My Grandparents, Living Fully

The second Sunday of September is a worthy celebration of Grandparents' Day.

I have numerous memories of my grandparents, and on this occasion, I think about one particular memory for each.

In the wake of my maternal Grandma Dottie's passing last May, I recognize how strong her faith was, especially on what was literally a dark and stormy night.  I was in the midst of an overnight visit one summer, likely sometime when I was in high school.  Following dinner in the Savoy Room at her residence, Lexington Square in Lombard, I was in the Hyde Park Room participating in Wii Bowling.  A staff person came in and instructed everyone to return to their apartments because of a tornado warning.  I was spooked because of the lack of details, which my Grandma Dottie acknowledged.  

Yet as we returned to her apartment, and as the stormy conditions continued, Grandma Dottie, aware of the potential danger of the storm, kept calmly stating that if this night was her time, she was ready to go.  She had strong confidence that she was bound for Heaven, because of her deep grasp of faith.  (She was also quick to tell someone who called her to get off the phone because it wasn't safe to talk on a phone in a thunderstorm.  As God would have it, that night was not her time to depart her earthly life.  I knew I would think back on that night when her time came.  In the immediate hours after I learned of her passing, I called a few friends to share the news, and I shared that story with one of them.

Grandpa Martin, husband of Grandma Dottie, passed away almost 20 years ago.  He was the one person I knew really well who was a veteran.  I called him on Veterans' Day regularly each year.  He was often sitting in a room in their house in Wheaton near a telephone, and he typically was the first to answer when it rang.  He had such an elegant demeanor when he answered and offered a greeting, like "Good morning", or "Good afternoon."

My paternal Grandpa Jose owned a tavern for many years.  He learned jokes from the patrons, including one particular one about "brains".  It was a sort of inside joke between the two of us about "brains".  I can still picture him sitting in a chair in the living room, turning red from laughing so hard at a joke.

His wife, my Grandma Vel, is a very cultured person.  She enjoys attending mariachi performances, particularly Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitan.  Back in October 2015, we booked tickets to a performance at Orchestra Hall.  We made our way to downtown Chicago and through throngs of people in the afternoon following the annual Chicago Marathon.  Upon arriving at Orchestra Hall, we found out that the Mariachis were unable to get to Chicago because of something related to their flight itinerary, so their performance was rescheduled.  Grandma recognized she would be unable to attend the new date.  As we walked back to Union Station, she kept repeating over and over this comment Jimmy Carter had recently made about his cancer diagnosis, about taking the vicissitudes of life in stride.  She was sporting such a good attitude about the situation, I actually got fooled into thinking she had no problem with the sudden change in circumstances.  It was only later that I found out from her that she regarded the situation as a "disappointment".  Fortunately, we booked tickets a year later for the group's concert.  And I was amazed to see how immensely she enjoyed the performance in such a genuine way.

These memories, among others, speak to me about how my grandparents have all strived in their own way to live fully, which has been a blessing to me. Thanks be to God!

Two Becoming One

It was a great day 40 years ago today when my parents married.  They came together in love and so much has flowed forth from it throughout those years, including so much of what I've experienced in life.

During the past few months, I have reminisced constantly on memories of summer vacations, which was a custom that we enjoyed as a family while I was growing up.  In my reminiscing, I notice that my Mom was the brains behind those trips.  She has a keen ability to come up with great trip ideas and plan something wonderful.  I think about how my Dad was really good regarding the logistics for those trips, especially since he did so much of the driving, whether it was a road trip from Chicagoland, or from a spot where we rented a car.  Indeed, we had a great quality of time together on those trips, sharing scenic views, meals, relaxation, and visits to special sites like museums, historical sites, and then some.

Those trips are one great reason their marriage is something to celebrate, especially today.  They joined themselves together in a union, and put together their talents and unique abilities to make something remarkable.  All the memories that were created, even as I experienced them, speak to how they both put a special touch on what we enjoyed together as a family, contributing their unique parts, as they poured forth their love to make it something even greater in the life we have as a family.

Blessed be God!

A New Beginning 20 Years Ago

I was part of something momentous 20 years ago today, on Tuesday, September 3, 2002:  I started my first day of 6th grade at Percy Julian Middle School, making history along with all my 6th grade classmates as the first group of students to start at Julian in 6th grade, bound to be there for three years for grades 6-8.  And 3/4 mile west on Washington Boulevard, our counterparts made history doing the same at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School.

Throughout that school year of 2002-2003, I heard people refer to us 6th graders as "guinea pigs", because we were the ones who were part of a new effort that District 97 was launching.  Of course, the unique part about starting at Julian was not only that it was new for the 6th grade students, but also for many of our teachers, who were embarking on a new stage in their careers moving from the elementary schools to working at the brand new middle school buildings.  (At one point after 6th grade, and likely even after graduating middle school, I went back to visit some of my 6th grade teachers, who remarked that they had gotten a new start there at the same time we students did.)

As the first day of 6th grade approached, I knew that I would be part of something momentous as Oak Park District 97 debuted two brand new middle school buildings, which would accommodate 6th-8th graders, blazing teh trail for the middle school experience that hundreds of students would have in the subsequent years.  Yet what I didn't fully realize on that first day of 6th grade was that it was a new beginning not only for the building, but also very profoundly for me, starting a powerful personal transformation, and it became apparent to me by the end of 6th grade that something enormously significant had happened.

As I reflect on middle school, I realize that many aspects of the experience tapped into my reflective nature.

I marvel at thinking that just by virtue of when I was born, I happened to be part of the group that would be first to attend 6th grade at the new middle school.  It's quite an honor, in some respects, for a group of 11-year-olds to have, adding upon what would otherwise be a typical first day of middle school.

I truly became who I am today because of the very particular set of circumstances that converged in my middle school experience, and if one puzzle piece had been out of place, it all would have been different for me.  Among the factors were starting at the time the new middle school was built, being the second of two sons (which gave me a different experience than my older brother had), and coming to middle school in the wake of September 11, a time that caused us to think a lot more intensely about who we are as Americans.  

