Almost Ready to Leave


 Dear Friends,

Chris and I are preparing for our first travel since Covid cancelled plans for what we had imagined was to be Chris's final and celebratory 2020 lecture tour (this one of the Turkish coast). In fact we had two Turkish tours planned back to back because so many people wanted to go on this final tour. Chris has really missed travel to Europe in the last two years, and we are setting out with both excitement and an awareness of profound uncertainty, not only because of the new subvariant of omicron surging in western Europe, not only because of the uncertainties introduced by the tragic war in the Ukraine and the flood of refugees, but also because these past years have taught us how uncertain our lives really are. They have shattered our illusion that we can ever have a clear view forward toward the horizon of the future.

So, to travel, to plan travel at all, feels like an act of courage, foolishness and trust. I love that we depart Orcas on April Fool's Day. I keep picturing the tarot card of the fool happily strolling forward toward the edge of a cliff, into the unknown.


We will begin our adventure in Ireland, where Chris will present at the Jung in Ireland gathering, then spend a few days in Dublin. From there, Chris will go to Cologne, Germany, to visit our friends Sabine and Agnes, and I will head for Helsinki, Finland, to visit my friend Chris Senn. I will rejoin Chris in Cologne and we will head for Crete, then Venice, then Klobenstein, a small village in the Dolomites in northern Italy.

We hope you will be able join us in our travels in imagination if you wish. I don't expect to blog daily but hope to post at least once for each country. 

Comments

Linda Ellsworth said…
Looking forward to traveling vicariously with you!
Dear River and Chris #1. This journey you soon embark on sound so fun. During your time in Finland, River, I am looking forward to taking you to Mc Donal's every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Oh, wait! There is no McDonald's in my part of Finland! Oh well, fasting can be fun. Love. Chris #2

Unknown said…
Really looking forward to following your journey! Thank you for sharing the adventure! Enjoy!
River Malcolm said…
Listen up Cookie Mobster. I ain’t comin all the way to Helsinki just to see a few lousy churches. I’m planning on Big Macs for breakfast lunch dinner and midnight snacks. Got the picture?
joannie said…
dear friends, you've expressed perfectly how it feels to set off on an adventure to europe during these challenging times. a toast to trust and courage required, and a toast to grace. may "crossing the pond" go smoothly. i will happily see you in killarney at the jung conference. i'm in ireland now for the first week of that conference, spending time w/ the monks at glenstal abbey. it will be so very good to see you both after much too long. love, joannie
Nancy said…
Hooray for a Chris and River travel blog. Your Fool tarot card picture inspired me to write this this morning:

The Fool
For River and Chris March 30, 2022

Oh, the fool wanders on the cliffside
The fool has a little dog
The fool’s not looking where he’s going
He holds his white rose
Soaked in the sunshine

Oh why don’t he worry ‘bout the cliffside
How will he feed that little dog
Oh, why won’t he look where he is going
Not hold that white rose
Soaked in the sunshine

Doesn’t he know he is mortal
Doesn’t he see he can bleed
Doesn’t he care that his little dog
Is in as much danger as he is
Every rose has it’s thorn
And every sun, every sun can burn

Oh when will I wander the cliffside
Where will I take my little dog
I will look where I am going
I’ll hold my white rose
Soak in the sunshine
River Malcolm said…
Now I want to hear you singing it, Nancy!
Rochelle said…
Looking forward to following in your footsteps. Know McDonald's is a good place for a bathroom break not food. But Starbucks has both clean restrooms and egg bites!
Unknown said…
Safe travels and that's no April Fools joke!
Unknown said…
I'm glad you are getting the chance for this adventure. It sounds wonderful and I'll keep up through your blog. Just FYI, I'm headed to Italy from May 11-26 with two friends. It has been 5 years since I went to Florence, but this time we'll be going to Naples, Rome, Florence, and Venice with a number of side trips to Cinque Terra, Sienna, etc. I'm excited to be back out there. Bon voyage to you and Chris.
Unknown said…
By the way, this is Sharon (Cummins, in case there are several Sharons in your blog pool). I didn't realize I would show as Unknown. And although you love games like Wordle, I wasn't trying to give you a puzzle in which you had to search your memory banks for who would have gone to Florence 5 years ago!
River Malcolm said…
Can’t wait to see you in Ireland Joanie!
River Malcolm said…
I am so happy to know you are heading for Italy soon. Love you Sharon.
River Malcolm said…
Love to imagine you coming along!

Popular posts from this blog

The Way of the Cross

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors