Springing Deeply into Summerland USA

Signs of spring were just starting to emerge in Chicagoland, with more temperate temperatures on Thursday, February 25, 2021.  And that evening, as I walked up my block to catch the Blue Line train east, navigating around large piles of snow that persisted from earlier in the month, I was on my way to jump straight to an experience of summer in the farthest southern reaches of the coterminous USA, in the Miami area.  But this trip would be about more than being in warm temperatures, because it would also be a time to be present with family.

The daylight was fading as I reached downtown Chicago and entered Union Station, around 6 PM. I got great glimpses of the lingering sunset colors to the west along Jackson Boulevard, and the moon rising up next to the Sears Tower to the east.

It wasn't too long of a wait to hear the boarding call for train #30, the eastbound Capitol Limited to Washington, DC, the first train I would ride to reach Florida.

The departure information board at Union Station, showing train #30 in the 3rd line from the top.

I felt the lurch of the train's forward movement right about on time at 6:40 PM CST, beginning a journey on a route I've become closely familiar with during multiple rides.

We soon exited Illinois and passed into Indiana, which brought to my mind thoughts of my friends from there and my time at ValpU.

Around 10 PM EST, I joined the Bible study hosted by Roy, one of those ValpU friends, by calling in to the Zoom session he hosts regularly.  We finished around 11:40 PM, and I soon went to sleep.

(Please note, all times in this post are EST, except for going between my home in Oak Park and Chicago Union Station, which are stated in CST.  And all photos in this post are mine, unless otherwise noted.)

The train got behind schedule during the overnight hours, and when the sun rose--please see photo below--on the morning of Friday, February 26, we were in eastern Ohio.  

I watched the train pass into Pennsylvania, just east of East Palestine, OH, and then we reached Pittsburgh.  By this point, it looked very likely I would be unable to make the connection to the southbound Silver Star train #91 at Washington, DC, based on how late we would likely arrive.  The conductor explained that those of us to be affected by this missed connection should contact Amtrak's customer service number regarding our options.  When I did so, I was told to wait until I arrived in Washington, D.C., to speak with staff there.  I soon realized my options would likely be to wait a day to catch the next train bound for Florida, or get on an airplane to make the rest of my journey.  I got a hold of my parents, who offered to help get me down to Florida without a daylong delay, offers that brought me great consolation.  As I sorted through how to respond to this predicament, it was so soothing to watch the mountain streams and forests pass by outside the window.  I also started listening to the audiobook version of Sisters First, by the Bush twin sisters.

As we got closer to Washington, D.C., I got a welcome surprise:  The crew announced train #91 would be held over in Washington, D.C., for our arrival.  So I would be able to travel south by train after all, although this would delay my arrival at my destination in Florida.

We reached Washington, DC, Union Station around 4:40 PM.  The Amtrak staff escorted a group of us making the transfer over the platform where train #91 was waiting, and we boarded.  I got myself settled, got connected to the Wifi, and got busy with various activities on the Internet.  I also ate a vegan burger for dinner.

We ended up departing at 7 PM, because there was a delay in getting a diesel engine for our train going south, as the electric engine is only used for the Silver Star between New York City and Washington, D.C.  After the stop at Richmond about 2 hours later, I got myself ready to bed down for the night.  I awoke to glimpse some of the stops in North Carolina.

After stopping in Columbia, SC, between 5 and 6 AM, on the morning of Saturday, February 27, the daylight started to emerge.  (Below, the photo shows the sunrise.)

At our stop in Denmark, SC, the train waited to depart while the engine's computer did some kind of upload, according to the announcement.  We reached Savannah around 9 AM.  Within 2 hours, the train crossed the St. Mary's River, and I was in Florida once again.  When I stepped off the train for fresh air at Jacksonville--please see the photo below--it was clear that I had entered Summerland USA, with abundant warmth and sunshine.

We traveled along in northern Florida, with lots of tree strands and even tree farms, some of the memories I recalled of my last Florida trip 4 years ago.  We had another fresh air stop at Orlando between 3-4 PM, with the sun and warmth still in full force.  All the while, I kept company with the interesting mix of people riding the train.

We reached Tampa around 6:15 PM, as the sun was setting, although it took a long time for the train to do its reverse maneuver to enter the Tampa train station, and we got there around 7 PM.  It was nice to see Tampa lit up at night, especially the area around Ybor City near the station.  It was dark as we pulled out of Tampa and then started eastward, speeding along with little further delay.  Meanwhile, the train crew handed out snack boxes, the third time they had handed out snacks as a way to make up for the delay.

The stop at Okeechobee in particular brought back memories from 4 years ago, as that was the station where I detrained.  I rested in my seat after that stop until close to my arrival at Deerfield Beach, around 11 PM.  I was grateful my parents waited up to get me.  We headed straight to the family Subaru and then right to the resort, Club Wyndham Sea Gardens in Pompano Beach, and then to bed.

The photo above shows my bedroom.  Directly below shows the dining table in our common area.

Above shows the seating in the common area leading to the balcony, and below is a view out the balcony.

It was a pleasantly sunny morning on Sunday, February 28, when I awoke.  Dad came back from the nearby St. Gabriel Parish with breakfast for us made there: pancakes, sausages, and eggs.  We then walked the 5-minute commute to attend Mass there at 9:30 AM.

The inside of the St. Gabriel sanctuary

After Mass, we returned to our accommodations, and spend the next few hours relaxing.  

View of the landscaped area at the resort

Mom and I went to one of the pools, and then I walked over to the Atlantic Ocean to put in my feet at the beach specifically designated for guests at our resort.  

View out of the balcony during a sudden, brief rain show.

