Storage

Thursday the movers came to pack up my stuff and move it into storage. Amazing how much stuff can accumulate over the years... In its infinite wisdom the Guard will pay for packing and storing my belongings, but only after I return and submit a travel voucher to them! I wonder how Soldiers living close to the bone financially can afford to do that. Thank God for credit cards, I guess.

What with everything else that needed doing, I was feeling pretty frazzled, hassled, and harried. I celebrated 0715 Mass for the folks of St. Thomas Aquinas parish, which helped me regain a proper spiritual trajectory. They had a farewell gathering for me afterwards, with coffee and baked goods. The STA community has been a great source of spiritual support for many years, and I'm going to miss them.

Leave-taking is all about powerlessness, I've been told by friends of mine who attend AA and Al-Anon meetings regularly. Fortunately, in the midst of the powerlessnesses of our life we have the option to come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves is really, really, really big -- and not lacking any essential skill sets necessary to handle whatever situations we find ourselves in.

Then we're able to make a decision to turn our wills and lives over to the care of God, as we understand God. My friends call this "working the Steps," and I've got to say that it seems to be sound spiritual practice.

Fortunately, the movers showed up about an hour later than I'd planned, so it gave me a little more time to get ready for them.

It sure would have been helpful to have a packing list for this deployment before the movers took everything away! However, as a LTC friend of mine keeps admonishing me, "Chaplain, there you go expecting the Army to make sense."

As luck would have it, I received a packing list a couple of hours after my stuff had been taken away. Now I have to figure out how to get the things I should have kept out, and get everything into just three duffel bags....

I guess this is what my friends who go to AA meetings would call "powerlessness"!

Blessings and peace to one and all,


Fr. Tim, SJ

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The Detroit-area farewell

It's now early Tuesday morning, 24JUN08, and I'm at Detroit Metro Airport waiting for my plane, which is now scheduled to leave at least 45 minutes late. Sigh. This sort of annoyance used to ruin my day, but nowadays it's just one of those things. It helps that my visit to my parents' home was such a great experience.

My friend Sam, a sober person, flew in and we were able to get to a noon meeting after a delightful breakfast at a nearby cozy diner. He got me a webcam for my laptop, so I should be able to do some 'face-time' with folks over Yahoo Instant Messenger (soberdiver) once I get set up down range. Thanks, Sam!

My sister Mary and her family drove in from far away and proceeded to work their tails off setting up the farewell party my parents hosted on Sunday. I cannot express my thanks to them adequately enough for all they did. They even came to the Mass at which I presided on Sunday morning (at 0730, before God is even awake), which is indeed a measure of their love for me and for Nana and Papa (who strong-armed them into coming).

Luis, a wounded Warrior from two tours in support of OIF, arrived Saturday night and immediately began making a photographic record of the festivities; I hope to post some of his photos soon. We had quite a number of military veterans at the party, and at one point a dozen of us got together for a group photo: 2 WWII vets, 2 Korean-War-era vets, and 2 Vietnam veterans, with the rest of us serving post-Vietnam. My cousin George is a bona fide hero with a Silver Star, three Bronze Stars with 'V' devices, a Purple Heart, and countless other decorations. It was humbling to be in the presence of so many who have served so courageously.

My college roommate Steve showed up on Saturday, since his son's baseball team probably wasn't going to make it to the finals of their series on Sunday. It's hard to believe that we met 34 years ago; he hasn't changed a bit (whereas what hair I have left is gray!).

On Sunday, about a dozen of my high school classmates showed up, thanks to the Herculean efforts of Tom and Mary Beth. Who knew, when we were at The High, that Tom would be "most likely to succeed at being cruise director"? It was a delight to see you guys again, and I deeply appreciate your support!

On my Dad's side of the family, Aunt Mary Ann, her son Johann, and her daughter Patty and family came; I'm truly bummed I didn't get enough time with any of them, especially Johann. Aunt Pat and Aunt Loretta drove all the way from NYC and upstate NY, respectively.

On my Mom's side of the family, her sister Jane and two of her children, George and Cathy -- plus family members -- came, along with my mother's cousin Charlie. It was a delight to see them all, but again, there just wasn't time enough to spend with each.

As for everyone else, they're just too numerous to mention. Thanks to one and all for the expression of support and affection! I'm hoping the pictures will be available soon.

In the meantime, I've got so much to do, and so little time in which to get it done, prior to the movers coming on Thursday, that it's anybody's guess what's going to happen. I'll keep you posted.

Blessings and peace to you in these troubled times,


Fr. Tim, SJ

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Welcome!

Welcome to my attempt to keep current with my deployment in support of the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coasties participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I'm not sure how often I'll be able to post, but I'll do the best I can. While here, I invite you to remember, if you would, my sisters and brothers in uniform who are, at the very moment you're reading this, in mortal danger.

I further invite you to pray for them with me, or at least to send good intentions their way. Thanks.

Blessings and peace to you in these troubled times,


Fr. Tim, SJ

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