Paschal Mystery Version of 2026

There's a profound quality to the Mah Nishtana when a child poses the question of why this night is different than all others.  I've come to see every day as having a special quality that distinguishes, making that question constantly relevant.  Then there are days like the Triduum that have a special quality that gives meaning to all days.

We get to behold that special quality every year when we circle back to the days of the Triduum and recall the Paschal Mystery.  Yet rather than going in circles, we are on a spiral staircase, circling back to the Triduum each year yet ascending higher to God.

The weeks of Lent reach an important point on Palm Sunday when we acclaim Christ as our Savior, which becomes more apparent as the liturgy progresses from the Gospel narrative of the entry into Jerusalem to the Passion narrative.  Because He was willing to offer Himself for us, even to the point of death, He was worthy of praise as our Savior, just like St. Paul writes in the 2nding reading for Palm Sunday Mass in the Epistle to the Philippians.

Passover started in the middle of Holy Week this year, which set the tone for Maundy Thursday Mass, in which Christ would usher in the New Passover, a New Covenant in His Body and Blood, with the command to love.  When I attended Mass, one line in the collect stood out to me, that the Institution of the New Covenant at the Last Supper, which is commemorated especially on this day, is a sacrifice presented new for all Eternity.  While it happened in a specific moment in time, it continues to be present to us.

So we continue to partake of the offering that Christ handed on to us of His Body and Blood.  From it, we are sent forth to follow His commandment to love as He loved us.

The communion hymn was a hymn that we've sung at Ascension throughout Lent.  When I looked at the lyrics printed in the worship aide, I saw that the verses drew from the Latin words in the Pange Lingua hymn, and there was so much richness to the words.

Then came the very profound Pange Lingua.  This hymn is always a powerful experience as we solemnly praise Christ for offering His Body and Blood.  Once the Blessed Sacrament has reached the altar of repose, we enter into silence as we keep watch with Christ as we remember how He willingly entered into His Passion.

The side altar of repose on Maundy Thursday evening

The next day, Friday of Holy Week, certainly has a solemn tone.  In fact, at one point, it was regarded as such a holy day that it was called God Friday, which then ended up becoming Good Friday.  I prefer the idea of God Friday to emphasize the holy nature of this day.

I attended a Stations of the Cross liturgy at St. Bernardine.  The choir had some good music to accompany in between Stations.  Once again, we consider how the Passion of Christ speaks to our experiences and our world today, as we seek to enter into the Mystery and join Christ in dying with the hope of rising with Him.

During the Evening Liturgy at St. Edmund, Father Rex, in his homily, stated that we stand before the Cross.  Truly, as I see it, God's power is at work in the Cross, which He transformed from an instrument of brutal death to a means to life.  So we fix our gaze upon the Cross, seeing it as our means to salvation.  "Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung our salvation," we sing three times as the Cross is processed from the back to the front of the sanctuary.  Then we all go forth to venerate it, as a way of honoring Christ and acknowledging how we can unite our sufferings to Christ and they can be transformed by God's power into something that is good.

Above is the Cross inside St. Edmund's on God Friday evening and below is the Cross inside Ascension on Holy Saturday morning.

In the stillness of Holy Saturday morning, we gathered for Morning Prayer at Ascension.  There's a great hymn about what happened on Holy Saturday and how we wait for the victory of the Resurrection. We also prayed for and offered a blessing to the Elect and those who were set to be received into the Church that night.  I stayed at Ascension for a while to help decorate the church for Easter Season.

That night, I was at St. Giles a few minutes after 7 PM for the Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Mass.  This Mass is such a spiritually rich experience because of how it incorporates natural elements like fire and water.  We started outside, surrounding the fire pit with a bonfire, from which the Paschal Candle is lit.  The priest offers a prayer as he places the decorative elements on the candle, acclaiming Christ as the Alpha and the Omega, and the One Who was wounded and brought forth our salvation.

We then processed back into the darkened Church, acclaiming Christ the Light.  Next came the Exultet, which is a great way for us to marvel at God's great work of salvation in seeking to deliver His people.

The readings then elaborate on how God created the world and then worked for its salvation.   After much time in darkness, the Church is brightened for the Gloria.  After the Epistle reading, when we hear about how we participate with Christ in death and Resurrection through baptism, we reached the glorious Kairos moment of singing the Easter Alleluia.  St. Giles has a different feel to the melody of its Alleluia than I recall from Ascension in years past.  Yet the playing of drums adds an exuberant tone.