Leaving my part of southern Oak Park to interact with others from all over the village was a chance to experience the diversity that is a hallmark of Oak Park.  That was reinforced in many ways, one of which was a unique elective class I had called Arts and Culture.  It was a yearlong class, during which we explored the arts and culture of different countries: the United States, Mexico, South Africa, and Japan.  It was a wonderful way to learn about these different cultures and get hands on by doing artwork related to those cultures.  It was a type of learning that was enriching.

My learning went beyond the classroom to participate in academic competitions, which I did more so in middle school than in elementary school. Beyond just the idea of competing for a prized place was the chance to take academics and engage with it in a more enhanced way, while enjoying it, so that I could feel like I was doing something beyond just studying.  I think about how the National Geography Bee was a way to engage with knowledge of the world in a richer way, beyond just the facts.

Furthermore, in the environment of middle school, I reflected much on who I am through learning about others as I was meeting so many new people.  Among my new friends and classmates, I met many Jewish people who talked openly about their culture.  My 6th grade language arts and math teacher, Mr. Brachman, talked very openly about being Jewish.

I also think about a conversation that my teacher Ms. Kelleher initiated during the opening minutes of our Career Modular Technology elective class one day.  She mentioned that she had recently been at the christening of someone in her family.  She then asked the Jewish students if they had any similar rite in their religion.  At one point, she wanted to steer attention back to focusing on our conservation, remarking, "We're learning about each others' religions [or cultures] here," as she called on me.  I felt the urge to bring up something partially unrelated, as I mentioned the day before was the start of a new liturgical year with Advent.

That kind of conversation defined why middle school was so transformative in my life. It was an atmosphere in which we could freely and openly talk about who we are.  As a result, I reflected more on who I am and came to appreciate my religion, culture, and ethnicity in a deeper way, more than I had ever before in my life.  It was in that frame of mind that I started preparations for Confirmation during 8th grade. Even though the process culminated in my Confirmation after I started high school, middle school still speaks to why Confirmation was so important in my life.  As I've said before, I've brought it full circle by teaching middle school RE.

Indeed, with all the self-reflection I did in middle school, it became the first time in my life I started to deeply focus and reflect on the higher aspects of life.  So school became about more than just going to class, but was a transformative experience that shaped me.  I have so much to celebrate because I still feel the effects to this day.

I'm reminded of Caliban's monologue in The Tempest, which was a play we read in 7th grade language arts class with Mr. Gates.  He starts by delcaring, "Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not."  He ends by saying, "and then in dreaming, the clouds methought would open and show riches ready to drop upon me, that when I waked, I cried to dream again."  I was really nervous starting middle school, but there was so much I came to embrace in the experience, and I was wistful when it was done.  It was like a beautiful dream so that when I awoke, I truly wished I could fall asleep and dream it again.  I am fortunate that I have been able to live the dream anew in the 17 years since graduating, especially with my Religious Education students.

Even in my nervousness about starting at a new school in 6th grade, there was something, maybe subconsciously, that excited me about entering a brand new building with a modern design.  One feature that especially stirred me was the atrium where I could look up four floors while walking through the main corridor of the school.  From right outside the entrance of the commons and the auditorium, I could look up four floors and feel inspired that I was in a marvelous place.  The inspiration continued through so many experiences in the next three years, and I still feel it 20 years later today.

On a visit back to Julian in 2012, I photographed the atrium area inside that looks upward to a sort of skylight above the 4th floor, a view that inspired me as an 11-year-old.

P.S. I'm in the process of planning a presentation with the OPRF History Museum on the start of Julian Middle School, scheduled later this month on September 23.  It will be a live program on Zoom at 11 AM, and it should be available for viewing in archived form afterwards on the museum's YouTube channel.

In the Spirit of 1776 and 1783: Through My Own Eyes

September 3 marks the signing of the Treaty of Paris 1783, officially concluding the American Revolution and securing the independence of the USA.

September 2 marks another patriotic day, which happened 20 years ago today, when the PBS kids' show Liberty's Kids premiered on Labor Day, September 2, 2002.

The show has 40 episodes that tell about events of the American Revolutionary era, from the Boston Tea Party to the establishment of the US Constitution.  Viewers see the events through the eyes of four fictional protagonists who reside at Benjamin Franklin's home in Philadelphia.  There are three youths: James, French immigrant Henri, and Sarah, who came from Britain.  There's also Moses, a free African brought to slavery in North America who bought his freedom.  The first two episodes tell their back stories while also narrating the Boston Tea Party and its aftermath in Boston.  As part of seeing the events from their perspective, James is an aspiring journalist who drafts news reports on the events.  Sarah writes letters to her mother back home in England, as she awaits the chance to connect with her father, a British officer who is serving in the frontier of British North America.

This show had an enormous impact on me as a preteen, as part of a perfect coincidence of circumstances.  As I shall post about soon, this show debuted the day before I started 6th grade at Percy Julian Middle School.  My middle school years truly defined the important parts of my character, especially in my understanding of who I am as a citizen of the United States of America, and what that means.  

I started to think more about what it means to be part of the USA in the wake of September 11, just about a year before this show's debut, when we, as a people, rose up to embrace patriotism as a way to help us through the process of mourning and healing.  In that atmosphere, I started to think more about this country and its history and how that informs our identity.  I also felt a sense of patriotism months after September 11, and a month before this show debuted, seeing the US flag draped over my Grandpa Martin's casket and his interment ceremony at Lincoln National Cemetery as part of the honors he received for serving in the US Navy during World War II.

I already had a strong interest in the American Revolutionary time period, so I was eager to watch the show, and it became a regular habit on Fridays each week.  The school day would end at 3:30.  I would walk home, arriving around 4 PM.  After practicing piano and having a snack, I would be in front of the TV at 4:30 to watch the show, which lasted about half an hour.  I enjoyed it as a way to enter into weekend mode.

The show featured an amazing cast of characters from that time period, including George Washington, Thomas Paine, the Marquis de Lafayette, Samuel Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and John Hancock.  Some of these characters were voiced by famous actors: Billy Crystal as John Adams, Annette Bening as Abigail Adams, Ben Stiller as Thomas Jefferson, Walter Cronkite as Benjamin Franklin, Whoopi Goldberg as Deborah Sampson,  Liam Neeson as John Paul Jones, Sylvester Stallone as Paul Revere, Dustin Hoffman as Benedict Arnold, and Warren Buffett as James Madison.

