In Celebration of Pope Leo XIV

Happy Birthday Pope Leo XIV!

It's a particularly special milestone as he reaches 70.

This occasion reminds us of how it's a remarkable time in the history of the Roman Catholic Church with the first US-born Pope.

In the time between the passing of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV was my final class of the 2024-25 RE year.  Typically, at the start of class, during our opening prayer time, we would pray for the Pope, who had been Francis ever since I started teaching.

At this class, I began acknowledging the vacancy. One student asked me who I thought the next Pope would be.  I wasn't too familiar with the top contenders, and I responded by saying, "I think God is going to give us a surprise", based on the surprises that had come for the past few Popes.

Then came the day the white smoke appeared, which was right around my lunch break at work.  It was stirring to watch the announcement from the loggia, and similar to the election of Pope Francis, I wasn't able to catch the name immediately.  But others sure did, and soon the excitement ensued as we met Pope Leo XIV.

I was profoundly struck by his first words of introduction: "La pace sia con tutti voi!" That phrase is Itlian for "Peace be with you all!"  As he then related, those were the first words of the Risen Christ to the disciples.  Seeing as how we were in the middle of the Easter Season 2025, I was amazed to hear such a statement that connects with the liturgical season at hand.  Furthermore, the life of the Risen Christ is present in the Church and we live that life in this world.

When I heard he selected the name Leo, I thought about Leo XIII.  St. Mother Katharine Drexel had an audience with him and asked him to provide missionaries to serve Native Americans and African-Americans, and he told her to be the missionary.  One of the missions she founded was St. Augustine Mission in Nebraska, where I spent a week of service.

As for his part in the Augustinian order, I think about Confessions, and St. Augustine's powerful line of how we're made for God, and we are only at rest when we rest in Him.  This idea of restlessness, based on what I've heard from Father Tom McCarthy, is that we're constantly striving for God and seeking to realize Him in the circumstances of our world and our lives.

Pope Leo XIII addressed issues related to labor during his papacy.  So far in his papacy, Pope Leo XIV has done so much to address issues of our day, like AI.  He's also given great messages in his homilies to ecnourage the faithful to answer the call to holiness in their lives, especially at the Concluding Mass of the Jubilee of Youth and the Canonization Mass for Saints Piergiorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis.

What surfaced quickly with his election was how astounding it was that he was the first person born in the USA to be elected Pope.  There was a wide consensus that someone from the US wouldn't be elected Pope because of how prominent the USA is in world affairs.  However, Pope Leo XIV, while born in the USA, served for many years in South America, and I think that gave him a broad perspective to have lived on both continents before getting a position at the Vatican.

Furthermore, he has a broad perspective from being born in Chicago, at the crossroads of the USA.  Chicago is in the central part of the USA, with many people and goods passing through the area.  We experience a variety of weather here in the range of four seasons.  From this area, Robert Prevost would go on to serve the church in so many ways, in South America, in his function as an Augustinian priest and then a bishop.  Then, he would go to serve at the Vatican, and surely he got to know the breadth of the worldwide Church from serving in his position as the Dicastery of Bishops.  In the wake of his election, many noted that serving in this role helped him to become so well known in the leadership of the church.  So, yes, he was born in the USA, but also has a wealth of other experience throughout the Americas that I feel has made him suited to shepherd the whole Church.  

At first, I wasn't sure how to take in the reality that someone born in Chicago was elected Pope.  For me, it sank in more deeply when I attended a special celebration held at Guaranteed Rate Field on June 14 hosted by the Archdiocese of Chicago.  There were people who spoke who had known Pope Leo XIV and testified about who he is as a person.  It was also a great time of celebration with so much wonderful music, both in the program during the first part of the event, and then during Mass, which happened later.  I enjoyed the performance of the Leo High School Choir, and I've listened to their performance at the event numerous times.  Especially memorable was being present for his first message broadcast to a US audience.  As a seasoned catechist, I was glad to hear him offer a message especially for young people, with words that are encouraging to all of us, as he spoke about going within to sense God's presence within us.