Later on, I walked to the Pompano Beach Pier.

Above and below are views from the Pompano Beach Pier

Around 4:15, Mom, Dad, Uncle Brian, and I got in the family Subaru, and headed to downtown Hollywood, FL.  Uncle Brian had come along to join us per a last-minute invitation.  We met up with Naomi and Eric for dinner at Krakatoa, an Indonesian restaurant.  It was a distinctly interesting experience to try Indonesian food.  I had a dish with beef, tomatoes, cabbage, and rice in a conical shape.  I also had a Happy Soda, with boba bubbles and strawberry flavoring--please see the photo below that shows the food I had.  

It was such a wonderful evening to pass the time in our alfresco seating, and be together as a family.  I delighted to see Naomi and Eric for the first time in months.

One of our servers took this photo.  Going around the table clockwise, starting from the far left of the photo is Dad, me, Naomi, Eric, Mom, and Uncle Brian, with the purple shirt.

Hollywood Boulevard was splendidly lit up as we walked back to our respective parking places a few blocks west of the restaurant.

Above and below are scenes in downtown Hollywood, FL, along Hollywood Boulevard

After reaching Pompano Beach, but before returning to the resort, we stopped at Publix to grocery shop, including for tomorrow's outing.

Mom and I woke a little bit on the early side the next morning, Monday, March 1.  By 6:30, we were at the beach to watch the sunrise over the Atlantic.  The sun looked marvelous as it broke through clouds low on the horizon--please see the photo below.

Facing west from the ocean, the moon still appears high in the sky around the time of sunrise as the moon moves towards its setting in the west.

A little later, I joined Dad for Mass at St. Gabriel at 8 AM.  Following breakfast, around 9:00-9:15, we three departed for our day's excursion to Everglades National Park.  By 11 AM, we had arrived at the park, and stopped briefly at the Ernest F. Coe Visitors' Center.  We drove on a major park road from there to the Flamingo Visitor Center.  We stopped at various points to walk on trails and view the great diversity of plant life in the Everglades.  There were spots with clusters of trees, but also wide swaths of sawgrass that look very much like the wide open prairie spaces of the Great Plains.

Around 1 PM or so, we reached the area by the Flamingo Visitors' Center.  We found a picnic bench to eat lunch, which was sandwiches we got from Publix.  I was impressed with my lemon sage turkey sandwich.  While there, we saw an alligator, or perhaps a crocodile, resting in the water near a boat launch ramp.  Going to that particular spot established a new record of the southernmost extent I've traveled in the conterminous USA.

Then we turned around and drove back along the same road, stopping more than once to take short hikes.  We saw lots of white birds.

The Pinelands Trail

Above is the view from the Pa-hay-okee Overlook. Below is a photo Dad took of me posing on the observation platform of the overlook.

Above is a view of the walkway by the Pa-hay-okee Overlook.

Above is the walkway in the Mahogany Hammock.

Above is the alligator, or crocodile, resting in the water by a boat launch at Flamingo.

Above is the path of the Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm, and below is a walkway for the Anhinga Trail through the marshy area.

Above, Dad took a photo of me standing in the trees on the Gumbo Limbo Trail.

About an hour or so later, we exited the park and drove back to Pompano Beach.  We arrived shortly after 5 PM, and I went to the central pool in the resort complex with the remaining time available before they closed.  When I returned to our unit, I watched the sunset over the Intracoastal Waterway--please see the photo below.  We had dinner around 6:30.

Mom and I went back to the beach shortly before 9 PM to watch the moonrise over the Atlantic.  It started as a small reddish ball and then rose higher to take on the usual white glow of the sun's reflection on it.  The photo below shows the moon well above the horizon, with glimmers on the surface of the ocean.

The next morning, Tuesday, March 2, following breakfast, Mom and I went to the pool.  By 11 AM, we were ready to begin our day outing to Miami.  By noon, we had arrived in Miami City Center and found a parking spot in a lot underneath I-95.  We walked west on 8th Street, seeking to take in the Cuban flavor of the street, which slowly became more noticeable the further west we walked.  We stopped for lunch at Fonda la Chismosa, a Colombian restaurant.  

Above shows the inside of the restaurant, and below shows the outside.

I had beef with tomatoes, rice, and platanos maduros, or cooked plaintains, which you can see in the photo below.  I traded some platanos with Mom so she could have some and I could have some of her tostones, or fried plaintains.

Once we finished with lunch, we continued west, and the heat was more intense, feeling close to 90, with plenty of sunshine.  

Above shows the view looking east along 8th Street.

Dad got the above photo of me with the Little Havana Visitor Center behind me.

This photo above shows the Tower Theatre and Maximo Gomez Park to the left of it, famous for domino games.

We stopped for ice cream at Azucar.  I got the flavor called Abuela Maria, with cheesecake, pieces of graham-like cracker, and some kind of berry flavor.  Then we turned back east, and switched over to 7th Street to return to the family Subaru.  

Then we drove the short distance to the condo of Naomi, Eric, and Weasley, arriving around 2:45.  Eric met us at the building door, and when we reached their door, Eric held Weasley back.  Weasley was so wound up upon our arrival, and it took a while before he settled down on his blanket in the entryway.  But then I roused him again when I attempted to pose for photos with him.  Dad must have taken 13 shots before he got one with Weasley looking toward the camera, as he squirmed so much, and even gave me a dog kiss--two of those photos are below.  I sent these photos to my colleagues at work, who got a kick out of them, as they remember all the stories about him from the first year he was in the family.

