As a congregation, we celebrate each other’s joys and do our best to lighten the load of each other’s sorrows.
If you’ve wondered why you weren’t seeing much of UU-member Bob Gerold this summer, there’s a reason – 7,200 miles in six weeks through 12 states, in a Winnebago Travato camper van, a Henry David Thoreau-type reflective quest with a Walden Pond savor.
The purpose of the trip? “To get away from screens, electronics and social media — and to be with myself at least temporarily,’’ says Bob. “I had lost touch with myself.” While still dependent on media for navigation and places to stay, “that’s not the same as to be in a place where there is no television.” Which he was.
Among trip highlights: national parks — Badlands, Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, with Glacier topping his ranking for the trip’s best scenery. Among weather extremes: severe thunderstorms in Missouri and sighting of thousands of flooded acres, mostly farmland, in Iowa. A family highlight was spending two weeks with his daughter, Aimee, in June in Missoula, Montana, where she is working as a technical expert at Cath Lab, owned by Abbott Labs. Aimee received her degree in biomedical engineering from Georgia Tech last December.
Bob’s “Big Trip” — in which he visited Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri — wasn’t his only solo trip this year, however. Among others: California in January, which was followed by four-day trips each to Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Apalachicola in Florida, prior to the biggest road venture. Bob’s last major stop on the Big Trip was outside the Leavenworth, Kansas prison, where he spoke at a conference sponsored by Life Connections Program, — sponsors who had heard that he had written his book, “Things to do While You’re Waiting,” designed to help prisoners find a better life after release, rather than while away time without purpose. He plans to publish a new book to aid former prisoners, titled “Life Skills for Staying out of Jail.”
Ever find a synchronous firefly — or a thousand or two? The Gerolds — Bob and wife Alice — did in June, on one of his “between trips” this summer. The synchronous fireflies are found in only four places in the world, relates Bob, one of them being the Smoky Mountains in eastern U.S — and they gather only over a two-week period. Synchronous fireflies are able to synchronize their light patterns as part of the mating ritual, which only 1% of the world’s fireflies are able to do.
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Patti Underwood is taking a brief break from being out-and-about while her right hand recovers from thumb surgery. The September 19 outpatient operation was to insert a bridge in the thumb due to osteoarthritis. She had similar surgery on her left thumb a few years ago. Patti expects to be back in church in a couple weeks. Do send a card!
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Joyce Smandra has relocated to The Veranda at 6982 Pine Forest Road, 32526, Apartment 118. Reason for the move from her Royce Street apartment, says Joyce — with a dollop of humor — “because I could not find a wife to cook and clean for me.” In a more serious vein: “Chronic pain often leaves me without energy for fun things, since I use my energy on the daily tasks of life. (At the Veranda) since meals and housekeeping are provided, I will be able to have more fun.” She most enjoys Veranda’s pool and screened porch. “The water eases my aches and pains, and it is nice to journal outside without being eaten by mosquitoes.” While she says it seems strange being on the west side of town, “I can find my way to church and to Tryon Library, and those are the most important for now.” Her new e-mail address: joycevakil@gmail.com.
Charlotte Crane
Please send news of family events, accomplishments and concerns to UUCP’s newsletter, The Light, for publication in the newly launched Member News feature. Send to Charlotte Crane, charlotte@charcrane.net, or to Terra Shute at the UUCP office, uucp@bellsouth.net.