I am so excited that I was able to attend, and be part of celebrating a famous son of the Archdiocese of Chicago.  It happened on the weekend of Trinity Sunday, and it was a great time to celebrate who we are as as a people and make known the reality of the mystery of the Trinity in our relationships with each other in the Church community, even as broad as the Archdiocese of Chicago and the whole Church universal.  Being at a sports stadium, reminded me of attending sessions of the National Eucharistic Congress inside Lucas Oil Stadium, as I remarked to Sarah Tafoya of Relevant Radio when I saw her.  Indeed, it's amazing the first US-born people was born right in Chicago and grew up in the southern suburbs.

To celebrate his birthday, I went to visit some places associated with him.  First, I went to 10:30 Mass at Christ our Savior Parish in South Holland, the successor parish of his home parish.  I was glad that we sang Happy Birthday for him at the end of Mass, and it sounded so grand on the organ.  

Next, I drove to Homewood to eat at Aurelio's Pizza, which is his favorite pizza.  I even got to sit in the Pope's Chair in the restaurant.

I thank my server Joe for photographing me at the table with my pizza and then in the "Pope's chair".

Following lunch, I drove to his childhood home in Dolton.  There had been earlier in the day, unbeknowsted to me, a birthday celebration for him, and balloons were still present.  Lastly, I went to see St. Mary's Church, his home parish.  Hopefully the building can be renovated and opened again for people to visit.

A family stopped by to visit the home, and after I took their photo, their daughter took mine.

I've passed by that area numerous times, including visits to Valparaiso.  It was special to pull of I-94 and go in-depth to experience these suburbs, to gain better insight into someone who was one of us, and built immensely upon his Chicagoland roots into a great bloom that reached all the way to the Vatican, that the world may be blessed.

Getting Closer to Confirmation 20 Years Ago

On this evening 20 years ago, I was in the Pine Room at Ascension School for the final meeting that would occur there before the day of Confirmation, which was 1 month and 1 day away.  As Confirmation was approaching soon, sponsors were asked to attend. So my Uncle Bernie was present with me, as I had chosen him as my sponsor.

During this meeting, we focused specifically on Confirmation.  Mrs. Ondrla explained the history of Confirmation.  At one point many centuries ago, to be confirmed, people would stand on the side of a road as a Bishop strolled by on horseback with his arms outstretched to bestow the sacrament.  At another point in history, to emphasize that Confirmation meant becoming a Christian soldier, the candidates would get a slap from the Bishop.

At this point, as I draw nearet to to celebrating the 20th anniversary of my Confirmation, I find it fitting to consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church on what Confirmation is.  This sacrament completes the baptismal grace by granting us an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and 7 Gifts so we are equipped to uphold and defend the faith.  Becuase Confirmation happens in adolescence, some regard it as a ritual in which young people become adults in the church.  Confirmation is the sacrament of Christian maturity, but what I've come to understand in recent years is that it completes our initiation by sealing us with the Holy Spirit and the 7 gifts.

Furthermore, we were taking our part in the greater community of the Church.  So it was fitting at this point, about a month away from Confirmation, that we attended a meeting with our sponsors.  Truly, as confirmed Roman Catholics, we make this profession of faith and are initiated fully into the Church, each of us called to contribute our part to edifying the Body of Christ while confessing our faith. In the spirit of today's Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we confess the name of Jesus Christ, Who submitted obediently to the Father's plan to make possible our salvation and live the experience of Eternal Life even now through the power of the Holy Spirit.

At one point during the meeting, Father Larry offered a few remarks.  Then, as best as I can remember, he asked if anyone had any questions.  When no one raised a hand, he quipped that he could have Bishop Kane come right away to confirm us becuase we were ready.

While I had gained much knowledge, something important would happen before Confirmation, which I will reflect on in a subsequent post.

Walking and Vacationing on Sunshine

September 9, 2025, marks 175 years since California became a state.  With that celebration in mind, I was eager to travel once again to the Golden State and spend time with my great college friends, Tyler and Roy.  In their company, I knew it would be a jolly time, like walking on sunshine in soaking up SoCal vibes in all their varied array.

Wednesday, July 9

It was sunny after a brief shower in Oak Park in the afternoon when I departed my homebase around 1:25 PM CDT.  I got in the car of fellow parishioner Brian and he drove me to Chicago Union Station.  I arrived a few minutes before 2 PM.  Soon afterward, the boarding call came for train #3, the westbound Southwest Chief.  I got in a snaking line in the boarding area, and then got to my seat onboard.  By Amtrak's clock, the train departed right on time at 2:25 PM CDT, although it was something like 2:24:45 PM on my mobile device's clock.