Naomi arrived home from work a few minutes after our arrival and joined us in our visit.  Eric had the big news to share about his new job, rendering this visit our last with them in Miami as their home.  Around 3:30, we three departed, and soon enough, we were crawling along I-95 in the thick of PM traffic.  

Upon reaching Pompano Beach, we stopped at Publix again before returning to our resort.  Following dinner, I wrote postcards, and then got ready for teaching Religious Education class at 8 PM.  It was kind of fun to host class from Florida, and I'm grateful for the wonders of INternet technology that made it possible.  I referred back to my last trip to Florida when I visited Mission Nombre de Dios, where Mass was celebrated for the first time in the present-day USA.  Once class was over, I walked over to the Atlantic to listen to the soothing sound of the waves at night for one final time.

The next morning, Wednesday, March 3, I was up around 7 AM.  After breakfast, and getting myself packed, Dad and Mom took me to the Deerfield Beach station.  We took a scenic drive along A1A.  Below is a photo from that drive below by the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse.

The two photos below are scenes from the Deerfield Beach Amtrak/Tri-Rail station.

Amtrak train #98, the northbound Silver Meteor, arrived shortly after 9 AM, and I was on my way north.  I recognized the car attendant crew from the southbound train a few days before.  

It was special to ride the train through the length of the Florida peninsula as a way to celebrate the anniversary of Florida's statehood on March 3, 1845.

The view of I-95 from onboard the train

Once we got past West Palm Beach, we headed in a northwesterly direction through large swaths of orange groves, a quintessential Florida scene.  Slowly but surely, the train filled up with passengers.

For lunch, I enjoyed another lemon sage turkey sandwich, which I had bought again at Publix because I enjoyed the one before so much.

It was still warm and sunny when I stepped off the train at Orlando for fresh air around 1 PM.

Above is the Orlando station, and below is the scene of Central Park by the Winter Park, FL, Amtrak station.

By the time we got to Jacksonville, there was a distinct change in weather.  It had evidently been raining earlier, and the sky was still cloudy, and the temperature felt like it was maybe in the 50s, a departure from summery weather for sure.

Soon enough, I departed Florida as the train crossed the St. Mary's River and headed into Georgia.  When I stepped off for fresh air at Savannah, the temperature felt as in Jacksonville, but it didn't feel as drastically cool.

Shortly after that stop, I joined my faith-sharing group by calling in to the Zoom session as we crossed the Savannah River into South Carolina.  We wrapped up within an hour by the time we reached Yemassee.

At North Charleston, I noticed the splendid station remodeling that had taken place since the last time I was there when I had a trip to North Myrtle Beach.

I stepped off at Florence, SC, for fresh air and then got settled back for sleep.

We picked up some delays overnight, and the train was running about 2 hours late by the time it reached Richmond, VA.  The sun shone brightly that morning of Thursday, March 4, as we hugged the Potomac River heading north toward the Washington, D.C., area.

Shortly after 9 AM, I disembarked at Alexandria.  I walked over to a nearby commercial complex and found some breakfast at a local coffee shop.  Then I headed to the King Street Metro Station and rode a few stops north to Pentagon City.  Then, I walked over to my AirBnb accommodations on the other side of the Arlington Ridge.  Once I get settled and then oriented for my day outing, I walked back to the Metro and rode it to Brookland-CUA and then walked over to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  My visit there reinforces how Washington, D.C., has become a sort of spiritual pilgrimage destination for me, in addition to the aspect of how it is the seat of the US government.

I arrived there well in advance of the 12:10 Mass.  Even with all the limitations in place for visits, it was still an awe-inspiring experience to sit in the Great Upper Church and gaze around and up at the immense beauty, especially with the recently completed Trinity Dome.

Following Mass, ushers directed everyone outside, and I re-entered the church to shop in the gift shop for Holy Spirit socks, and then light a prayer candle.

I then meandered through the nearby neighborhood to see if there was a suitable place for lunch.  I kept walking northeast, intending to visit the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land.  I soon stumbled upon San Antonio Grill, where I decided to sit down and order a tasty taco lunch, with great service from the staff.

Then I walked east to the monastery, which has recreations of sites in the Holy Land.  While the church wasn't open, I walked around the grounds and gardens.

Above is a replica of the Portiuncula Chapel.

Above is a replica of the Church of the Ascension.

Above shows a view of the entrance area of the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land.

I then walked back west to board the Red Line train at the Brookland-CUA station.  I ended up at the Tenleytown-AU Station, which had a Capitol Bikeshare Station.  I got a bike and headed northwest on River Road.  Within a short distance, I reached Western Avenue, where I exited the District of Columbia and entered Maryland--please see the photo below of the intersection of River Road and Western Avenue. 

As I continued, I followed the land up and down along low-rising hills.  I mostly followed River Road, and then switched for a short distance on Goldsboro Road, which took me to Clara Barton National Historic Site, which preserves her home in Glen Echo--please see the photo below.  As I biked toward the street leading to the home, I saw a group of teenagers on a run, and I'm fairly certain among them was Justice Brett Kavanaugh's older daughter Margaret.

After taking a look at the home and getting some photos, I retraced my path back to Tenleytown.  Once I docked the bike back at the station, I walked to Fort Reno Park and summitted the highest point of elevation in Washington, D.C., at 410 feet.  

Above, you can see my feet before the marker denoting this spot as the highest point of elevation in Washington, D.C., and below is a close-up.

Above shows the spot on the hill where the highest point marker is located, and below is a view of the setting sun over the park.

Above is a view of the ground rising toward the high point.