I also learned about other figures with important stories, like Moses Michael Hayes, a Jewish person, although I have been unable to verify if he is a fictional character in the show, or if he truly lived. The series also gave a very nuanced telling of Benedict Arnold's story, as he was an esteemed soldier in the US army, earning even General Washington's admiration, before a souring relationship with peers and Congress caused him to betray the American cause and join the British army.  

Besides Paul Revere's famous night ride was the even longer night ride of Sybil Ludington, the teenage daughter of an American army officer who rode to alert soldiers to prepare for a British attack.

Another story I learned was about Elizabeth Freeman, a Massachusetts enslaved woman who sued for her freedom in court, and won, a sign of changing times in the Revolutionary era.  Phyllis Wheatley was an enslaved woman in Boston, who made a name for herself with her poetry.  She appears in the first two episodes.

I once checked out the complete series from the library, and in the extras, those involved in the making of the show shared how they had some very intentional conversations about how to address slavery in the series. Throughout the episodes, it's clear that the actions of the movers and shakers of this era had wide-ranging implications, and slavery was just one of them. 

The implications of the American Revolution became apparent in the final episode, which focuses largely on the creation of the US Constitution at the Constitutional Convention in the summer of 1787.  At the end of that episode, the main fictional protagonists reflect with Benjamin Franklin on the implications of what has just happened, and, even in the face of the challenges present, how much potential there is for the USA.

In the episode about the vote for independence and the Declaration of Independence, James learns an important lesson on the power of words, as he witnesses Thomas Jefferson in the process of drafting the Declaration of Independence.  Indeed, people throughout this era, as throughout all of history, have done their part and made an impact on history through their contributions, especially in written words.

This show resonated with me so greatly because it was an opportunity to see history and thus, appreciate it, which speaks to the title lyrics of the show's theme song, "Through My Own Eyes".  It was performed by two singers Kayla, who also voiced Sybil Ludington, and Aaron Carter, who voiced a private named Joseph Plumb Martin.  They performed it live at A Capitol Fourth concert on July 4 prior to the show's debut.

One of the scenes that stirred me most was President Washington's inauguration, in the final part of the last episode.  Reflecting on that scene, I realize that it was only about 2 1/2 years prior that I watched the first inauguration of President George W. Bush, the first time I had viewed a presidential inauguration ceremony.  That experience gave a certain feel to watching the scene of President Washington's inauguration as a way to see how the presidency got started under the new constitutional government.  It was a pretty exuberant scene, especially with the soundtrack that plays.

The tone of that scene was, in some ways, set in the third to last episode, we see how George Washington deliberately turned away from taking advantage of instability in the nascent American government to seize power for himself.  He instead convinced the officers of his army to cease their intentions of mutiny and show patience to Congress for paying them. Eventually, General Washington resigned his commission, a stunning act that even bewildered King George III.  The scene of that act was stirring to watch.  And by that act, George Washington set a new tone that would influence the nature of the government that the USA launched in the wake of the American Revolution.  Coming at the end of the final episode, the first presidential inauguration of George Washington was a fitting way to cap all the efforts of some many people throughout the American Revolutionary era to launch a new country with a government, unlike anything the world had seen before it.  

Indeed, as I experienced from watching the other episodes, I gained a new sense of what it was like when the USA came into existence.  Experiencing its origins helped me better appreciate what this country is about.  And the scene of President Washington's inauguration, among others, speaks to the impact this show had on me, truly making me feel proud to be a citizen of the United States.

Grand Impressions from a Grand Trip.

I had one of the most significant experiences of the early years of my life 25 years ago this month when my family had a 2-week trip through the western USA via Amtrak.  As I happened 5 years ago for the 20th anniversary, which came right after my May 2017 Pacific Northwest vacation, so I feel stirred in reflecting on that 1997 trip this month once again.

We first boarded the Empire Builder route at Chicago Union Station on August 2, 1997, and rode it to Whitefish, MT, where we arrived the following day, after traveling along the edge of Glacier National Park.  We spent a few days visiting the natural wonders of the park.

Then we boarded the Empire Builder again at Whitefish and rode it to Portland, OR.  After spending a few hours in that city, we boarded the Coast Starlight, and early the next morning, arrived in Sacramento, CA.  We spent some days there, especially touring the historical sites of Old Sacramento.

Subsequently, we boarded the California Zephyr in Sacramento and rode it east to Denver, CO, where we spent some time sightseeing and visiting family.  

We began the final leg of our trip when we boarded the California Zephyr late at night in Denver and rode it east to Chicago, arriving back there on August 15.

This trip was one of my earliest memories of a family vacation. We indeed had a great time being together and sharing so many experiences throughout this trip.

Traveling out west was a great chance to see the wonders of the natural scenery.  It was a wondrous time seeing so much of what Glacier National Park has to offer.  The train gave us views of other scenic areas.  While I don't remember them as well, the train travels took us by the Columbia River corridor and then through the mountainous areas alongside the California Zephyr route.

Visiting Sacramento gave me the chance to appreciate the history of this country, too, with Old Sacramento, and especially the vintage train cars.

I also had my first opportunity to visit Denver and see my relatives there.  I certainly enjoyed spending time at the home of Great Aunt Carmen and Great Uncle Leonard.

It was the longest distance I had ever traveled in my life up to that point as we looped around the northern part of the western USA, and it gave me a sense of the vastness of the United States of America as a country.

That time probably stoked something deep inside of me that I couldn't have fully realized at the time, but surely I feel it now when I ride the rails across the country.  It's a wonder to behold how big this country is, and all that is contained within it.  Riding Amtrak certainly makes me feel proud to be a citizen of the USA, especially as it connects me with America, the Beautiful.

I appreciate how the unique experience onboard Amtrak allows me to see the country in a special way, so that I can appreciate it deeply.  For example, it's enjoyable to board a route with a specific name, which sets the tone for the journey, especially when traveling it over long distances.  This trip involved three different routes.  I'm sure that the 1997 trip on Amtrak is a large part of the reason why I enjoy train travel so much to this day.