I posed by the Southwest Chief imagery in the corridor leading from the Clinton Street entrance before boarding. I thank the passerby who stopped to photograph me.

(Please note that the vast majority of my vacation was in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) from Friday until Monday.  Times on those days are PDT.  During my days of train travel, times are specified by time zone.)

I immediately began enjoying the scenes out the window as the Chicago skyline appeared behind us as we headed into the Lower West Side, and then into the western suburbs with elegant downtown areas along the tracks, including places where I enjoy biking such as Riverside and Western Springs.  Then the Chicago Metro Area gave way to the farm fields with plenty of soy and corn.

Here's the Chicago skyline as the train headed south out of Union Station.

Crossing the Des Plaines River at Riverside

Above and below are farm fields

Around 5 PM, the train exited Illinois and crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa and quickly reached the Fort Madison station stop, which was the first opportunity to step off for fresh air for a few minutes.  Within the hour, the train crossed the Des Moines River and entered Missouri.  As nightfall advanced, I marveled at the moonrise.  

To the center left is the bridge the train used to cross the Mississippi River

View of the Mississippi River from the Iowa side looking over to Illinois in the background

Crossing the Des Moines River from Iowa (on the right) to Missouri (on the left)

Sunset in Missouri

Above and below are views of the moonrise over Missouri

The train reached the Kansas City station by 10 PM.  While on the platform for another fresh air stop, I had a great view of the nearly full moon.

The full moon appears near the center of this photo of the Kansas City skyline.

Thursday, July 10

I awoke around 6 AM CDT, past Garden City.  Around this time, I began enjoying the sunrise--please see photo below.  

Within the hour, we entered the Mountain Time Zone in Hamilton County, KS, and then we entered Colorado, marked by a Welcome to Colorful Colorado sign along US 50 that paralled the tracks at a distance.

The train arrived at La Junta shortly after 7 AM MDT, and we had another fresh air stop, which was a great chance for me to step out into Colorado.  As the train continued its journey, the mountains rose up in the distance, and then we traveled through the mountains.

Shortly after entering New Mexico, we entered the Raton Tunnel.  Then came another fresh air stop at Raton, where the Scout groups departed.  Continuing along, we passed through mountain highlands with red rocks and also wide open plains.

The eastbound train passing the westbound train

Around 5 PM, we reached Albuquerque, which was a servicing stop.  I had plenty of time to walk a block to the Silver Street Market and get dinner and other groceries.  We were in the thick of desert summer heat, with a temperature display on a building that registered 100--please see photo below.

View from the platform

For dinner, I got chicken tenders with mashed potatoes, and a squash medley, along with fresh-cut watermelon and a piece of Tres Leches cake--please see photos below.  

I enjoyed dinner in the lounge car as the train turned west and traveled through desert with cliff rock formations, paralleling I-40 and Historic Route 66, which put me in the mood to watch cars.  

Crossing over I-40

I stepped off for fresh air at Gallup as the sun was setting--please see photo below. 

Here's the sunset at Gallup, with the last car of the train appearing to the left.

A short while later, we entered Arizona.  Upon reaching Flagstaff around 10 PM MST, I stepped off for fresh air again, and then made my way to the lounge car to go asleep.  

Looking north on San Francisco Street, near the Flagstaff Amtrak station

Here's the full moon over the last car of the train.

Friday, July 11

I woke up to celebrate entering the Golden Gate of California at the Colorado River in the wee hours.

A little while later after the stop at Needles, I watched the sunrise over the Mojave Desert.  At Barstow, we had a brief fresh air stop around 5:45 AM PDT.  I stepped off the train, along with another passenger who was from Japan and riding the train across the US for the first time.

At the Barstow train station

The view from the train past the Barstow station

The sun got higher and brighter as we approached Los Angeles.  The train arrived at Los Angeles Union Station at about 9:30 AM.  

I saw this view of the skyline of Los Angeles as the train nears Los Angeles Union Station.

A fellow passenger photographed me on the platform at Los Angeles Union Station to mark the conclusion of another long-haul through ride for me on the entirety of the Southwest Chief route.

As I walked toward the Alameda Street exit, I saw a piano that was open and available for anyone to play. I sat down and reached down into my memory to play "America, the Beautiful" as best as I could.