Subsequently, I walked back to the Tenleytown-AU Metro Station and started my way back to my accommodations.  While riding, as I flipped through a walking tour guidebook, I noticed that there was an outdoor exhibit at the Department of Transportation building.  I decided on a whim to postpone my arrival back in Arlington and go see the exhibit.  I transferred to the Green Line and rode it to the Navy Yard-Ballpark Station.  It was after 6 PM when I arrived, and the daylight was fading from the sky.  I walked around the DOT building and looked at the displays on the development of transportation in the USA.  

Directly above and below are photos of the outdoor exhibit.

Directly above is the Department of Transportation building at New Jersey Avenue and M Street SE.

As I rounded the west side of the building, I looked straight northwestward up New Jersey Avenue to see the dome of the US capitol, splendidly lit up at night--please see photo below.  It was a special scene to behold on March 4, the anniversary of when Congress first met, thereby enacting the US Constitution, and also the day designated in the past for many presidential inaugurations.

After 7 PM, I arrived back at the Pentagon City Metro Station.  On my walk back to my accommodations, I stopped at Harris Teeter and got myself a meatball sandwich for dinner and a yogurt parfait.  I then relaxed and unwound in my room, which was a fine space, shown in the photo below.  

A little later, at 10 PM, I joined my friend Roy's Bible study group again.

Here are views from Prospect Hill Park: above is at night, as I walked back to my accommodations.  Below is the following morning.  The Washington Monument appears distinctly near the center of each photo, and closer to the foreground is the Pentagon.

I was up by 8 AM the following morning, Friday, March 5.  After some time in my room, about 10 AM, I departed for my outing of the day.  The temperature had dropped into the 30s, and with strong northwest winds, it felt like the 20s, quite a contrast from earlier in the week.  I rode the Metro from Pentagon City to McPherson Square.  I had the intention of looking around Lafayette Park, but it was barricaded.  So I walked west to see the Embassy of Mexico, as shown in the photo below.  

Then I walked east and north to the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, arriving around 11:30.  The photo below shows the exterior.

I spent time there in quiet prayer of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.  The Cathedral is a stunning place.

Above and below are views of the altar area inside the Cathedral.

Above is a view of the rotunda.

I departed there after noon, and walked around the nearby neighborhood, looking at statues and embassies, seeking to bear with the cold as much as I could.  I saw embassies for the Philippines, Peru, and Australia--the last of which is housed inside the National Geographic Society building, which you can see in the photo below.

By 1 PM, I got back on the Metro at Farragut North, and headed back to my accommodations.  I got packed up, and then boarded the Metro one final time for this stay.  It was another chance to take in the amazing views as we crossed the Potomac and then passed by the sites of the park areas by the west side of the National Mall before entering the tunnel.

The George Washington Memorial Parkway

Above is a view crossing the Potomac River, with the Washington Monument appearing toward the right. Below is a view before the train entered the tunnel, with the Jefferson Memorial near the center of the photo and the Washington Monument just to the right.

I arrived at Union Station around 3 PM.  One of the scenes I enjoy viewing there is Columbus Circle, lined by all the state flags.  Also while there, I shopped for more state pins at the Alamo Flag shopping stand.  I also went to get something to take for eating on the train: I stopped at Einstein Brothers Bagels to get a Veg Out Bagel sandwich.  Then I was on my way toward the platform to board Amtrak train #29, the westbound Capitol Limited to Chicago--please see photo below.

Train information board at Union Station.  Train #29, the westbound Capitol Limited, appears toward the top, on the 4th line from the top, with yellow surrounding the word "Boarding".

We departed right about on time at 4:05 PM.  I settled in as the District of Columbia gave way to Maryland.  I enjoyed the tasty Veg Out bagel and also listened to more of Sisters First audiobook.  I stepped off to walk around on the platform at Cumberland.  After I went to sleep, I woke up to walk around when we reached Pittsburgh, and then admired the lights of the city as we headed away from the Amtrak station there.

The next morning, Saturday, March 6, I watched the sunrise over Toledo as we waited to move around a dysfunctional freight train.  

Sunrise in Toldeo, with the Anthony Wayne Bridge in the center of the photo

After sitting at the station for a long time, we ended up going in reverse out of the station for quite a distance to get on different tracks so we could head west.  It was a pleasantly sunny day as we headed west into Indiana, passing through large fields.  After South Bend, it was nice to see the scenery of the Dunes country in Northwest Indiana, and then glimpses of Lake Michigan.  

Above is a view of the scenery by the Indiana Dunes National Park, probably close to Portage, IN.  Below is a view of Lake Michigan from Lake County, IN.

We arrived at Chicago Union Station around 11 AM CST.  After getting a bite to eat, I boarded the Blue Line, and was home around 12 noon CST, with a nice spring feel to the air and plenty of sunshine.

Southern Florida's biggest draw is warm temperatures and sunshine, with much development to cater to those who want to soak in all of that.  Yet I couldn't help but feel a strong sense of connection to nature during my stay in Florida.  It was so wonderful to go for a short walk to the Atlantic Ocean, and the soothing nature of the sound of the waves stood out to me like I have never noticed before in my life.  I felt so drawn to keep going over the beach to listen to that sound.  It gave me a whole new sense of Florida as a place to go for rest and relaxation.

I also got a newfound appreciation for the nature of Florida by visiting the Everglades National Park.  The signage on the trails certainly went a long way in helping me learn more about and appreciate the great variety of nature in the Everglades, down to the fine details, in addition to the vast, sweeping vistas.

That is one place I was eager to visit on this trip, having heard so much about it, just as was the case with visiting Calle Ocho, considering it contributes to Miami's distinct Hispanic, especially Cuban, component.  I had thought we might end up eating some Cuban food, but the Colombian restaurant had a delicious meal, and much of the cuisine aligned with dishes typical to the Caribbean region.  Calle Ocho is certainly a colorful place, and I enjoyed seeing the Cuban themes and decorations while strolling.

