Illinois in my Rear View Mirror at last...

Well, it wasn't all bad...

OK some of it was pretty good...

All right, it was a wonderful state to visit...now if they could only get rid of that Chicago place...

But seriously, there were some huge pluses in Illinois. There was a greater sense of history for me following in the footsteps, as it were, of Lincoln for a time. There were rivers to cross, landscape as verdant and alive as I have ever seen. There were people, new and old to meet and greet and get to know again. And there were some magnificent stops at memorials that brought me to tears.

The visit started faster than a speeding bullet for me in the southern part of the state, at Metropolis, the adopted home of Superman, with a larger than life statue of the Man of Plaster and, down the road apiece, a life-size bronze sculpture of Noelle Neil (otherwise known as Lois Lane). On the other side of the courthouse from the caped crusader was the memorial I had come to see. On it was a beautiful summary of what we all hope for those involved in the war as fallen, returned, family, etc. I have detailed the words in a previous blog and, believe me they are worth reading again.

Moving a little north, I found the State of Illinois Vietnam Veterans memorial in Springfield, in a part of a large cemetery famous for its outsized homage to the human spirit and sacrifice. Large, bold memorials to WWII, Korea and Vietnam that were more like museums than monuments. A very special place, that leads us to two very special people.

Between Havana and Carthage, exists the small town of Macomb, where some of our family's friends relocated after leaving California about 20+ years ago and have built an exquisite life. I had seen Kay recently when she traveled to Colorado to see her son perform at a dinner theater, but had not seen Don in all that time. They couldn't have treated me better if I was twins. We spent a day touring the city, seeing all the sights and getting a glimpse of the history of the town. We found a tribute to Vietnam that I had not previously known about, had a wonderful dinner (my first home cooked meal of the trip), their beloved Blackhawks notch a win and move one step closer to their eventual Stanley Cup win, then a quiet morning and I was once again on my way.

Rock Island and Freeport were the next two stops before a detour into Wisconsin and back again within minutes, followed by a looooong day of driving through several Chicago suburbs from Waukegan in the north to Lansing in the south, and back to Chicago proper. Rev. Celeste Frazier of a CSL congregation in Chicago invited me into her home for four nights, enabling me the opportunity to visit my intended targets, do some sightseeing, recharge and refresh and catch up on my paperwork and reorganization. Extremely grateful for her hospitality. Had some interesting times in the city. They have perfected the concept of "more is less." Example: In Denver, if a quarter put in a parking meter gets you 10 minutes of time, you can be reasonably sure that the next quarter will buy you an additional 10 minutes, and so on. In Chicago, you can get the same 10 minutes for the first quarter but the second only gives you another 7 minutes, a third quarter gives you 5 more, and so on. But you can buy a whole hour for only $2.00.Do the math. I parked somewhere for 20 minutes in a lot as there was no street parking, and was charged $10.00. The navy Pier lets you park for a generous $25.00 flat rate...I could have spent more than 20 minutes there and got some value out of it I guess.

While downtown, I managed to shoot some memorable photos of the memorial in Wabash Plaza...much grander and more peaceful a place than I expected, and visited the Chicago Vietnam Veterans Art museum...a private museum that showcases artwork (paintings, sculptures, photos and more) created by Vietnam Veterans, much of which deals with their pain and passion, the grief and terror they came home with and the visions of the past many cannot get away from. Crazy good visit.

By the way, photos of both Wabash Plaza and the museum are available on my Face book page: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Tour should you care to see them.

All in all, it is a beautiful city, one of the cleanest big cities I've ever been in, but I'm very happy that part of the journey is over.

Now, off to Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio in my march to the east.

The Big "W"

One of the most often asked questions I get on this journey is, simply, "Why?" Why am I doing this...what is the end that I see...and some other variations of the same theme.

I have no single good answer, just as you probably don't have a single motivator in most of the major life directions you all travel. More like a succession of incidents, reminders, sudden thoughts, experiences and conversation, with your mind firmly in the universal subconscious where all thought and creativity resides, and, voila, an idea is born that you just cannot ignore or silence.

One of the many reasons I am on this "quest" is to recognize the value of each and every human being represented on each and every memorial, no matter how small. I'm not talking about just the veterans among the fallen who may or may not be named, but the families left behind, the communities who have lost a valuable part of their extended family, those courageous people who stood up and, through their pain, passion and creativity have worked through the puzzle of the how and where how much to erect even the smallest of remembrances.