Next, I went to visit Los Angeles City Hall, which has an observatory deck at the 26th floor with fantastic views of Los Angeles and the surrounding area.  

Los Angeles City Hall

Looking northwesterly along the Grand Park promenade

Here's the view looking southwesterly.  Near the foreground toward the right is the Los Angeles Times Building.

The east-northeasterly view includes Union Station toward the left.

Reception Hall

A fellow visitor photographed me with a view toward the northeast behind me.

Down on floor 3, there was a special display for the Olympics, past and future, in Los Angeles--please see photo below.

After my visit, I stumbled upon the Olvera Street shopping area.  Subsequently, I attended 12:10 Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.  After Mass, I got a quick lunch of two tacos at the Cathedral's Cafe Galero.  I lingered there for a while.

Then I walked to the Historic Broadway Station to board the A Line train, which was about an hourlong ride to Long Beach.   Tyler picked me up there and we went to walk along the beach.  (I also got some more stamps ahead of the impending price increase.)

By 6:30, we were at a nearby parish for a young adult faith formation evening with a group Tyler recently connected with.

We were at his apartment complex by 10 PM, and we walked from there a short distance to 7-11 for me to pick up groceries and enjoy a Slurpee for 7-11 day.

Saturday, July 12

I was awake a little bit after 7 AM.  I went on a short walk to nearby St. Mary of the Sea Parish for 8 AM Mass for the Feast of Saints Louis and Zelie Martin, whose story resonates with me.  After Mass, I had a light breakfast.  Then I enjoyed recreation time, riding for a few minutes on Tyler's bike along the trail near the beach, and then I went into the Pacific Ocean waters for a few minutes.

Shortly after 10 AM, Tyler and I headed to downtown Los Angeles.  We met up with Roy and started ambling around in Little Tokyo.  First, we went to the Asuza Street Prayer Tower, which continues to support the efforts of the early 20th Century Revival that occurred there.  

Then we had lunch at Kouraku, the oldest Ramen restaurant in the US still in operation.  Interestingly, it brought meals to customers using a cat robot, though mine came to me from a person server.

Exterior of Kouraku

The robot server

Here's our table with our meals--mine is toward the right, fried rice.

Once we finished lunch, we strolled leisurely through the nearby Japanese Village Plaza Mall, browsing shops, like a place that had shelves filled with cassette tapes and even sold an 8-track tape.  We also stopped at a couple of sweet shops, including Vita Cane, which sold drinks made from freshly squeezed sugar cane.

Above and below are scenes of the Japanese Village Plaza Mall.

Shelves with casettes

Inside Vita Cane is the machine that turns the sugar cane into juice.

Here I am posing with my Vita Cane sugar cane juice drink with the Japanese-style bell tower behind me.  I'm fairly certain Roy photographed me here.

Then we walked back to where Tyler had parked his car and headed in a westerly direction to the Getty Center.  We spent about 2-3 hours there admiring the amazing views from its hilltop-like perch and goign inside the galleries to view the incredible collections of artwork.

There's a tram that travels from the parking area to the museum at the Getty Center.

Roy photographed Tyler and me with the Los Angeles skyline behind us.

Here's the view of I-405 as the tram descends from the museum to the parking area.

By 6:30, we began making our way to San Jacinto.  We stopped for dinner at In-N-Out, a classic California chain. I got a burger with fries and a vanilla milkshake.  At just about 10:36, we arrived at the Miller home in San Jacinto.

Our In-N-Out meals.

Roy photographed me as I prepare to eagerly bit into my first In-N-Out burger.

Sunday, July 13

The next morning, Roy, Tyler, and I departed shortly after 7:30 for the Miller family church, BreakThrough Church in Moreno Valley for the 8:00 gathering.  I was glad to be there this morning, as I recognized the church from Rogenique and Roy's wedding.  The gathering began with worship music, and then Bishop Charles preached a sermon.

Exterior of the church building

Inside the worship space

Afterwards, we went to Riverside to attend 10:30 Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Right after Mass, we had tacos from a stand set up on the grounds of the church.  

Exterior of the Shrine church

Inside the sanctuary

Taco lunch

Roy photographed me outside the church.

Then we went shopping at two different grocery stores, Superior in Moreno Valley and Vallarta in Hemet.