And, of course, this trip was special as an opportunity to be present with Naomi, Eric, and Weasley, to reinvigorate those ties I have with them.  It touched something within me to have the joy of visiting with them, with the fine meal we had in Hollywood, and then in their home in Miami, especially as a way to mark the end of their time in Miami before their move.

But beyond seeing those three, I noticed that Mom more than once expressed her delight that I could be present in Florida with her and Dad.  It was a long time coming, since circumstances prevented me from traveling with them the last time they went there.  Truly, it had been a long time since I joined Mom and Dad for travels, and it was special to have this opportunity, to share the experience of reconnecting with Naomi, Eric, and Weasley, not to mention all the great sightseeing.

I also reconnected with my deep-seated penchant for traveling and seeing new places.  The last time I went to Florida was truly a time of discovery about a place I knew much about, but had yet to fully experience, and this trip was a way to build on that venture of discovery.  Traveling by train set the tone well for making the most of this experience, even despite some of the hassles and delays.  I could really connect with where I was traveling to by taking a different pace.  This trip demonstrated once again how Amtrak gives me more than just a service by transporting me from one place to another, but truly giving me an experience, making me ready to mark Amtrak's 50th anniversary on May 1, 2021.

I was glad to incorporate an overnight stay into the experience of tris trip, which gave me lots of time to sightsee, even more than what I've experienced before on layovers that are just a few hours.  Considering Eric's announcement that the three of them would be moving to Arlington, VA, as he started a new job in Washington, D.C., it was even more fitting to visit that city and its environs, and to spend the night in Arlington.

Furthermore, given how important faith is in my life, I always seek to have a distinct spiritual component to my travels, and there are so many beautiful churches and church institutions in Washington, D.C., that can make it a spiritual experience.  Especially in a time when new government terms start, it was fitting to be there and in a spirit of prayer for this nation.

And as the days drew near toward my milestone birthday when I turned 30, it was so marvelous to have this trip and reconnect with those aspects that speak to who I am as a person.

One other profound part of this trip has to do with teaching RE class, and it was apt that I paused my vacation for an hour or so on Tuesday evening to have class.  While doing class virtually may not be the most ideal format, it certainly helped we did class virtually this year so I could still be with my students even while 1300 miles away from Oak Park.  At the start of each year, it has become a custom for me to share that God is a vast mystery, like the ocean, and it seems nearly impossible to comprehend fully Who God is.  But God wants to be in a relationship with us, and so He reveals Himself to us in many ways, giving us floating devices so we can swim in the ocean.  My job as a catechist to give my students floaties and teach them how to swim.  I hold up a floating device when sharing this metaphor, and then I hold it up at the start of each class during the year.  

Wanting to be consistent with my usual way of starting class, I packed that floating device and brought it with me.  To make the metaphor more real, I took it with me on one of my many walks to the beach, and dipped it in the Atlantic Ocean.

I am grateful to God that this trip had many opportunities to become aware of, in new ways, the deeper realities of life.

These three photos below were all taken by passersby, who kindly granted my request for photos.

Here I am by the public beach at Pompano Beach.  I got this photo after two women stopped me to ask that I take a photo of them.

Here I am at the Atlantic shoreline, swimming in the "Ocean of God", as I tell my RE students, with the floating device I show at the start of each class..

Here I am posing by Amtrak train #98, the northbound Silver Meteor, at the station in Jacksonville.

Lifelong Learning at 5 Years

It's time to party like it's 2016 all over again as I mark the 5th anniversary of my MLIS graduation.

As a librarian, I recognize the importance of lifelong learning, which is one of the ALA core values of librarianship, and this occasion is a good opportunity to reflect on my own learning, even as my career is about helping others learn.

Much of my learning beyond school is a matter of considering new perspectives, which is in line with how my MLIS classes were filled with opportunities to gain new perspectives on information and knowledge.  Recently, at work, I was seeking to assign a call number to a book of recipes from Arab countries.  The Arab world includes countries in both Africa and Asia, but it wasn't easy to find a call number to encompass a region that spans two continents.  As I flipped through the book to see if I could uncover anything about its content that would help my decision, I saw the author discussed this very subject I was pondering toward the beginning of the book, and his long thought process to creating a suitable title for the book.  So the author's mind, and mine, were thinking pretty deeply when it comes to considering, in our respective work, the scope of the book.

That same day, I had to assign a call number to a book about working mothers and how they can handle family and household responsibilities while working at home.  I wasn't sure at first if the call number should reflect telecommuting or family responsibilities.  I sided with the latter, even though another cataloger could decide differently.

In fact, I sometimes check the SWAN or WorldCat catalog and see what other libraries use as a call number for a certain book, and in some cases, they can be quite varied.  It all comes down to the cataloger's judgment.

A couple of years ago, I was back at Julian giving a presentation for 8th graders on my work as a librarian.  Toward the end of the class period, I showed the students a copy of the book Whistlestop: My Favorite Stories from Presidential Campaign History.  I asked the students if they thought this book should be cataloged to be with books about political campaigns or US history, or perhaps even a different subject area.  I directed them to stand in a certain part of the classroom based on their response, and then talk with their classmates about their choices.  It was a great thinking exercise that I thought of almost spontaneously, which helped them get in the mind of a cataloger and how to make these decisions.