Father Carl made a good point in his homily: "We are the Resurrection."  What we celebrate on this night is not just history, but rather is a reality that lives within us.  As I see it, encountering the Risen Christ again as the Triduum progresses to the liturgies of Holy Saturday and Resurrection Sunday is a way for us to embrace anew how God is at work in us.

After the homily, I stepped into the sacristy for my role in the Mass, which was to get water for the baptisms.  There were 17 people who were set to receive initiation sacraments on this night, reflecting a trend in society of record numbers of initiations.  One of those baptized at St. Giles was a student in my RE class this year, and so it was special to be part of getting the water ready that would be used for the baptisms and then to see her experience the Paschal Mystery at her baptism, along with her younger sister.  It was a glorious night.  Just as is proclaimed in the Exultet, it is the night when Christ rose from death.  He is the Light that breaks through the darkness and shines on humanity.  This reality lives in us, the people of faith, and we see it unfold anew with the multiple initiations.  A splendid spread of food and drink followed Mass.

The next morning, on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord, I went to Mass at Ascension.  The church was bursting at the seams, and it felt so alive.  The music during Mass helped set the tone for what we celebrate, particularly the African tune of "Christ the Lord is Risen", which is a staple at Ascension.  There's also a profound statement at the end of the Gospel reading from John 20:  The beloved disciple saw the empty tomb and believed.  Indeed, this great miraculous reality of the Resurrection is meant to lead us to belief in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, and to walk in the newness of Life.

There's been much talk about the numerous conversions at the Triduum this year.  I sense that our society has reached an inflection point, and now people yearn for a transcendent reality that they find in Holy Mother Church.  These days speak to how mystery is real, because Christ invites us to join Him in living in this mystery, that we may experience death and Resurrection.

I thought about in the days flanking Palm Sunday.  A quick errand run on Saturday evening became a prolonged outing when my vehicle wouldn't start, which I found out later was because the starter wasn't functioning.  I got it towed to a nearby shop, and then Ubered to work, thinking the car would be finished while I was at work that day.  When I checked about it later, the service manager told me it might have to wait another day.  I was dejected as I faced the reality of another day without a functioning car.  As I went by Uber back to Oak Park, I got a phone call alerting me that the car was finished with the starter work.  In that moment, I felt a boost from this Good News, a sign of what God has done through the Paschal Mystery.

The Taize song "Be Not Afraid" has great power to it, especially on Resurrection Sunday, because, even with all the reasons we have to be afraid and downtrodden in this world, as people of faith, we also tap into a reality deep within us that beckons us to move beyond fear and live in joy because of our relationship with God.

This Easter Season is the first time I've worn my Alleluia socks from the Sock Religious Company.  When I show them to people, I invoke the famous quotations, "We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song."  We go up the spiral staircase to commemorate these sacred days and then unpack the joy of the Resurrection in a way that renews us throughout the year, the reality that is our life.

Post-College 13 Years

As I mark another Valparaiso University graduation anniversary, I think about all the blessings I have experienced because, notably, I'm now celebrating the 13th anniversary of my ValpU graduation in 2013.  Talking with then-ValpU President Padilla at my 10th anniversary reunion 3 years ago, I mentioned that 13 is not an unlucky number for me.

I've been blessed to continue friendships with amazing people as we support each other in challenges and celebrate the joys of life, like new children born to my friends Roy and Zach.  I've crossed a large portion of the USA to spend time with Roy and Tyler, even enjoying some good laughs at AI-generated music while riding a Los Angeles freeway.  Months later, Matthew came to visit me when I told him about a Messiah Sing-along in Oak Park.

It's also been a blessing to connect back with St. Teresa's.  Twice during this past school year, I helped with the post-evening Mass meal, including the special Advent event back in December.  While there in December, I talked with Kayla, one of the FOCUS missionaries, about my St. Teresa's experience.  She was impressed to hear me say that I drove over an hour to be at St. Teresa's for that evening's event.  It was uplifting to help provide a wonderful, joyful evening of fellowship and a good meal for the students.

In keeping up with the latest on campus, I've been intrigued by the style of ValpU's new president Dr. Konkol, who shows himself to be very enthusiastic.  During a forum with alumni, he talked about leadership, and gave some insights about leadership I hadn't considered.  Sometimes, I've thought of leadership like someone who's a supervisor or a manager.  Dr. Konkol showed a Ted Talk that illustrated how a leader can be someone who gets people to follow behind an idea.

