John's Next Step

At Close of Service (COS) the Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) transitions into a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV).  My COS was July 15th, the day before my birthday. The close of service for most Peace Corps volunteers in Ghana would involve a village celebration with singing and dancing and (for my village) pito.  Because I was medically evacuated I COSed in St. Louis.  And because it was also my birthday my daughter and son-in-law helped me celebrate by taking me to Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.  We had a great meal and great wine.  Thanks Sam and Brandon! Food pictures are typical for PCVs and RPCVs.  In this case the steak pictured was overcooked (but still good) It was kindly replaced and the one cooked to order (medium rare) was amazing! Zoo visit Also as part of my birthday, Samantha and I went to the St. Louis zoo.  We had a great time and she has a great sense of humor with birthday cards. No gorillas were harmed in making this picture

Wow what a week with New Orleans, St. Paul, and Dallas.  And the list goes on.  Anger, fear, greed, and other such feelings lead to misery and the sort of violence we have in this country.  I’m not saying the sort of violence that we had in this country in this past week.   I’m saying the violence that we have in this country.  Period exclamation point!  The violence in the past week, past month, past year and will likely continue next week, next month, and next year – UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING . People fear that the cycle of violence is increasing.  People tweeting “this is now war” feed into the cycle of fear and hate that threatens to overtake our country only make matters worse. Each person, in their own way, needs to do something not only to stop our negative environment of anger, fear, etc. but to create a positive environment. I’ve been waiting for a chance to explain my closing – “ Love always ” in these posts.  Unfortunately I have one. When I write letters to my fami

I will soon be medically cleared.  My cough is better and I’m working to strengthen my shoulders and hips.  Once I’m medically cleared I’m free to travel which is my next step. My mom and my siblings live in Arkansas, so that will be my first visit.  The plan is to be there for my dad’s birthday near the end of July.  Shortly after that my wife’s family is holding family reunions for two sides of the family tree.  One will be in Michigan and the other is in Canada. My aunt and uncle in Virginia are having a 50 th wedding anniversary party a little bit later so I plan to take my mom there.  I also want to visit a great aunt in Kentucky on the way back from Virginia I’m also looking forward to visiting my son in Denver. At lot of traveling in the next several weeks. Looking at the map I will be putting at least 6,000 additional miles on the car in the next couple of months.   I drive a Prius but even if I got 50 mpg that would still be 300 gallons of gas. Local visits