And while catalogers have rules to follow, there are instances when we deviate from rules to make materials more accessible.  Recently, a Youth Services librarian asked me to make changes to a collection of movies that had "Dragon" as the call number, because that is based on the item itself, and is reflected in their bibliographic records.  When I checked in with the librarian about her reasoning for requesting the change, she said that these movies were connected with the How to Train Your Dragon movies, and she wanted them to be kept together.  So ultimately, there was good reason to change the call number so that patrons could locate them more easily.  

Indeed, cataloging work is a type of art, with approaches as varied and numerous as the catalogers themselves, and there's a constant ebb and flow with how to apply the rules to ultimately make the resources accessible to the patrons.

After having spent time studying the theory of librarianship and its practices in classes, I continue my learning by applying them.

And I sense something similar happens with my faith.  I have important experiences with sacraments like baptism, first Holy Communion, and Eucharist.  Furthermore, I attend Mass on a regular weekly basis, and often on days during the week.  But there's so much more that I do with faith that extends from those experiences.

I am incredibly grateful to the ministry of Relevant Radio for helping people like me continue to learn about faith, especially by engaging with new perspectives on timeless principles of faith.

Sheila Liaugminas had a great program on Relevant Radio called A Closer Look, and she would  often interview people in academic and government about faith in the public square.  While it was sad to see her go, someone just as amazing took her place last summer.

Cale Clarke has a program that airs at 5 PM CT that I listen to regularly, especially as I drove home from work.  He was born and raised Roman Catholic, but became lukewarm in practicing faith by his college years.  He was reignited in faith when at Illinois State University through a series of interactions with Protestants and became a born-again Christian.  Eventually, he became a Protestant pastor.  But then, he reverted back to Roman Catholicism.  All the time on his program, he talks about our Sacred Tradition as Roman Catholics and gives thoughtful explanations, with topics including the intercession of the saints, especially the Blessed Mother, the papacy, and the Eucharist.  I have so many lightbulb moments when I heard him explain something.  And it may not be that I'm learning something totally new, but I'm learning nonetheless because I understand a topic in a new light.

Aligning closely with my professional work as a librarian is my work as a Religious Education catechist/teacher.  In both roles, I am accompanying people to help them access the information and resources they seek to live more meaningfully.

As part of teaching the 8th grade class, I accompany my students in preparation for Confirmation, and then in their continued formation afterward.

Classes this year mostly met online.  In the weeks leading up to the start of our year, I spent time with webinars learning tips for how to effectively teach class in the online format.  Despite what is obviously a less than ideal format, I actually really enjoyed teaching class.  That may have had something to do with how I've used technology so much throughout my years teaching RE that I already had some structure in place to transfer much of the content of class into the online format.  And I'm so grateful that Zoom gives me the ability to share my screen, which allowed me to use so many tools that I felt would make class engaging.  From there, I strived to find ways to make class interactive.  I know from the feedback I got from the students, there was a generally positive response, especially from one particular student who made it clear that he enjoyed class.

To extend the learning beyond our hourlong weekly classes, and to also encourage them to develop habits for continued spiritual growth, I would have the students complete a short activity outside of class time each week, especially since they needed to complete five faith-related activities, called Faith Boosters, as part of the preparation process, in addition to a couple of compositions and service hours.  I often drew from Relevant Radio resources as options for activities they could do.

At one point getting close to the year's end, I offered the opportunity to listen to a segment on The Cale Clarke Show in which Cale talks about the faith of Jackie Robinson.  Even though he was Protestant, his faith was deep, and an important part of his life.  Cale spent about 20 minutes discussing his faith and how it influenced his life and his baseball career.  Hearing this program segment took me back to the first class of the year, when we met in person at Church.  Two students arrived in their baseball outfits, which left an incredible impression on me about their passions in life.  They, along with at least one other person in class, mentioned their passion for baseball in response to a short series of questions I posed during that first class as a way to get to know them.

When I listened to that segment, I knew that this story would connect with these two students in particular, and would be a wonderful way for them to see the intersection of life, sports, and faith.  Along with the others who took up this option, they had some wonderful and in-depth reflections they shared with me about what they learned from that radio show segment.

I'm greatly heartened by how these circumstances came together, especially in how I could reach them by affirming their interests and giving them new insights about the connections with faith.

Indeed, lifelong learning is a wonderful opportunity to build upon the foundation of learning we gain early in life and to continue making connections by applying our knowledge.

Amtrak at 50: All About the Experience

As a major Amtrak fan, I'm excited to mark Amtrak's 50th birthday today, when all US passenger rail service was consolidated in this one company.

I have been stirred by a certain charm and magic that only train travel can conjure up, which I've felt more acutely in the past 8 years, during which I've done many trips by train.  It was something that started early in my life, with one particularly long train trip.  And playing the Amtrak version of the computer game Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego got me even more enthusiastic about Amtrak travel.

To celebrate Amtrak's major milestone occasion, I share here 50 memories to celebrate a half century of Amtrak.

The first train trip that I can recall was the Great Western USA Train Trip my family did in August 1997 (1).  We rode the Empire Builder (2) to Whitefish, MT, (3) where we spent multiple days visiting Glacier National Park.  We then boarded the Empire Builder again and rode it to Portland, OR (3).  After a layover of a few hours there, we rode the Coast Starlight (5) to Sacramento (6).  During a multi-day visit there, I particularly enjoyed a mall close to our hotel and Old Town Sacramento.  From there, we rode the California Zephyr (7) back east, stopping in Denver (8) to visit family before returning to Chicago.

In the spring of 1999, during spring break week of my 2nd grade school year, we traveled to Washington, D.C., riding there from Chicago and back onboard the Capitol Limited (9).  This trip would be the first of many rides I would take on this route.  One fond memory was making friends with a boy about a year younger than me who was riding the train with his mom on their way to Florida (10).  Also on that trip, an entertainer was on the train who made shaped balloons for kids (11).