During the most recent RE year, as sometimes happens, one of my students asked me about my favorite trip I've been on.  I've had so many wonderful trips, enough to make it a challenge to pick one.  Yet as I reflected on the answer to the question, I realize that the 1997 train vacation left a huge impression on me as a 6-year-old, and it continues to this day.  Even today, when I'm in the downtown Chicago area, and I wander into Chicago Union Station, something stirs in me when I look at the departure and arrival boards, even if I'm not scheduled to board a train.  Seeing the train names causes me to think of all the marvelous journeys to be had onboard those routes.  Indeed, it's a great, big county here in the USA, and it's an incredible experience to go out to see and explore it.

Here I pose in the Great Hall of Union Station on August 14, during the 25th anniversary stretch of our Great Western Train Trip.

On August 15, the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of our trip, I paused by the BNSF tracks at Ridgeland Avenue in Berwyn.  The eastbound California Zephyr rode these tracks shortly before reaching Chicago Union Station where we ended our trip on August 15, just as we had started it there almost two weeks prior.

The Breadth of Wonders in California and Beyond

It's reasonable to regard California as one of the exotic places in the USA.  Perhaps it's because of the great variety of places and people within a rather large and definitely populous state.

My recent vacation there in the middle of July 2022 gave me a fuller sense of the great breadth of its variations and contrasts, making the trip a rather diverse experience overall.

At the train station in the Los Angeles suburb of Riverside, CA

Two years ago, I traveled to southern California to visit my friends there.  That trip certainly made me aware of how much there is to experience there, so I was eager to travel there once more.  I decided the summer of 2022 was the right opportunity to declare, "California, Here I Come (Once More)!"

Like the last time, I made the journey there part of the experience by riding the Amtrak Southwest Chief train.

Tuesday, July 12

Around 1:40 PM CDT, I got in my parents' family vehicle and Dad drove me to Chicago Union Station.  (Please note that all times in this post are local.)

Above is the departure board.  The Southwest Chief train is on the third line from the top.  Below is a display for the Southwest Chief train at the gate.  Please note that all photos are mine unless otherwise noted.

By 2:30, I was on my way to the gate to board.  There was quite a line, but the crew managed to get everyone seated in time for departure.  In accordance with the crew's methodology for seating, I ended up in a car with passengers headed to either Albuquerque or Los Angeles.  I was seated amidst a family fivesome.

The train lurched forward to begin the journey as scheduled at 2:50 PM CDT.  I enjoy the initial part of riding the Southwest Chief, which is shared with the California Zephyr route, traveling through the Lower West Side of Chicago and then into the suburbs along the BNSF tracks, including Berwyn and Riverside.

Once we were out past the suburbs and into Illinois farm country, I decided to have my dinner and then watch the movie Cars.

I stepped off the train at Fort Madison, just across the Mississippi River from Illinois, reminding myself that I owe Iowa more than I can ever pay, and so I went on to Cal-i-for-ni-ay, in the spirit of Oscar Hammerstein II, whose birthday was that day.  

View as the train reaches the Iowa side of the Mississippi River and enters Iowa at Fort Madison

As the train continued, I started talking with Isis, part of the family fivesome, who was seated next to me.  I also got glimpses of a colorful sunset--the photo below is from my attempt at a photo shoot of it.

The moon over the northern Missouri landscape as the train got closer to Kansas City

I stepped off again at Kansas City, where everything's up to date, just like in the song.  I soon fell asleep as the train journeyed through Kansas by night.

Wednesday, July 13

Somewhere around Dodge City or Garden City, I awoke about 6 AM CDT, and beheld the sunrise over the high plains of western Kansas, which gave way seamlessly to the Plains of southeast Colorado.

the sunrise

The train reached La Junta a little early, around 7:30 AM MDT.  I determined I had sufficient time during the layover there to shop at the Safeway grocery store two blocks away for breakfast.  Shortly after 8 AM, the train departed.

The front cars of the train during the layover at La Junta

Southeast Colorado landscape, past La Junta

Looking toward the mountainous landscape of southeast Colorado

Past Trinidad came this view of the front end of the train from the last coach car as the train rounds a bend

Just after entry into the Raton Pass Tunnel

Just after exiting the Raton Pass Tunnel

It made good time headed into New Mexico.  For lunch, I decided to get a blue corn vegan tamale, something new on the Cafe Car menu since my last time on the Southwest Chief.  It was pretty tasty, with an interesting mix of ingredients, including salsa, corn, and beans with a purplish color to the blue corn masa--please see photo below.  And for something that was warmed by microwave, it was also quite moist.  

View of the northern New Mexico landscape between Las Vegas and Lamy

Upon reaching Glorieta Pass, the crew announced the train was instructed to stop on a siding for an hour and a half so that the eastbound train could pass.  At that point, I wandered into the lounge car, and I saw a woman, Molly, accompanied by her son, with a David McCullough book that was intriguing, and we got talking and passing the time.  During this time, there was also a brief rainshower.

Moving into the distance is the end of the eastbound train after it finally passed the westbound train waiting on the siding at Glorieta Pass, allowing it to move from the siding and onward toward Lamy.  To the right in the photo is the old Glorieta train station, which now functions as the post office.

Once the eastbound Southwest Chief train passed, the westbound train was on the move again.

We reached Lamy about 3:30 PM, 1 1/2 hours late.  

On the way toward Albuquerque, the train made more stops to await passage of New Mexico Railrunner commuter trains.  The train finally reached Albuquerque around 6:30.  Since it is an extended servicing stop, I immediately exited the train and went with Molly and her son to the Silver Street Market to get dinner.  I had fried chicken tenders.  The secret was out as many other passengers went over there, too.  

The train was on its way again at about 7:15 PM.  I admired the sunset in the journey through western New Mexico toward Gallup, and I listened to the Cars soundtrack.  

The landscape along the route between Albuquerque and Gallup

After our stop at Gallup, NM, and the entry into Arizona, I cracked open an Arizona drink I got at the Silver Street Market, and then went to sleep.

Thursday, July 14

I awoke as the train pulled out of Kingman, and noticed the daylight starting to emerge, and then realized that the train's delay had increased in Arizona during the night.  