I think about how I've exhibited leadership in Religious Education, supporting the young people in my charge to grow in relationship with God.  Teaching RE has given me the opportunity to see how adult life has both responsibility and opportunity, especially in how I can be in a position to affirm and form these young people.

Perhaps that approach motivated me during one class when there was about 5 minutes remaining before it was time for closing prayer and the concluding parts of class.  I was eager to share about Theology of the Body, so following a plan I had used previously, I gave the students a 5-minute overview.

As February gave way to March and the date of Confirmation day at Ascension drew near, I felt a stirring at a great opportunity.  One of the FOCUS missionaries at St. Teresa's in Valparaiso reached out to supporters like me to ask if we had any prayer requests for them to take with them for their pilgrimage that included Rome.  When I saw that email, I knew that it would be a powerful opportunity to have prayers offered for the Confirmation candidates in Rome, at the heart of the Church.

Looking back on these 13 years, it's great to see how I have connected back to and built upon the amazing experiences at ValpU to edify others and see God continue to work by the power of the Holy Spirit, Who truly sent me forth on that Pentecost Sunday when I graduated.  I was inspired by this graduation occasion to start this blog so I could keep reflecting on life.  In doing so, I know that I am blessed in the presence of the Holy Spirit and in this mission in which I have found great purpose in life.

A St. Teresa's community member photographed me ready to serve the drinks at the event in December.  I asked for the ingredients ahead of time, and I got good at memorizing them on the fly so I was ready when asked what was in each. 

Here I am getting ready to serve Mexican food at St. Teresa's back on February 15, and I was excited because that day was in the midst of the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis's Apostolic Journey in Mexico.

Thank you all for reading my blog posts, and I look forward to sharing more.

Lifelong Learning at 10 Years

With gladness, I celebrate the 10th anniversary of my MLIS graduation today.  As I tell people, my degree doesn't give me all the answers to life's questions, but it has trained me in how to find them.

Even though I've been out of school for 10 years, I know there is so much to learn, and I'm in the business of lifelong learning, especially seeking greater Truth.

I also recognize the great wealth of resources in library, which is why it was great to visit the Library of Congress for my anniversary today and get my new Library of Congress reader's card.

One specific part of librarianship that piqued my interest early in graduate school was cataloging, in large part thanks to my professor Karen Snow.

Now I've been deep in the world of the integrated library system, working with the MARC records of items so that they can be accessed in the catalog.

Last summer, while visiting with my friends in southern California, we stopped inside the San Jacinto Public Library, where my friend Roy lives.  I pulled up the catalog and went to staff view to show them the MARC records, giving them an insight into my work.

I gave a similar inside look into my work 2 week ago when I returned to middle school.

I found out 2 years ago that Julian was hosting a Career Exploration Day, and I was eager to participate as a presenter on my library work.  Then I returned last year.

Back in January 2026, I saw that CED was expanding to Brooks, and I was excited about participating in both days.

So on April 22, I left work early and returned to Oak Park.  After gathering my materials, I walked due east from homebase to Julian, arriving around noon.  As I walked in, a fellow presenter noted the fire truck parked out front and said, "How can we compete with the fire truck?"

Following lunch with fellow presenters, I headed to the room for my presentation, B107.

Right around 1 PM, the first group of students arrived, a 6th grade group that was very well-mannered.

It has been particularly special for these three years to participate in Career Day and connect with current Julian students, especially when I mention that I was once a student there.

As I was setting up in my room at Julian, I noticed a sign near the door that said, "Having fun isn't hard when you've got a library card."  It immediately reminded me of the wonderful song in Arthur.  Toward the start of my presentations, I showed them my four library cards.

My 8 presentations over the course of the two days followed a similar format of introducing myself, sharing a little bit about libraries, and giving them an inside look at the catalog as seen in the Staff View available in the Aspen catalog display used by Addison and other SWAN libraries.  I also showed them the Library of Congress Authority Files website that has the standardized versions of people, places, events, and other subjects that are used in cataloging.  And I talked a little bit about the methods we use for organizing materials.

Toward the start of my presentations, I mentioned that librarianship is all about connecting people with information, which they can use in meaningful ways.  Cataloging is about using methods to make library materials and resources available to patrons.  MARC records compile information about a resource that is used to help patrons find materials in the catalog.

After telling them about my work, I gave them the chance to choose an activity to do in which they would think about these methods, just as I gave them the chance to tell me which Addison Public Library shirt I would wear during my presentation.

One activity was about organizing a random list of items, which I used as a way to explain how libraries organize materials, and two of the major classification schemes used are the Dewey Decimal System and the Library of Congress System.