We went to the Illinois State Fair in August 2002, and rode from Chicago to Springfield onboard the Texas Eagle (12).

Our 2004 summer trip was to Pagosa Springs, CO.  After consulting a road map, I suggested to my parents that we ride the train to New Meixco and drive up from Santa Fe.  They decided on that option, and so we rode the Southwest Chief (13) to Lamy (14).  From there, I experienced the fabulous city of Santa Fe before we continued north to Colorado.

Several years passed before I boarded another Amtrak train for a trip out of Chicagoland.  In the meantime, I enjoyed the festivities of National Train Day (15) starting in 2008 and for several years thereafter, which came to include an excursion train ride (16) in the rail yards by Chicago Union Station (17).

On March 15, 2012, during Spring Break of my 3rd year of college, I rode the Hiawatha Service (18) to the Milwaukee area (19) to visit my friend Matthew, who grew up there.  It was a nice, short ride, and reacquainted me with the beginning part of our family's Great Western Train Trip many years prior, which included a ride through Forest Glen, the Chicago neighborhood where my grandparents once lived.  I also got some good views of inner-city Milwaukee.

My next long-distance train trip was onboard the Texas Eagle (14).  I rode almost its whole length from Chicago to Austin (15), where I attended the 2013 AMS Annual Meeting in early January of that year.  This trip was my first time in Texas, and riding the Texas Eagle was a great way to get introduced to the land that is Texas, including the big cities of Dallas and Forth Worth, and the wide swaths of open land.  I took my first step onto Texas ground at the Amtrak station in Longview (16). It was also my first time going through Arkansas: I stepped off into Arkansas for the first time at the Texarkana station (17) on my way back. The state capitol in Little Rock was so splendidly lit up at night when we stopped there (18).  I rode next to someone who also attended the same conference, and it was interesting to get his perspective on why he chooses train travel and why it's workable.

Later that year, in October 2013, I went by train to the NWA Annual Conference in North Charleston, SC (19).  I rode the Capitol Limited to Washington, DC, where I had a layover for a few hours.  This trip would be the first of many times I would have layovers in Washington, D.C. (21)  Although the US government was in shutdown mode at the time of this trip, I still enjoyed my layovers there, going and returning.  From there, I rode the Silver Meteor train south (20).  I set foot in South Carolina for the first time in the early morning hours when we had a fresh air stop at Florence (21).  

After finishing graduate school, in June 2016, I attended the SLA Conference in Philadelphia.  After riding the Capitol Limited to Washington, D.C., I rode a Northeast Corridor train (23) for about two hours to reach Philadelphia (24).  It was really a thrill to travel at nearly 125 mph, the fastest I had ever traveled before on land, and I could feel the difference in speed.

My second trip that summer was to gather with extended family in Colorado, where we spent a weekend in Cripple Creek to celebrate my Great Aunt Carmen's 83-year birthday.  I rode the California Zephyr train to Denver, where I had good company with some people sitting behind me on the ride.  It was memorable to see Ottumwa once again (25), and then to watch the sunrise over the High Plains leading from Nebraska into Colorado.  After boarding the train back east, I had stunning views of an amazing sunset over the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains (26).

A few months later, I had a memorable start to 2017 when I traveled to Florida for a marriage celebration for Naomi and Eric.  It started with another trip on the Capitol Limited to Washington, D.C.  From there, I rode the Silver Star (27) to Okeechobee (28), my first time on that route.  It would be the first time I would travel to Florida since I was a toddler, and traveled on the train helped me soak in the scenery of the land of Florida while onboard, including the big cities like Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa, along with the large swaths of orange groves on the approach to Okeechobee.  I rode the Silver Meteor back from DeLand to Washington, D.C., and then returned to Chicago via the Cardinal (29), my first time on that route.  It had scenic views going into the Appalachian region of Virginia and then into West Virginia (30).  I had just gotten a computer as a gift, and it was great to use it while connected to the train's Wifi (31) for most legs of that trip.

I headed to the southeast again later that year, in May 2017, when I gathered with family in North Myrtle Beach to celebrate my Abuela's 80-year birthday (32).   I went to Washington, D.C., on the Capitol Limited, and then rode the Silver Meteor south to North Charleston.  I rode the Silver Meteor back to Washington, D.C., and then rode the Cardinal back to Chicago, which gave me the chance to see the great views along the New River Gorge, this time with later hours of daylight.

Two days after returning home from that trip, I set out again for the Pacific Northwest to visit my great friend Roy.  I rode the Empire Builder to Seattle and then back from Portland, my longest continuous train trips ever (33).  It was a great chance to reconnect with the Great Western Train Trip 20 years prior, which included some of the same amazing views of the Mississippi River between Wisconsin and Minnesota, then the Missouri River, the vast plains of the Dakotas and Montana, Glacier National Park.  The ride westward included stunning scenery in central Washington and Puget Sound on the approach to Seattle (34) and the elegant King Street Station (35).  I got to know some fine people with whom I shared the long ride to Washington.  After a couple of nights' stay in Seattle, I rode south from Seattle to Portland, OR, onboard the Cascades train (36).  I enjoyed the scenery outside, the swanky interiors of the train, and the Wifi, too.  On my return trip, I started at Portland, and through the remainder of the daylight hours, I had amazing views of the Columbia River corridor (37).