Here's a view of the moon from somewhere in western Arizona--it was somewhere near Kingman, either before or after the train stopped there.  Below is a view of the sunrise in western Arizona, most likely past Kingman.

Yet it was a marvelous sight to behold the sunrise while crossing from Arizona over the Colorado River into California, with arrival in Needles soon afterward, shortly after 6 AM PDT.

The front of the train appears toward the left as it nears the bridge crossing the Colorado River from Arizona into California.  The river appears as a bluish ribbon near the center of the photo toward the background.

Crossing the Colorado River, looking north

The rising sun shining on Arizona, the Colorado River, and California (on the closer side of the river), just south of Needles

Needles, CA, as it appears as the train heads onward toward Barstow

I'm fairly certain that in the middle of this photo is Amboy Crater, appearing dark.  Someone on the crew announced we were passing it.  Because of the delay, we could see it in daylight.

The train had to stop a few more times while journeying through California because of freight traffic, increasing the delay.  Around 2-3 PM, the dining car staff announced that they would offer complimentary beef stew meals to coach car passengers.  I gladly accepted the offer. My meal appears in the photo below.

After reaching San Bernardino, where I disembarked and boarded last time, I got to see some different parts of the Los Angeles Metro Area while headed toward the end of the route.  

A fellow passenger sitting behind me kindly photographed me as the train traveled through the Los Angeles Metro Area.

The approach to downtown Los Angeles gave great views of the skyline--please see both photos below.  

Toward the right is the top of Los Angeles City Hall, with a pointed-like top.

Finally, the train arrived at Los Angeles Union Station around 5 PM PDT, 9 hours late.  Once again, I completed another long-haul thru ride on the entire length of another Amtrak route.

Here I am, posing selfie-style, just off the Southwest Chief upon arrival at Los Angeles Union Station.

While the delay limited what I was able to do that day, fortunately, I didn't have too much planned for that Thursday.  I walked about 15 minutes from Union Station to briefly visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.  I had seen footage of the sanctuary on YouTube, and while it seemed bigger on camera, it was still a large and impressive space, invoking a spirit of awe in me.  I was especially drawn to the tapestries of the saints in procession.  And I was delighted to see small prayer spaces just off the sanctuary in the hallway leading from the entrance, with displays for saints including St. Teresa of Calcutta, San Jose Sanchez del Rios, and San Father Junipero Serra.  Another display focused on Pope St. John Paul II's 1987 visit to Los Angeles.

Looking toward the altar

Some of the saint tapestries in the sanctuary

a side chapel with displays for St. Teresa of Calcutta and San Jose Sanchez del Rios

A display for la Virgen de Guadalupe in the outside grounds

A window display overlooking US 101

The outside of the sanctuary
The cross is just above where the altar is

While returning to Union Station, I strolled past Los Angeles City Hall and then through the area by the Historic Pueblo of Los Angeles.  

Los Angeles City Hall

Los Angeles-style evening peak-hour traffic on US 101

Plaza at El Pueblo de Los Angeles

West Side of Los Angeles Union Station

I arrived around 6 PM, in time to get a ticket and then board the Metrolink Orange County Line commuter train, which departed around 6:30.  

Going through a railyard outside Los Angeles Union Station, I saw many frieght trains, including the Amazon prime containers, which I saw often while riding the rails. 

I rode it along the same tracks as I had been on earlier that day to Fullerton, and then passed through other suburbs like Anaheim, and it gave me a great feel for different parts of the Los Angeles Metro Area.  

Train station in Fullerton

Mural just east of the Fullerton station

Angel Stadium of Anaheim, with an Angels-Astros game in progress at the time I passed by it on the train

Santa Ana station, with the Metrolink train I had just left appearing to the left

Around 7:30, I reached Santa Ana.  My friend Tyler was there to pick me up and take me to his place in Huntington Beach.  We got on Pacific Coast Highway blocks from his apartment just in time to see a colorful sunset.  

Above is the sunset on California State Route 1/Pacific Coast Highway, and below is the view of the sunset scene from the beach across from Tyler's apartment complex.

Once we reached his place and I settled my luggage in, we walked to the beach to admire the fading daylight.  Subsequently, we had dinner at HQ GastroPub on Pacific Coast Highway.  I had a turkey burger with fries.

Friday, July 15

I lounged around in Tyler's apartment for a while in the morning.  From noon to 1 PM, I went to the beach and into the water.  It was a little cold at first, but then I adjusted to it.  There were some big waves that crashed completely over my head.  I certainly enjoyed my time at the beach, and it was nice that it was so close to Tyler's place.

We had lunch at Chronic Tacos, and I once again enjoyed the surf and turf burrito, like the last time I ate there two years ago.  By 2:30, we were off for our weekend outing.  I had Tyler drop me off at the Irvine train station.  There, around 4:12 PM, I boarded the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train, which I rode south to San Diego. 

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Train #770 just as it arrives at the Irvine Station

It was pretty packed on the train, but I managed to find a seat.  I wandered to the Cafe Car, where I bought a cupcake and got a free mocktail--in the photo below.  

It was right about that point that the train reached the part of its route when it travels right along the Pacific Coast.  I was so amazed by the views that my mouth kept dropping open with "Wows".  

View out the window just past San Clemente

This photo was likely taken as the train passed somewhere near Oceanside

The photos above and below were likely taken just after the train's stop at Solana Beach.

A fellow passenger sitting in front of me photographed my pose in my seat as we neared San Diego.

The train arrived shortly after 6 PM at the Santa Fe Depot in San Diego.  

Above the train appears the Santa Fe sign and the distinct architectural elements of the San Diego depot

I detrained, very glad that I took advantage of an opportunity to ride the Surfliner train.

Someone on the platform kindly photographed me by the Pacific Surfliner train I had just ridden.

Tyler was waiting by the station to pick me up, accompanied by his friend Colter, who was joining us for the weekend.  We drove to La Jolla to admire the sea life there as we strolled along the coast.  

At the walkway by the Children's Pool beach in La Jolla

By the La Jolla Cove

Then we went to dinner around 9 PM at the Firefly Eatery at the Dana on Mission Bay Hotel.  We finished the night at our AirBnb lodgings in a northern San Diego neighborhood.