We then returned to the Miller home to drop off the groceries.  While Roy got busy cooking a feast, Tyler and I went to Perris to visit the Southern California Railway Museum, which had a variety of railcar equipment on display.

Inside the shed on the left were many public transit vehicles from decades ago, like the vehicle shown directly below.

We were back at the Miller home shortly before 5 PM.  I spent time with Mom and Dad via videocall, and then brought out my computer for them to greet the Millers.

Around 6 PM, the feast was ready, with taco meat, fish, shrimp, rice, beans, and other sides.  I enjoyed making surf-and-turf tacos.  Rogenique's sisters came, and her brother-in-law.

Later, I went out for a walk in the neighborhood in the warm evening.  When I returned, I visited with Tyler, Roy, and Rogenique.

Monday, July 14

I awoke shortly before 8 AM.  After prayer time, I caught part of the Loopcast, which I enjoy listening to regularly.  Then I had breakfast, read spiritually, and walked around the neighborhood in the bright morning sunshine.

By 12 noon, Tyler, Roy, and I were on the way in the Rogenique-mobile to sightsee.  We looked at the historic depot in Hemet before getting lunch at the nearby Downtown Deli. I got a turkey wrap with a passion fruit drink.  Then we wandered around the block before going a short distance north to visit the San Jacinto Public Library.  After our visit there, we wandered around downtown San Jacinto.  Then we made a brief stop by St. Anthony Roman Catholic Parish.

Subsequently, we went to the Maze Rock, which is a rock preserved with ancient petroglyphs.  It was a nice short walk from where we parked through a nature area to see the rock.

The path

Here's the rock, with the artwork appearing toward the right side of the rock, opposite where the dark plaque is.

We were back at the Miller home around 4 PM, and we had leftovers from yesterday's feast for dinner.  Then we got in Tyler's car and we headed to the San Bernardino train station.  On the way there, I was on the lookout for a roadside produce stand, and I was delighted when I saw one where I could buy fresh California oranges to take back with me.

When we got to Redlands, we ambled around in the Gerrard's Grocery Store.  After a quick stop nearby at the A.K. Smiley Library, Lincoln memorial, and post office, we headed to the San Bernardino train station.  The eastbound Southwest Chief was slightly delayed, which gave me further opportunity to bring closure to a wonderful California stay with my friends.  At 7:18 PM, the train arrived.

As the train headed north toward Victorville, I saw amazing views of the sunset over the arid landscape headed toward the Mojave Desert.  

I lingered in the observatory/lounge car for some time, with a group of teenage volleyball players livening the atmosphere as they made their way to a tournament.

By the time we reached Barstow, it was dark, but befitting its desert location and the date in July, it was in the 90s when I stepped off for fresh air and one final time to walk on California ground.

Near 12 AM midnight PDT, the train stopped at Needles, and within the hour, had crossed east over the Colorado River into Arizona, and I bid farewell to California.

Tuesday, July 15

I got up to get fresh air on teh platform during the stop at Flagstaff, around 4 AM MST, at which point the volleyball team departed the train.  As the train journeyed east of Winslow, an amazing sunrise emerged over the desert landscape, which was in the vicinity of Petrified Forest National Park.

Sunrise over the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, AZ

At Gallup, NM, shortly after 8 AM MDT, I stepped off for fresh air and to bask in the morning sunshine.

When the train reached Albuquerque around 11 AM MDT, I got off and headed to the Silver Street Market for lunch and other groceries.  I got beef and beef burritos for my lunch. It was very warm, but not yet hot outside.

I enjoyed my lunch as the train traveled through the arid landscape of northern New Mexico. It got much quieter, as many passengers had left by the time we reached Albuquerque.  At Lamy, we had the chance for a brief fresh air stop.  When the train arrived at Raton, a huge Scouts group of nearly 120, boarded, and the atmosphere got even more lively.

Soon after the train left Raton, I went to the observatory car to eat my dinner, and struck up conversation with some of the scout leaders. I lingered there a while, enjoying the views as the train traveled through Colorado, first winding among the mountains near I-25 and then into the high plains past Trinidad.  There were some great sky views with clouds and the sunset.  Much of the daylight had diminished by the time we reached La Junta, which was another fresh air stop.

Soon after the train entered Kansas, we entered the Central Time Zone, and as it was close to 11 PM, I went to sleep.

