So, I realize this isn't a retreat, exactly - and yet, as I was preparing, I found myself treating it as one, somewhat. I found myself asking, for each item I listed, why I was carrying this thousands of miles across the sea, and whether I really thought I would need it.
And of course, all of that measured thought went right out the window, when I was still packing at 1:00 in the morning and had to be on a bus to a plane by 1:30 p.m.
So I arrived to discover (eventually) that I'd packed the charger for my Bluetooth headset (but not the headset), and had not packed the charger for the phone - which is now down to a single stripe. The fancy Kensington converter/adapter didn't work, and consequently I'm having to ask people to plug my Zen in overnight to charge it. I brought something like five or six skirts, and one pair of pants (two, if you count the ones I wore on the plane). I pitched out the clocks; why would I need clocks - we'll be in hotels! Right - except that here in Prague is the first time on this tour my room has had a clock in it. (Which ties in to the phone situation, since I've been using the phone for an alarm clock...)
On the other hand, I carefully brought bubble bath, assuming that with all this walking, I would be wanting a long, hot soak at the end of each day. And in fact, I was correct - but damned if I could get one, because neither of our first two hotels had bathtubs. I carefully dragged along two New Yorker issues to catch up on, plus a 900+ page book. I'm about halfway through the first of the New Yorkers; I haven't touched the book. I packed enough yarn for two scarves, and it looks like I'll probably finish one and maybe start the other by the time we go home.
It's been such a joy, such an eye-opening experience. I honestly can't begin to try to write it all down. The wonder of sharing the fellowship we have, the collegiality of the group, the beauty of the music and the extraordinarily positive response we've had so far...learning to count how much money we have in the Czech Republic by figuring out how many beers we can buy...climbing the castle tower at Cesky Krumlov (that deserves a post entirely of its own)...
I realized this afternoon, as we reach the halfway point of our journey, that a week from now I will be back in the office, and I will be so achingly lonely for this great company of fellow pilgrims. For now, I think I'll go have a soak and recover from the walking tour of Prague - because finally here in Prague, I have a bathtub!
5 comments:
Have a wonderful soak, my dear! I'm glad you are having a great trip! I look forward to hearing all about it when you come home!
Oh, I did! Of course, I then almost managed to drown myself taking a shower - handheld mounted too low to stand under, so had to wash my hair with the handheld. Scary, scary thing.
Do check out www.scholaonhudson.blogspot.com, for the Official Tour Blog.
Goodness, but our technology does need so much tending. I can barely remember to keep things charged up at home. My cell phone was meeping sadly at me this afternoon to tell me it had held on as long as it could. There's little to no signal in my office, so I think it exhausts itself trying to connect.
Tried to pick you out of the crowd in the Danube boat tour picture on the official blog. I amused myself and Kevin by announcing (while I was home with a cold, traveling from bedroom to living room and no farther) with your European adventures. Very glad that if one of us had to have a cold this week, it was me and not you.
Forgive me, but one of those sentences above makes no sense.
I think (I'm guessing) that you meant to say that you amused yourself and Kevin by announcing that you were traveling with us, when in reality you were traveling only as far as the living room. That's exactly the way the game is played, for those playing along at home.
And believe me, you were all with me - you, and Cedar and Fred and Craig and Robb and Douglas and Dad...that moment in the cathedral when I could feel the whole communion of saints, past and present and to come, all gathered in that one awesome moment...trust me. You were all there.
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