John Steinbeck opens his novel by telling us that Cannery Row in Monterey, California, is “a poem, a stink, a grating noise, a quality of light, a tone, a habit, a nostalgia, a dream.” By the time I first saw it in 1964, Cannery Row had retained much of Steinbeck’s attributes, if that’s what they … READ MORE…
Maybe the title ought to say something about eating oysters. Apart from the pearls they can produce, but rarely do, there’s nothing fine or artful about oysters. They grow in what look like accretions on the sides of whatever they can attach themselves to, and their outer shells present nothing that might inspire a painter. … READ MORE…
Robert Frost knew about the woods being dark and deep. He watched on that winter night as the woods filled up with snow, and the wonder of silence and beauty combined to inspire his poem. I am not sitting in a sleigh pulled by a chilly horse, and it is not snowing. In fact, it … READ MORE…
I’m in Steinbeck country, dead center Monterey and only blocks from Cannery Row and the site of Tortilla Flat. A few miles away, Salinas provided Steinbeck with the setting for East of Eden. Later in his life, he wrote Travels with Charley (his poodle), but not having a dog to sit in my front seat, … READ MORE…
Pat at the Tatoo Sometimes in life something happens to us in such a miraculous way that it simply has to be shared. And thus it is that I’m writing this article to share with my St. Paul’s Family. I recently took a trip to Scotland. I was able to check something off my “Bucket … READ MORE…
As you may recall from some of my other posts, when we travel to major cities, Lisa and I try to “bag a Cathedral.” So far we’ve visited sister cathedrals in Portland OR, Minneapolis MN, and Washington DC. We always introduce ourselves, and bring back a bulletin for Chris Harris (the bulletin sits on our … READ MORE…
We went to Washington DC on Oct 30-31 to participate in the Jon Stewart “Rally for Sanity.” Since our flight home on Sunday didn’t leave till 3.40, we decided to make the trek to the National Cathedral for Sunday morning Eucharist. Unlike most tourist sites in DC, it’s not easy to get to the Cathedral … READ MORE…
Robert Heylmun is traveling, and sends us this expanded postcard Maybe I should have said ‘half way’. This note has nothing to do with the aircraft carrier now serving as a naval museum in San Diego harbor, but it does have to do with having spent fifteen or so of my thirty allotted days here … READ MORE…
I was on a business trip overseas this last week, and had Saturday to spend in London. This is always a pleasure; I lived in England for 4 years, and being a theatre buff, I spent lots of time in London’s West End. So it always feels familiar, and I love wandering the city streets. … READ MORE…
On a recent visit to Alaska, we visited St John’s Ketchikan, Alaska, and St Peter’s-by-the-sea, Sitka. The retiring rector of St John’s asked all the visitors to spread the word that they need a new rector for this small, but friendly parish nestled in this pretty town. Since the Cathedral community is large and we … READ MORE…