Another activity I offered as an option was about determining a category for a book, based on two examples of books in which I had to think with extra effort when giving them a category, Mellon vs. Churchill, about the relationship of Andrew Mellon and Winston Churchill regarding money in the 1920s, and the cookbook Steak and Cake.

I gave four possibilities of categories and then assigned each category to a corner of the room and directed them to get up and go to the corner corresponding with their choice. Then I had them talk with someone nearby to discuss their reasons for their choice.  When I solicited responses, there were some interesting ideas about categories to use for the books.

At the end, I had time for Q&A.  I liked hearing questions from the students, seeing how they engaged with what I had presented.

During my presentation to a 7th grade group at Julian, we did the activity with the Steak and Cake book, and then a student got interested in the Mellon vs. Churchill book and even went so far as to ask if it was on shelf at the Oak Park Public Library.

One of my favorite parts of the two days was when I noticed a student at Brooks wearing a sweatshirt that said, "Reading is My Favorite Sport".

I'm glad that I was able to connect with the Brooks students so well, drawing upon the same content in my presentation.

It was such an energizing experience.  Part of what motivated me to be part of Career Day at Julian 2 years ago was my connection to today's Oak Park middle schoolers through RE.  I am so grateful for all who organized and faciliated this amazing opportunity for me and the other presents.  I also am grateful for the students who volunteered to help and even escort me around Brooks.

I take great delight in imparting to others what I have to offer from my knowledge base.  While I keep learning, I know that I have so much to share as I strive to fulfill my life's vocation.

Above and directly below are photos of my presentation at Julian, taken by one of the teachers with the group that came.

Above and below are photos of when I was presenting at Brooks, taken by Ms. Fillyaw.

Dad photographed me inside the Library of Congress.

Huzzah: Partying like 1751

March 16 is an annual opportunity for me to party like it's 1991 all over again as I celebrate my birthday.

This year, I had the opportunity to party like it's 1751 with my birthday friend James Madison.

Since we share a birthday, I thought it would be great to visit Montpelier, his estate on March 16.

I felt 2026 was a good time to make this idea a reality because this year marked 275 years since his birth.  At some point in 2025, Mom, Dad, and I made the arrangements.

Then came departure day on Saturday, March 14. It was a whirlwind of a day with two Confirmation Masses.  After I went to the Sunday Vigil Mass, I got my last minute details addressed with my luggage.  Then, fellow parishioner Brian took me to Chicago Union Station.  

Here's the information board.  My train, #41, is near the top of the Departures display.

As I walked into the entrance near the Jackson Boulevard Bridge at the Chicago River, I could see the distinct green color still present--please see the photo below.

Inside, there were throngs still lingering from festivities earlier in the day.  I managed to get through a line quickly at Sbarro to get a piece of sausage pizza, in the spirit of Pi Day--please see the photo below--and then onto Amtrak train #41, the Floridian.  It departed at 6:40 PM CDT.  (Please note that all times in this post are EDT, unless otherwise noted.)

After a flurry of activity all day, I settled down into my seat as the train headed eastward.

The following morning, on Sunday, March 15, the person sitting next to me departed early upon reaching Connellsville, PA.  I then slid over to the seat he vacated by the window and rested for a while.

A little later, I went to the dining car for breakfast.  A woman and her granddaughter sat on the opposite side of the table, and I enjoyed their company.  I had French toast with chicken sausage and a touch of berries and whipped cream, with caramel sauce--please see the photo below.

Looking out the windows offered great views of the scenery of the Appalachian landscape.  East of Harpers Ferry came views of the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC, Metro Area.  A college student boarded at Rockville and took the seat next to me.  She moved once we reached Union Station.  During the time, I watched the livestream of Mass from BNSIC and a dedication ceremony of their new outdoor Stations of the Cross, and I passed right by the basilica while it was live.

At Washington, D.C., the car filled up again, mostly with people bound for Richmond.  As the train emerged from the tunnel underneath the US Capitol Complex and through central Washington, D.C., I heard a delightful exchange between a child and parent as they bid farewell to the city.  Then the train crossed the Potomac and entered Virginia, right at Arlington.  Continuing along, it was interesting to hear the conversations about life in Virginia, including its education system, during the approximately 2-hour journey south.  During that time, I watched the livestream of Vespers from the BNSIC.

The train arrived at the Richmond Staples Mill Road station shortly before 5 PM.  

I liked the mural that appeared at the Richmond station.