Wednesday, July 16

I awoke around 6 AM as the sunrise was in its early stage over the fields of eastern Kansas.  Shortly after 7:30, I went to the dining car to treat myself to breakfast:  I had Railroad French toast with berries and cream, along with milk.

In Kansas City, around 9 AM, I stepped off the train for a few minutes for fresh air.  Then I staked out a spot in the observatory car and waited a while to get great views of the Missouri River when the train crossed it east of Kansas City.

I stepped off for fresh air again at Fort Madison, IA, and took in the splendid views of the Mississippi River and Illinois on the other side.

Just west of Princeton, the train stopped in a holding pattern for over an hour because inclement weather in Chicagoland meant all train traffic had to stick to one track.  

The stormy weather had passed by the time we reached Chicagoland.  I enjoyed sharing the views of places familiar to me with the person seated next to me as we passed through the suburbs and into Chicago.  Our arrival at Chicago Union Station came just after 7 PM.

Matt was waiting outside the station to pick me up and bring me back to Oak Park.  Upon reaching homebase, the moment I had been waiting for arrived when I opened one of those bags of oranges and handed one to Matt, the first of several people back home who got a share in the oranges.

A few days before I departed for this trip was the celebration of US Independence.  The following weekend, someone asked me about my celebration and I said it was patriotic and I looked forward to following up on it by traveling across the country to California.

The United States of America encompasses a vast breadth of landforms, people, and cultures.  I left the driving to others for a week and I could soak it all in, starting with the train ride, watching the progression of landscapes from farm fields to the Plains to the Rockies to the Southwest deserts.

After such a scenic journey, reaching California felt glamorous because the progress of my journey led to the place with quite a reputation as a vacation spot.  It's amazing how much even just Southern California encompasses.  It was a highlight to take in views of the Los Angeles Metro Area from the top of Los Angeles City Hall and the Getty Center.  Down at street level, I enjoyed ambling around in Little Tokyo, a great example of a vibrant ethnic neighborhood in the heart of a great American city.

Then I got to see a side of California that's away from the hustle and bustle in the Inland Empire as I ambled around Hemet, Riverside, and San Jacinto with Roy and Tyler.  I was intrigued to see cow farms and corn fields in southern California, much like is commonplace in the central US.  Even more so, I could experience SoCal through my friends who live there by spending time at their homes.  It really dawned on me as I walked around in the neighborhood of the Miller home on Sunday evening.  Roy and Rogenique acquired their home just after my first SoCal visit, and this was my first time going there, which made this trip special, not to mention my first time meeting their daughter Rhema.

Indeed, there was a touch of glamor to this vacation.  Just days before departing, when I watched the Capitol Fourth concert, I was taken by the song "Walking on sunshine" and it's a fitting song as I reflect on this trip.  There was plenty of physical sunshine from the moment the sun rose over the Mojave Desert.  Then came the sunshine of all I got to see.  And certainly there was sunshine in the joy of  spending time with my friends in their communities.  I give thanks for how I continue to be connected with them as the years continue and their lives expand, like with Roy's growing family.

Indeed, I expanded my SoCal experience from previous visits, even as I revisit what's so enjoyable.  The first time I was in SoCal 5 years ago, I stopped at a roadside produce stand to buy real California oranges.  For this trip, I was eager to get my hands on more of those oranges.  After eating this latest batch, I've become more convinced they're the best oranges on Earth.  It even reminds me of a line from an episode of I Love Lucy, when Fred gets the idea of buying an orange grove in Pomona.  When Lucy and Ricky counter he doesn't know anything about growing oranges, without missing a beat, he says, "The oranges know what to do."

Even if returning home was wistful, I was so glad those oranges provided something for me to look forward to, not to mention the train journey and writing this blog post.  It was special to see family, friends, neighbors, and parishioners in the days after my return and offer them a gift from the 10 pounds of oranges, to spread that sunshine and marvel at all that comes forth from the land of the USA.

While waiting for the eastbound Southwest Chief to arrive at San Bernardino, I posed with my two 5-pound bags of real California oranges.  So far as I can remember, Tyler photographed me in this pose.

As we walked out of Gerrard's in Redlands, I asked a woman to get a photo to encapsulate Amigos para Siempre/Friends for Life.  So here I am with Roy, center, and Tyler, right.