After going through such small towns as Wiota, Wisconsin and Wheaton, IL this week and seen, for myself how easy it is to miss a small installation and how, after a time, they just seem to blend into the scenery like another rock, or bush or tree, how many local people even recognize them for what they are and what they represent.

Not all are easy to spot. There are some brass plaques firmly planted on freeway overpasses visible to those rushing from place to place during their workdays. There are plaques on the walls of libraries and city halls/courthouses that, over time, become part of the furniture. There are single stones that were once on well traveled paths that now have been overshadowed by ever expanding foliage, redevelopment of the area or just plain neglect. Every one of these, no matter how small, I consider to be on sacred ground and well worthy of a visit and a prayer


 If I can call attention to them even for a moment, I feel I have done a good thing. Blessings to you all.
 

Holy Exxon Batman...look at those numbers!!!

I am currently in Chicago, home of the highest gasoline prices in the nation (I believe). Just a week ago I was in Southeastern Missouri purchasing gas at 3.36.9 per gallon. Around the corner from this home is a BP station that advertizes regular at 4.45.9 per gallon. I know the difference has to be local taxes, and I know I'm not supposed to be political here, but one can't help but wonder, what, in the land of Rahm Emmanual, are the politicians doing to the people here??? This is just criminal.

But I digress. Northern Illinois has been a treat. A visit to the Rock Island Armory and national Cemetery turned out to be one of the most beautiful, pristine and meditative experience of the trip to date. Yesterday's foray EVERYWHERE, it seemed, took me past the Great Lakes Naval Training Center just north of Chicago where I spent five month after boot camp learning my trade for the navy. Looks somehow smaller today.

I began yesterday in Woodstock at the vast northwestern reaches of the Chicago suburbs and made my way through Waukegan, Buffalo Grove, Skokie, Wheaton and, finally, near the Indiana border, Lansing. What made it longer was my desire to stay off the vast array of toll ways the region is littered with...another thank you to the local government. By the way...I can't think of a single toll road in the entire state of Colorado, other than E470 which is easy to bypass and relatively cheap.

Today I move from scouting the 'burbs to moving into the heart of the city and visit as many as five memorials scattered throughout downtown Chicago...wish me luck.

And I Left My Cape at Home...

The other day I arrived in Metropolis, IL, the home of Superman, according to the local Chamber of Commerce, complete with a 15 foot tall cartoon statue of the Man of Steel as well as a nice bronze statue of Noel Neil, who played Lois lane on the original TV show. A lot of the town's identity and tourism outreach is based on the characters.

 

I was able to locate the memorial in the center of town devoted to Vietnam Veterans. While I've seen photos of many of the memorials I'm visiting, I'm not always prepared for what is actually there. It included something very special.

As many of you know, doing a Spiritual Mind Treatment (Prayer) at each site is part of the overall plan of the tour. It is different depending on what I find at each ...site and what jumps out at me showing me something that calls out for relief. On this particular stone are six lines composed in a way that is remarkable and profound and which I feel called to share with you:

...to the fallen--honor
...to the captive--freedom
...to the returned--solace
...to the wounded--healing
...to the missing--repatriation
...to the future--peace

I feel called to work these blessings into my own prayers at the memorials I visit down the road and in my spiritual practice daily, and encourage all of you who are similarly moved to include in yours, for all veterans of all campaigns. Our boys, young men and especially the older vets can use all the divine support they can get.
  

I'm Leaving St. Louis, Louis

Had my first official "day off" yesterday with an opportunity to do some fun stuff. But I digress.

I arrived in St. Louis on Saturday after a couple days in eastern Missouri that included a visit to Hannibal, that town from another time that now seems to be devoted to the lore of and lure of the mark Twain creations of Tom and Huck. Got my first glimpse of the Mississippi and took a deep breath, relaxing as the water carried south, the way the movement of water always seems to take me to another place. In this case, that other place included Columbia and Vienna, MO.

The following day I just followed the trail of memorials from Vienna all the way into St. Louis by way of St. James, St. Clair, Wentzville, O'Fallon and St. Peters. Beautiful country all...