Saturday, July 16

Around 7 AM, I awoke.  Our friend Roy arrived around 7:30, and about an hour later, we were on our way for our foursome day outing to Tijuana.  Near the border, we exited I-5 in San Ysidro and first went to get our US dollars exchanged into Pesos.

We drove a little further, and stopped at a Jack-in-the-Box, where I got breakfast.  As I ate, we wound our way around to find a suitable parking lot.  Once parked, we walked to the US-Mexico border. 

Roy photographed me by the walkway before we crossed the border.

At 9:18 AM PDT, for the first time in my life, I entered Mexico.  Clearing customs was very straightforward.  I showed my passport to an agent, who opened it, looked at my identification page, and then pointed me toward the next line where I put my bags through a security screening machine.  It took about 5 minutes.

We then walked toward the downtown Tijuana area.  

Roy photographed me by the sign stating "Welcome to Tijuana".

We strolled along, browsing the vendor stands and passing by people eager to get us to eat at their restaurants, especially in the Plaza de Santa Cecilia.  

The Tijuana Arch

Plaza de Santa Cecilia

One of my friends photographed me as I pose with my street taco.

Around 11:20, we visited the Cathedral Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe to admire the space and be in a spirit of prayer.

Above is the interior of the Cathedral, and below is the exterior.

 

Following our visit to the Cathedral, as we walked to lunch, I stopped for some fresh-cut mango at a vendor stand. Roy joined me in this pose with his fruit, likely photographed by Tyler.

Following our visit there, we walked to the Hotel Caesar to have lunch at the restaurant there at 12:30, including Caesar salad, which was created there.  Our server mixed the ingredients right at our table on a cart and then served us our salads.  I also had ravioli.  (At one point, Roy turned to me and indicated in a quip that of all the customers in the restaurant, I was the only person of Mexican heritage.)

Preparing the salad

The finished product of the Caesar Salad

My entree of raviolis

The Hotel Caesar and its restaurant

We were done around 2 PM, and then we walked to the Lucha Libre Museum, which had lots of display collections, especially related to boxing.  

Someone on the museum staff photographed us.  From left to right appears Roy, Tyler, Colter, and me. Thanks to Colter for getting me this photo.

Coca-Cola-themed collection in the Lucha Libre Museum

After visiting the museum, we shopped at an Oxxo Store, a Mexican convenience store chain.  

Next, we walked through an artisan market area, and then back to the Plaza Santa Cecilia where we did some shopping to finish our day outing.  From there, we walked back to the border crossing.  We waited in line for just over an hour, and passed the time chatting with other people waiting in line near us.  I also bought a couple of street tacos from a vendor.  

Street tacos

In line to enter the United States

Around 6 PM, we had gotten through the line for immigration and customs, thereby marking our official entry back into the USA.  

The Port of Entry facility in San Ysidro, the side facing away from the border crossing

We walked back to the parking lot and got into Tyler's car.

I was glad that I finally had the chance to visit Mexico, and connect with the land of my heritage.  Tijuana is an interesting city.  I could appreciate the vibe with all the street vendors, and I enjoyed browsing their wares and food offerings.

For dinner, we were about to eat at Wendy's, but when I saw a Rubio's taco restaurant just a short distance away from Wendy's, I quickly requested to go there, and everyone kindly obliged.  I had heard about it, and I was glad to finally dine there.  I enjoyed the street tacos I ordered.

Roy photographed me as I pose outside the Rubio's restaurant, above, and then with my taco dinner, below.

Subsequently, we visited the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, where I intended to get some photos.  We stumbled upon a special festival there, surely happening to celebrate the anniversary of the mission's founding by San Father Junipero Serra on July 16, 1790.

Above is inside the sanctuary of the Mission Church, and directly below is the view outside.

The festivities at the Mission San Diego

Roy photographed me posing by the sign out front by the parking lot.

We then drove back the block for the AirBnb lodgings, where Roy had parked the car he drove earlier that day, and he went home.  Tyler, Colter, and I drove about 2 hours back to Tyler's apartment, and there concluded our day.

Sunday, July 17

On the following morning, I awoke a little before 8 AM, and soon had breakfast, and then got laundry started.  I accompanied Tyler to 10 AM Mass at his home parish, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Newport Beach.  The drive there was splendid.  It was fitting to go there since July 16 is the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  And there were many mentions of hospitality in the readings, as I was fully aware of Tyler's hospitality to me over the past couple of days.  The church was beautiful in its simple white design, inside and out.  

Below is the exterior of the church and above is the interior of the sanctuary.  Inside, to the left of the main altar is Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

We lingered after Mass for treats, and then strolled along the path by the beach--in the photo below--just about a block from the Church, which was a scenic way to pass some time.

Then we returned to Tyler's apartment.  I got some photos at the beach, finished my laundry, and packed.  I also got lunch from Point 11 Persian Grill, a boneless chicken wrap, which was tasty.  It was another nice work through the resplendent neighborhood of Huntington Beach near Tyler's place, with its variety of housing stock.

Around 1:30, Tyler drove me to the Los Angeles Greyhound station, just under an hour away, driving part of the way on Pacific Coast Highway/California State Route 1 until Seal Beach.  Around 3 PM, I boarded the bus for the next part of my vacation, riding it just over 2 hours to Barstow, CA, with a stop at San Bernadino.

View looking east on 6th Street in San Bernadino, right by the Greyhound Station

View going north between San Bernadino and Barstow

Once I stepped off the bus at Barstow, I could feel the oven-like effect of the intense heat there, just over 100 degrees.

On Main Street, looking westerly, in Barstow

Here's the view where Main Street crosses over I-15.  Toward the background is the Barstow Bus Station.

I walked to the California Inn, where I booked a stay for that night.  Once I got my luggage in, I headed straight to Dollar Tree to get some provisions, including bottles of water.  I later discovered that the hotel stocked 2 bottles of water in my hotel room refrigerator, a gesture I appreciated.

Here's the California Inn.  The room where I stayed is on the second floor just to the right of the large cactus.

Here are the water bottles in my room refrigerator.

After about half an hour in the hotel pool, I got dinner at Barstow Burger: a crispy chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy, Texas toast, and fried zucchini.  I was in bed and asleep by 11 PM.

