I rented a vehicle in Sacramento in order to get all my stuff home to the Bay Area on Friday, after we'd finished with our paperwork at Home Station. SFC McG and his wife drove off north on their way home, and I headed east briefly so I could meet up with a friend who goes to a lot of AA and Al-Anon meetings, Mary O. She moved to the Sierra Nevada mountains from the Bay Area a few years ago and we met up in Roseville to have lunch.It was great to see her, and to catch up on what's gone on over the past year.
After lunch I drove west and south to the Bay Area, while the traffic on Interstate 80 headed east (toward Lake Tahoe) was a parking lot for miles and miles and miles. Good thing many people had the day off, because the traffic in my direction was light and moved along steadily!
By the time I neared home, it was supper time, and when I was about 45 minutes out, I got a phone call from my first Battalion Commander in the Guard, who wanted to know whether I was free to have a meal with his family. They were on the road themselves, but were about as far from their home as I was, so we'd be able to meet up without much delay.
I got there a little before they did, so I went to a coffee shop to get a vanilla smoothie. As I got out of the car, I smelled the star jasmine (Jasminum multiflorum) that was growing outside the shop. It was nearing the end of its blooming season, but still gave off its powerful and lovely fragrance.
It was a surprise and a delight.
It meant I was truly home.
Blessings and peace to one and all,Fr. Tim, SJ
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7 comments:
Welcome home Father.
Welcome home! Thank you for your continuing Blog. I don't comment often, but I have followed your story, wrapping you in blessings and love. I sighed in relief when I read of you finding Star Jasmine... msg :-)
So greatful that you are home and safe! Are you going to be deployed again? Or are you home for good?
I so loved reading your blog, and hope you continue with it. Your way with words and pictures is just awesome otherwise I will miss my daily dose of Fr. Tim!
Fr. Meier, welcome home! Like so many others, I've been impatiently awaiting your return. I think of you often and hope that it is not too long before we see each other again. You profoundly affected my life during our time together in Iraq and are thus woven into my life and faith. (I still hear your voice at every mass!)
Promise to stop by if you are in or traveling through Salt Lake City. I'd love to show you the Cathedral and share a coffee in a place where God's scented beauties grow nearby.
Oh, and please share a warm hug with SFC McG. He's a wonderful person whose generosity with smiles, friendship and chocolate cheered up many of blah day for many, many people!
So, Tim, now I know. Age and infirmities have kept me out of touch. It's not back to Stanford yet for the fugitive from the Detroit province.
Since I can no longer drive, I will not be able to see your return to the Thomas Merton Center orhear your talk. One of my spies will tell me. If you are going to be staying at the JRC again, maybe yu could some here for lunch.
Bob McNulty
Ah, the sweet smell of star jasmine. I look forward to it each year. It's nature saying, "Welcome home."
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