The last 30 miles or so I got embroiled in something I hadn't seen since leaving Denver...traffic. The vast majority of this trip to date has been on small country roads or major roads in lightly populated areas and driving has been a breeze. But I pushed on.

I was scheduled to speak the next day at the St. Louis Center for Spiritual Living, and through the grace of Rev. Marigene at the center, was planning to stay in the home of one of its members, Debbie Koebel...thank you so much, both of you.

Debbie opened her home to me in every way possible and was my personal tour guide around St. Louis. I have seen many wonderful things including:

The world's largest outdoor sculpture garden

The Loop and other historical neighborhoods

Going to the top of the Arch downtown

Going to a Cardinals game with their long time rivals the Cubs

And more.

I have experienced Toasted Ravioli and St. Louis style pizza where they were born and the local indulgence known simply as Gooey Butter Cake...as tasty and as unhealthy as it sounds, but still worth doing once.

This morning I am heading back downtown to visit the St. Louis Vietnam Veterans Memorial before heading down to Cape Girardeau and close out the Missouri part of the tour. Kentucky tomorrow, then some time in Illinois. It is getting good.

Different Flags Here

Just so you know, I've never been this far north and east in my life and, while I am enjoying the scenery and the wildlife a great deal (not so much the road kill...what is it about turtles all over the road out here?), there are some significant cultural differences.

Food: Carl's Jr. is now Hardee's and Best Foods is now Hellmans...little things but you've got to start somewhere.

Accents: They tend to be from all over...this is the melting pot after all. But the best way to speak hotel in the Midwest is with a sub continental lilt in the voice. Think Raj from the Big Bang Theory.  And everyone here has been especially kind to me, answering my silly questions and getting me unlost in spite of having a GPS and other techie tools.

Missouri is where large parts of the civil war happened and the period is still planted firmly in memory. This is the first time, outside of a museum or Dukes of Hazzard episode that I've seen confederate flags flying freely. Not complaining or being offended here, just mentioning...

Lots of water...I think I've crossed the Missouri River a half dozen times in the last two days...not lost, just how the river runs through my predetermined route. OK...maybe a little lost...at times.

I'm sleeping better now and feeling better now that I've been able to develop a rhythm on the road and it should last at least until I cross the next time zone. Heading to St. Louis for the weekend where I get my first total rest day and plan to do a little sightseeing and speaking at the CSL center in St. Louis thanks to Rev. Marigene and her loyal flock.

Bruce Out.

I'm Leaving Kansas City, really...

Seems like I've been here forever, and it is only the third day. And I'm lucky to be where I am so, what's the deal?

I arrived in KC expecting to be supported for the night (or two) by a local vet and, upon arrival, discovered that it had broken down. Seeking an immediate alternative, I was able to locate some distant "family." It was the sister of my last stepmother before my father had passed in Kansas City in 1998, and it had been that long since I had any contact with them whatsoever. Imagine my trepidation, knocking on a door not knowing if I would be welcome after so long a time. But after five minutes it was as if I'd last been there 10 minutes ago...a very welcoming feeling.

We spent a little time catching up, then Larry came by and offered me his home for as long as I would be there. I thought two days. It has been three so far and one more to go. Larry, by the way is the adopted son of my father's wife's sister. We were able to spend some time together before his work schedule got in the way but I am grateful for his generosity.

Keep in mind, one of my overarching goals for this journey is to raise money for other needy veterans charities and, the more I have to along the way is less I have to distribute on behalf of veterans, so it is more pragmatic than needy...a big difference.

Although Kansas is far greener now than I am used to seeing it, I must say I've seen a lot more of it than I had originally planned. Coming up from Branson, MO to KC was a delight, especially the stops in Pittsburg (KS, not PA) and Girard, but yesterday's trek to Lawrence, Topeka, St Mary’s, Emporia and Lyndon, then back to KC, was a wearying day...also hot and muggy.

News flask...just got a call from the VFW Post Commander in Richmond, MO, offering me up some hospitality for tonight so it looks like I'll be leaving KC today after all...saves me about 100 miles of driving as well as positions me for less travel tomorrow, both good things. So, today, as soon as I get packed up again, I'll be heading for Belton, Lone Jack, Buckner, Lexington and Richmond MO...gonna be a good day.

And good day to all of you.