were evil men poising as.

They say that the abused child can foster feelings toward the abuser.  That must have been my case when I contemplated entering the priesthood.  The thoughts did not last long, and truth be told, never truly thought meself as having a 'calling'.

Recent stories in the newspapers have highlighted the troubles in Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  The Archbishop has taken action, after the Grand Jury pushed him up against the wall.  It would seem that every effort is being made by the Archbishop to deal with charges against priests with every consideration for the rights of the priests named at fault.  More's the pity that the same consideration was not shown to the countless abused children.

I will tell true, it took many years to forgive my church and God for what had been done to me as a child.  Much was lost by the abuse, the least of which was the innocence of childhood.

That was then, this is now.

I still have flashbacks every time a story comes out with the headline "Philadelphia Paedophile Priests".

Getting back to the comments from the lovely chap met recently.  One does not tell all to a new 'friend', it was enough to share thoughts on the state of the church we both loved.  There was no way he could have known that his comments would get me to look more closely at the question.

I am not a perfect person.  I try to be the best I can be and to treat all met with kindness.  If my 'je ne sais quoi' led the chap to think me more holy than am, I am flattered.  Mind, I rather think that the chap met has a good idea of who he is and what matters most.  Rather brilliant that...

ADVENTURES CONTINUE

Multi-Sided Robert

Travel is always an adventure, and it requires a little thought before departure and some reflection upon arrival at destination.  The old geezer recently set out on another adventure and some days have past since arrival and thought it was time to share.  Fancy that...

I departed Dunsmuir, Ca., on the south bound train that departs in the wee hours of the new day.  Just past 12am on the new morn of the 1st.  Rumour has it that the train is always late, but my experience held no such late schedule.  The train pulled into the station on time and departed on time.

Allow the old geezer t back up a bit.  New found friends, Bill and Margie, lovely couple who lived cross the road from cottage house sat, had the old geezer over for dinner night before departure AND stayed up and drove to station.  Margie packed a cheese sandwich, bit of cake and beverage, as to keep the old geezer from pangs of hunger during the long journey.  What a lovely couple and ever so kind to this old geezer.

The trip to Sacramento passed with out incident and we arrived in Sacramento before schedule.  The layover in Sacramento was to be 4 hours but having made a new friend on train, there was someone to pass the time until the next leg was taken.

The train did not go direct to Reno, one had to switch to a coach.  That was OK, as AMTRAK uses a company that has rather grand coaches, equipped with WIFI and an ever so lovely driver.  We departed on time and arrived in Reno ahead of schedule.  How is that for laying waste the rumour of lateness, or was it pure luck?

Avid readers will remember that the old geezer was want to find a suitable situation in Dunsmuir and the suggestion was made that Reno might hold better promise.

The old geezer had chatted with a chap met on the INTERNET, who told of a possible housing situation in his home.  His verbal description sounded like a 'slice of heaven' as did the chap sound ever so lovely.  Mind, one never knows how things things will turn out, neither of us knew the other from a 'bucket of paint' and there was always the possibility that it would not be suitable for either.

There was some worry, not much, but one has to trust these things to fate from time to time.

The chat agreed to meet at train schedule and he did.  Ever so gracious he was and told that at very least, accept the hospitality for week end and see how one felt.  How could one refuse?

The house turned out to be on a street that could have been out of "Leave To Beaver", lovely road and ever so charming house. Huge house, containing 4 'en suite' bed rooms, with loads and loads of room.  Back garden contained a brilliant swimming pool, lovely potted blooming flowers and TWO 'hot tubs'.  Talk about posh.

The bedroom assigned to the old geezer was on top floor, that is to say first floor, with two others being downstairs.  A 4 poster bed and comfy wing backed chair catching me eye right off.  It was quite lovely to strip off and take a lovely HOT shower before taking a wee nap before dinner.

Four days have passed since arrival and each day has been lovely.  Jack, the new found friend, is truly a lovely chap and he has introduced the old geezer to mates who have come by to swim or have dinner with.  Quite a collection of interesting chaps so far, but will get into that later.

There are three dogs in the home, not bothersome types and no real problem dealing with.  Actually, all three are well mannered.

There is another old geezer living in the house, he has been here for some years and fits into the scheme like a card carrying member of the 'family' Jack has set up in his home.  A complete lack of drama....

This old geezer is always in awe of other old geezers who kept eye on the 'golden years' and manage to have a brilliant retirement.  My education and life experiences should have held that true for self, but as one all knows too well, this old geezer has not done.  Me bad, as the young would say.  Truth be told, I used 'awe' not 'envy' to describe the great divide between Jack and self.  Rather think that sums it up best and am only ever so thankful to have landed a situation that seems suited well to this old geezer.

There are minor details to work out, all having to deal with paper work to complete to place on the on proper register for me benefits, and rather think that will sort itself in good order.

I have not taken any new snaps of yet but rest assured will fairly quickly, want to make sure that Jack is comfy with the idea first.  Not all are keen to be on the INTERNET.

It is Day 4 and this old geezer has yet to set foot into a casino.  Did not travel here to camp out in front of fruit machines, but think there will be a visit to one over the long week-end and no doubt a penny fruit machine will gobble up me offering.

As the heading told, the adventure continues and will no doubt have much more to offer in the days ahead...