I did a couple of shorter trips in the latter part of 2018 by train.  I had gotten a coupon, and decided to take a short day trip to Galesburg (38).  I rode the California Zephyr there.  After looking around for a couple of hours, including the Lincoln-Douglas debate site at Knox College, I rode the short-distance train back, riding in Business Class, which was at the back of the train right by the snack service area (39).  It had roomier seating, and it was quiet, without many other business class passengers.

The weekend before New Year's Eve 2018, I took a trip to Springfield for sightseeing, riding the Lincoln Service between Summit and Springfield (40).  Going back was my opportunity to travel in daylight, and to take in the views of the Route 66 corridor (41).

Mom and I went on a weekend excursion to Washington, D.C. in the middle of May 2019. We rode there in style, with our first time in a sleeper car accommodations (42).  The trip started very stylishly in the swanky Metropolitan Lounge (43) in Chicago Union Station.

The current ongoing pandemic couldn't hold me back from traveling, and so I was excited to be on my way to visit Roy again in late September 2020, this time traveling to southern California.  I rode the Southwest Chief to Arizona (44), my first time in that state.  I reconnected with the 2004 summer family trip, while extending it beyond Lamy.  I stopped in Flagstaff (45) on my way west to see the Grand Canyon.  After my day trip there, I made a friend while on the way west to San Bernardino (46).  There's something stunning about the landscapes of the Southwest with its deserts and mountains, not to mention the historic structures like the Casa del Desierto in Barstow, and the San Bernadino station (47).  We also rode along portions of the Route 66 corridor from New Mexico to California.  I enjoyed the extended layovers both ways in Albuquerque, and the wonderful Silver Street Market two blocks from the train station there (48).  And what fun it was to dance around on the platform in Kansas City, because everything is up to date there (49)!

And then there was my most recent trip to the Miami area (50), once again riding on the Capitol Limited to Washington, D.C.  I rode south on the Silver Star, reconnecting with my 2017 Florida trip, and rode north on the Silver Meteor.  Once again, I got to see the orange groves of central Florida and the big cities, and enjoy the warmth of Ever-Summer Land.

I have opted for train trips for travels within the conterminous United States:  I'm a firm believer in the adage that the journey is as much a part of the experience as being there.  Certainly, road trips offer great opportunities to make the journey part of the experience of travel.  But it's nice to leave the car behind and take in the magical charm of riding the rails.  I can really soak in the scenes of the places I pass through.  I can embrace each step of the journey as we stop at each station and mark my progress toward the destination.  Getting off at fresh air stops is a way to step foot in states as I pass through them, and I always seek to get off at fresh air stops.  I've passed through so many interesting cities, big and small, while on my journeys.  I see interesting sites, and I can also feel a sense of history with some of these places, and even with the tracks themselves, which once carried trains on storied routes.  

There are also some nice amenities onboard, and I get really relaxed in a nice seat with lots of legroom.  And I can connect with fellow passengers, especially those who are riding longer distances themselves, and build relationships with them in such a way that can only happen as we share the experience of passing the miles together.  I find that the vast majority of people ride Amtrak for a specific reason, and that provides a unique perspective specifically on the train as a mode of travel.  Like with any experience, the human element strongly enhances train travel.

I even enjoy getting to know the Amtrak crew.  They're pretty good people, and exhibit a good sense of professional decorum, especially in helping passengers navigate some of the less than savory aspects of train travel, like delays that are beyond the control of anyone onboard.

I think especially of how well I've come to know the crew on the one route I've ridden the most, the Capitol Limited, even recognizing names and faces.  Indeed, there's much I've become very familiar with regarding the Capitol Limited.  It's personally meaningful to travel through Northwest Indiana and think back upon my time as a student at Valparaiso University, and the friends who have connections there.  Then there are the wide swaths of farmland, which is also part of the scenery of other routes, too.  It's scenic to look out the window at the Appalachian Highlands in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia, especially at Harpers Ferry, which is a geographically significant spot.  And there's a sense of excitement as we pass through the suburbs on the approach to the District of Columbia.  It's awe-inspiring to see the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception just minutes from pulling into Union Station, which is one of many elegant stations in the Amtrak system.

But the amazing views go beyond the more fixed elements of the land as I look to the skies above.  I've seen so many amazing sunsets and sunrises onboard the train from the comfort of my seat, down to the last faintest glimmers of residual light to the very first rays that emerge long before the sun itself starts to appear.  And it's incredible to take in the vast skies above, particularly in the wide open expanses of land.

All of this has started for me, with one exception, at Chicago Union Station, which is a hub for Amtrak service.  That place has come to represent my gateway into the incredible experience of riding the rails, and the setting for my welcome back home at the end of many trips.  

It's quite a feeling of excitement when I walk into Union Station when I'm about to start another trip and look at the departure board to see my train number on display.  Then, after getting settled in my seat, it's so exciting to feel that lurch of the train's first movement as I settle in for all the journey has in store.  And throughout the ride, when I hear the train crew announce, "Thank you for choosing Amtrak," I feel glad to patronize a service that truly gives me an experience.

There is indeed something about riding on trains that stirs my soul, because I can truly discover the heart of America, the Beautiful.  I'm able to connect with what's best about the United States of America, and riding the train truly makes me proud to be a citizen of the USA.  I'm grateful for what Amtrak has done for half a century now to not only transport people across the country, but to also give them an experience.  That's what keeps me coming back for more.

Above is the elegant Union Station in Washington, D.C., where I've been a frequent passenger, and where Amtrak has offices.  I took this photo right before boardin the Capitol Limited back to Chicago at the end of my recent Florida trip.

Below is Chicago Union Station, where many of my great experiences riding the rails have started, and ended.  I took this photo right before boarding the Capitol Limited to start my recent trip to Florida.