Monday, July 18

It was plenty warm outside when I awoke the next morning around 7 AM, with a temperature in the 80s.  The hotel had a great selection of offerings for breakfast, and I enjoyed it.  Following breakfast, I packed.  Shortly after 9 AM, someone from the nearby Enterprise Rental Car office picked me up and took me to the office.  Kelly, the manager on duty, got my initial check-in done, and shortly around 9:30 AM, I was on my way for my day outing to Death Valley.  I rented the vehicle in which I was picked up, a Toyota Corolla that was conveniently colored white.

I drove about an hour on I-15 to Baker, where I stopped to get photos of the World's Tallest Thermometer, which is in the photo below.  

From there, I drove north on California Route 127.  It was a scenic drive through the desert, with low shrubs abounding.  I managed to pick up some radio stations based in the Las Vegas Metro Area, including 970 AM Relevant Radio based in Paradise, NV.

When I reached Shoshone, on a whim, I decided to drive CA Route 178 and visit Badwater, which was a slightly longer route to reach Furnace Creek.  About an hour later, I arrived at Badwater Basin.  I stepped out of the car, and I really felt the renowned intense heat.  I stayed there no more than 10 minutes, to take in some views and get some photos.

Looking northward from the observation platform at Badwater Basin

Looking westward into the salty landscape

Looking eastward toward the parking lot and the mountainous rises, where a sign marks sea level

A fellow visitor photographed me by the sign marking Badwater Basin's elevation, 282 feet below sea level.  Below is another view of the same sign.

 

Then I drove a few more minutes to Furnace Creek, arriving around 1 PM.  I made a quick stop at the Visitors' Center.  

A fellow visitor photographed me by the temperature display.

 

My rental vehicle, the white Corolla, is parked underneath a canopy.

And then I started my journey back to Barstow.  I drove CA Route 190 back to CA Route 127 at Death Valley Junction.  I detoured a few miles north and went just over the CA-NV border and stopped for gas at the Longstreet Inn Casino and RV Resort (please see the photo below) and got a chicken salad sandwich for lunch at the mini-mart there.

I then drove due south, and got back into California and on CA Route 127, all the way to Baker.  

I pulled over to photograph the landscape along Route 127.

I made a quick stop there before getting back on I-15.  A few miles outside Barstow, I got caught in a major traffic jam, presumably due to a rainstorm that passed through.  I found a way to detour around it and got on I-40, which took me into Barstow.  I got panicky because I wasn't going to get the rental car back in time to the office, but Kelly was gracious enough to stay until 6:20 so I could return the car and fill the gas tank.

Once I completed the car drop-off, I walked to the nearby Barstow Library to do a few things on the Internet, arriving shortly before its close at 7 PM.  Even after its close, though, I took my computer outside and continued to use the Internet for another half-hour.

The Barstow Branch of the San Bernadino County Public Library

Looking west from the Barstow Library parking lot to view the setting sun after the rainshower earlier in the day

Along Main Street in Barstow, at 2nd Avenue

Route 66 mural at Main Street and 1st Avenue

Then I walked to Del Taco on 1st Avenue to get dinner, shortly before 8 PM.  It was my first time at Del Taco, and I found out the franchise location I ate at was the oldest Del Taco.  The tacos were enjoyable, including the street-style tacos I had.

The street tacos are in the soft-shell tortillas

Display inside the restaurant

The outside of Del Taco

From there, I walked up 1st Avenue to the Barstow Amtrak Station at the Historic Harvey House.  I waited around an hour for the train, which arrived at 9:50 PM PDT.  Once onboard, I got myself settled down for my night's sleep.

Tuesday, July 19

I awoke around 5 AM MST or so the following morning, and stepped off the train to walk around on the platform at the Flagstaff station.  As the train headed east, I admired the sunrise--please see the two photos directly below.

We had a fresh air stop at Gallup around 9 AM MDT.  I decided to listen to the Cars soundtrack again as the train journeyed east.  

Above and below are views of the landscape between Gallup and Albuquerque

We arrived in Albuquerque shortly after noon.  I headed straight for the Silver Street Market to get a hot lunch combo meal with crispy chicken, corn, and mashed potatoes, and then some other items.

The train was on its way by 1 PM.  

Above and below are views of the landscape between Albuquerque and Lamy.

At Lamy, NM

In Northern New Mexico, likely somewhere between Las Vegas and Raton

At Las Vegas, the train stopped just so it could be said it stopped, though no one was scheduled to board or disembark.

Upon reaching Raton, the Scouts had been onboard since California disembarked for their time at camp, and other scouts concluding their camp trip boarded to head east.

At Raton, NM

Traveling through the Raton tunnel

The front of the train appears around the bend as it journeys through far southern Colorado.  Below is another view of the landscape in southern Colorado.

After passing through the Raton Pass Tunnel, the conductor got on the PA system to announce there were elk and cattle grazing on a grassy area within viewing distance of the train.  As the train headed northeastward from Trinidad, there were thunderstorms off in the distance, and some amazing skyscapes, giving way to a colorful sunset.  All the way, I listened to radio programs and podcasts I had downloaded.

The three photos above show various views of the storm clouds and even the rain shafts.  The three photos directly below show various shots of the sunset.  All of these photos were taken as the train journeyed from Trinidad to La Junta.

The daylight had largely faded upon arrival in La Junta, where we had the chance to step off the train for a short layover.  As the train headed east toward Kansas, I bedded down for the night.

Wednesday, July 20

I awoke just before the train reached Topeka around 6 AM CDT.  From there, I admired yet another sunrise while headed toward Lawrence and then Kansas City.  

Above and directly below are photos of the sunrise in between Topeka and Lawrence, KS.

Between Lawrence and Kansas City

Approaching Kansas City Union Station, near the fuel stop, which was west of the station

We had some time to step off the train at Kansas City while new passengers boarded.  

A vintage train car parked at Kansas City Union Station

Exterior of Kansas City Union Station

Looking east on the platform at Kansas City Union Station

Looking toward the World War I Memorial, the tall tower near the center of the photo

Past Kansas City, the train rolled through farm fields of northern Missouri toward Fort Madison, IA, where we could step off one last time.