It was pleasantly spring-like as I stepped off the train and walked to the end of the platform and into the station building.  Within a few minutes, Mom and Dad arrived.  We decided to head for dinner at a nearby Cracker Barrel. During the drive, I returned the call from my friend Matthew.

It was wonderful to enjoy the offerings of Cracker Barrel.  At the end of our meal, I got beignets to take with me as my birthday month treat.

The server who brought us our food got this photo of us before we enjoy dinner.

We drove about an hour east to Williamsburg, where we were staying at the Club Wyndham Governor's Green Resort.  After settling in, I went to the Carriage House, which was the recreation center, and spent a few minutes in the pool.

The next morning, Monday, March 16, I awoke with a sense of excitement as I began my birthday, even though the faintest light of day was still emerging.

By 7:45, we were on our way for our day outing.  First, we drove about an hour to Richmond and stopped at St. Edward the Confessor Parish for 9 AM Mass.  The celebrant priest offered a great message about how being alive each day is a miracle, a message I heard from Matthew Kelly in a Best Lent Ever video, and it was fitting for this special day of mine.

Above is inside the sanctuary and below is the outside entrance.

After Mass, as I filled up my water bottle, Mom got a call from Montpelier saying that they were ending tours early that day because of impending severe weather conditions, and they offered to rebook us to an earlier time from our originally scheduled 3 PM tour time.  I said we could leave the church immediately and head straight to Montpelier.

We rode for a little more than an hour to get there, with some rainy periods at times.  After exiting I-64, we drove through rolling hills of central Virginia's farm country.  Close to Montpelier, I was delighted to see a rainbow appear just above the hills.

Shortly after 11 AM, we arrived.  It was raining steadily as we exited the car, and we went straight into the Visitors' Center.  We spent a while looking around while waiting for our tour time.  I got to see the wreaths that were intended for James Madison's gravesite as part of his birthday festivities, which was changed to an indoor ceremony.

Above shows all the wreaths in the meeting space in the Visitors' Center and below is a close-up of two wreaths in the collection.

Mural of the Constitutional Convention

Mural of taking down the George Washington portrait in the White House during the War of 1812

Mom photographed me by a bust of James Madison with a Happy Birthday sign.  Below, I appear with my US presidential portrait t-shirt

US Constitution display outside the Visitors' Center

Mom took me here posing with James and Dolley Madison outside the Visitors' Center.

The Visitors' Center

As the clock got closer to noon, we walked to the house for our noon tour.  There was a group of archaeology students from nearby James Madison University who were part of the group.  

Someone in our tour group photographed the three of us before the tour began.

After a brief wait on the porch, our tour guide Alyssa emerged and welcomed us.  The tour took us through the various rooms as Alyssa told stories about James Madison's life, what each room was, and some of the features.  I was particularly intrigued in the main parlor by several pieces of religious artwork, some specifically Catholic, including a bust of John Carroll, the first Catholic Bishop in the USA, and a giant painting of the scene when the Risen Christ breaks bread at Emmaus.  There were beds in rooms on both floors becuase at a certain point, Mr. Madison's health declined and he slept on the main floor, and Dolley then did, too.  We finished our tour on the upper level in the library room, which was filled with numerous books.

Main entryway

This room was near the entrance of the house. So far as I can remember, Alyssa told stories about it connected with James's childhood and parents.

An early version of a piano in the main parlor, with portraits of James and Dolley

Painting of the Emmaus scene in the main parlor

Bust of Bishop John Carroll, the first Roman Catholic Bishop in the USA

In the main dining room, Alyssa tells stories about visitors to Montpelier.

Dolley used this space as her bedroom when James's health made him unable to reach the 2nd floor later in life.

A globe in the corner of the room shown above.

Here's a desk for James Madison in the room on the main level that had his bed, which is shown below.

Above and below are views of the upstairs bedroom that James and Dolley shared.

Inside James's personal library room

Mom photographed me inside the library room.

A view out a window looking onto a ledge.

Upon finishing, we walked back to the Visitors' Center.  While Mom stepped inside, I dashed over to the family cemetery to see the graves there.  Once I got back to the parking lot, we began our journey to the next stop of our outing.

About 40 minutes later, we were in Charlottesville and arrived at Michie's Tavern.  I have fond memories of lunch there on past vacations, so I was glad Mom suggested it for this day.  The meal was as memorable as in the past, with a great buffet of Southern food in a splendid 18th Century atmosphere.  The offerings included fried chicken, pulled pork, stewed tomatoes, green beans, and biscuits.  For dessert, we shared a peach cobbler.

