I rested for a few days in Seal Beach, found my pint of Guinness, met with an old friend and a cousin, and made my way to San Diego to see seals–there were not any in Seal Beach but there were Plenty in La Jolla Cove. Then, I headed north. Being me, I went south first, beyond south: Tijuana!
I returned to San Francisco to meet up with a friend I had not seen in 30 years and first met in 5th grade. Then, I pushed north into the Redwood Forest, Northern California, and Oregon. First to Bend, and then to Portland–which was not, despite popular belief, burning to the ground.
In Portland, I found a friend’s sister I did not know existed and a cousin I did not know existed. I also found a sanctuary and some peace.
“Let this be a sanctuary of peace for all peoples of the earth and surely in this day a sanctuary is needed. Torn with differences, strife, and grief, the world needs sanctuary where the human spirit can seek peace and consolation.”
–Archbishop Alexander Christie at the dedication ceremony for the Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother on On May 29, 1924.