Crossing the Missouri River, east of Kansas City

Rolling along through rural northern Missouri farmland

As the train crossed back into Illinois, the man sitting in front of me got talking with Amanda, the coach car attendant, about her work, and her perspective was interesting.  

The train nears the railroad bridge crossing the Mississippi River from Iowa into Illinois

Looking north as the train reaches the Illinois shore of the Mississippi River

A little later, when the cafe car attendant concluded his break, I went to buy another blue corn vegan tamale for lunch.  All the while since the train left Kansas City, I read, rested, and listened to some programs I downloaded, even as we traveled through Illinois farm fields.

Fields beside the tracks between Mendota and Sandwich

Sandwich, IL

At 3:36 PM, the train reached Naperville, where I detrained and Mom was already waiting to pick me up and bring me home.  

The scene after I detained upon arrival in Naperville

While headed back to Oak Park, I started to debrief about my trip.

A long list comes to mind as I think of the many places I visited: Los Angeles, Huntington Beach, San Diego, San Ysidro, Newport Beach, Barstow, and Baker, among others.  The ride on Metrolink was enjoyable because I got to see so many Los Angeles suburbs.  I was glad to check off a few more things on my to-do list for California.  

I also marked the completion of riding another Amtrak route in its entirety, the Southwest Chief.  It was exciting to ride once again this route that speaks of the storied history of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad.  The route starts in the familiar landscape of Illinois with its wide-open, flat fields, which are also present in Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas.  Then in western Kansas begins a transition to the arid environment I encountered throughout my trip, including in California.  And the majestic mountainous scenery definitely stands out to me as someone familiar with the rather flat landscape of Illinois.

In fact, it's notable that in California, so many different types of landscapes are all compacted into one area.  The mountains, deserts, and the Pacific Ocean are all relatively close to one another, within a day's journey.  And that speaks to the range of summertime temperatures I experienced from the cool, ocean-laden air near the Pacific coast to the extreme heat of Death Valley.

Even in such dry areas, the scenery is incredible.  It was marvelous to take in the views while driving through Death Valley National Park, and even on the way there, just as I journeyed to California through the desert scenery of the Southwest, with low shrubs abounding everywhere.

Spending time along the ocean is unbeatable in its own way, especially at the beach.  And the scenery along the Pacific Surfliner route was undoubtedly stunning, fitting of the wonderful name for the train.

Indeed, one aspect of trips I enjoy is the opportunity to connect with the places I visit, even in a deeper way.  That's why Saturday was so significant, when venturing from California into Baja California for my first-ever visit to Mexico, crossing at one of the busiest land border crossings in the world.  I looked forward to browsing the offerings of street vendors, and I got to do plenty of that.  And I certainly got to enjoy lots of tacos throughout this trip, on both sides of the border.  Mexico is a land I have felt close to in my ethnicity throughout my life, and it became a little more real for me by going there for the first time.  It was special to it in the month that marked the 20th anniversary of the canonization of San Juan Diego back on July 31, 2002.

One part of this trip that stood out was on Saturday when I was with the friends group, making our way from San Diego to Tijuana and back.  I was enjoying the company so much, and I felt so glad I made the effort to travel over 2000 miles to be with them.  I'm certainly grateful that at the last minute, Tyler was gracious enough to host me at his apartment.  That element of friendship is so special, and those real connections are so worthwhile.  We can be there to support each other, with bonds of friendship that have spanned the years since first meeting at ValpU, and spanning the miles across a continent.  I certainly look forward to return visits to California and spending time with them again.

I also think about the ways I connected with people onboard the train rides, which is one reason why I enjoy traveling Amtrak, spending hours on end with the same people and connecting with them, each of us riding to different places for different reasons, and sharing hours together on the rails.

Indeed, just as I marveled at the wonder of train travel 25 years ago on the great Western USA Amtrak trip my family took, so I wondered at it anew 25 years later in the middle of July 2022.  There's something to behold in the journey.  And on this journey, I could appreciate the breadth of the USA by riding the entire length of the Southwest Chief.  I really even didn't mind the hours-long delay.  I was still able to tap into enjoyable aspects of the trip, like the scenery, and passing the time with some of what I brought with me.

And that reminds me of one other highlight: the saint tapestries in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.  I was glad I had just enough time to visit the Cathedral before its closing the day I arrived in California.  There's something stirring about the images of the saints, shown with their profiles, who appear to be in some kind of procession pose, striving in the direction toward the altar.  And that's what we are doing through this life, striving onward to realize the fullness of God, even as we get glimpses of it now.

It's amazing to think that so many of California's cities along the coastal corridor started as missions founded by San Father Junipero Serra.  He was constantly striving forward, proclaiming the Gospel.

Indeed, I'm continually convinced throughout life, especially on vacations, that there's something significant about the journey.  I saw that when traveling throughout so many places in California and to California, as well as Baja California.  The variety of sights we see, the experiences we have, and the people accompanying us are great wonders to behold.

Above is the view looking east on Main Street, Route 66, and 1st Avenue in Barstow, and below is the view looking west at the same intersection.

On the eastbound train, I sat by the window directly above the Amtrak logo.  Here, the train is at La Junta, CO.

Above is a vintage Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe train car on display near the Amtrak station in Fort Madison, IA.

Here's a vintage Burlington Northern train car on display on the grounds of the Amtrak station in Princeton, IL.  The journey is truly a wondrous experience, with great variety.

View from the back of the westbound Southwest Chief train, after passing through Aurora, IL, on July 12

Here's the view from the back of the westbound train as the daylight emerges on July 13, while passing through a western Kansas city, possibly Garden City, Syracuse, or any city on the approach to the Kansas-Colorado border.

View from the back of the westbound train on the afternoon of July 14, by the intersection of Orangethorpe Avenue and Richfield Road in the Los Angeles suburb of Placentia, just east of the Fullerton station

Pedestrian bridge with Tijuana sign, leading from the port of entry area to Downtown Tijuana, with the Tijuana arch appearing to the right

View out the back of the eastbound Southwest Chief train just past the Galesburg station, while headed toward arrival at Chicago Union Station on July 20