One of our wonderful servers photographed us right before we started lunch.

  

Here's my lunch tray.

Peach cobbler a la mode for dessert

Inside Michie's Tavern, showing the doorway leading to the buffet self-serve area

The view from the Michie's Tavern parking lot

Mom photographed me in front of Michie's Tavern.

Filled by our wonderful lunch, we began our journey back to Williamsburg, and arrived around 5 PM.

A little while later, we played Scrabble.  Then, we had a light dinner, which included chicken meatballs.  Right as I was about to share Scripture and then be serenaded in front of a muffin with a candle, the Ruggabers called, and we chatted briefly, which was notable because they lived for many years near Williamsburg in Newport News.  Once I finished that phone call, we shared Scripture, and then Mom and Dad sang for me.

Our Scrabble game

In front of my birthday treat, as photographed by either Mom or Dad

The predicted stormy weather had passed by that evening and there was a splendid sunset that we could see from the window doors leading to the patio of our unit--please see photo below.

The next morning, after I had breakfast, Dad and I went to 9 AM Mass at St. Bede Parish.  I have fond memories of Mass there many years ago and I was glad to be back in the round sanctuary encountering the Lord.

Exterior of St. Bede

Interior of St. Bede

After we returned to the resort, I did some last-minute tasks and packing.  Shortly after 11 AM, we three departed for the Richmond Staples Mill Road Amtrak Station, arriving around 12:30 or so.

Mom photographed me inside the station

Train #1040, which I rode back to Chicago, appears at the top of the Train Information display.

I waited about an hour and a half for my train, spending the time surfing the Internet.  The train arrived around 2:30.  As it headed north, I put on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  

Ashland, VA

At the Alexandria Amtrak Station, I could see the hotel where my parents and I stay during our yearly Washington, D.C., Area trips, past the King Street-Old Town Metro Station.

The train crossed the George Washington Memorial Parkway before exiting Virginia.

I can see two different Acela trainsets.

Crossing the Potomac from Maryland into West Virginia at Harpers Ferry.

It was splendid to see the WDC Metro Area and then view the trains moving in and out of Union Station.

The next morning, there was a splendid sunrise as the train crossed from Ohio into Indiana.  The ground was covered with a light snowfall.  The train made great timing and arrived at Chicago Union Station around 9:30.

Sunrise

West of South Bend, I could see the South Shore Line tracks.

The engine of the train I rode upon arrival at Chicago Union Station.

To access our unit and other areas of the resort, we got wristbands, which had printed on them, "Live your bucket list."  

Yet rather than think of myself in a frenzy to complete certain things before my death, I prefer to focus on making the most of this life with meaningful experiences that are part of my "Golden List".  I am glad that this trip gave me the opportunity to complete a Golden List item, which was to visit Montpelier and to do so on March 16.  Even with the rainy weather, I felt like I was walking on sunshine.

I have visited many homes of presidents and other figures from history, and doing so is an opportunity to connect with the person on a deeper level, and even the times in which the person lived.  I liked how the narration of the tour at Montpelier drew upon what was in the room to share stories about James Madison's, as well as Dolley's.

It was fitting that on the day I reached the age of 35, the minimum age to be eligible to be US president, that I visited a presidential home.

I was glad to share this "Golden List" experience with Mom and Dad.  I'm grateful for all they did to arrange for our time together, and for Dad's chaffeuring.  It reminded me of our Williamsburg vacation in the summer 2009, which was a great time.

In this year marking the 250th Anniversary of US independence, it was a wonderful opportunity to connect with James Madison's story, who contributed so much to this country.  We can ponder what the USA is about by looking more closely at the founding era, and then consider how we can draw upon it to build up this country today.  Virginia had so much to contribute, and its founding era history is still very much on display.  The 18th Century touches, especially on houses, make Virginia so classy.

Traveling by train was a great way to connect with this country, taking another ride on a route that I've become so familiar with, a ride that connects me to the heart of the USA and its founding principles.  At the time of year when I celebrate my birthday, it was a wonderful way to experience what brings meaning to life.

This trip had so many ways to connect with history.  As I celebrated the start of my own life story on my birthday, this year I saw it in light of the story of James Madison's life and I could see my place in the incredible story of the USA.

Display at the entrance of Montpelier

Dad photographed me by the door of our unit.  I celebrate my birthday on March 16, and in 2026, the 250th Anniversary of US independence, I connected with James Madison's part in the story of the USA.