John's Next Step

My life is settled into working around the house, looking for work outside the house, reading, and exercise.  Life is good but I can’t report a significant next step at this time. I’ll switch into a monthly update to this blog unless there is some big change. Love always, John

After 7,000+ miles on my Prius, I’m back at home – I really enjoyed my visits, but glad to be back home. Visit to Virginia for my Aunt Ramona and Uncle Hank’s anniversary My mom and I drove (well I drove and she rode) to Virginia to help celebrate my aunt and uncle’s 50 th wedding anniversary.  It was a great visit and I enjoyed catching up with relatives.   My mom and her three sisters Always enjoy listening to my cousin Randy My cousin Erika with my uncle Hank in the background Visit to Kentucky and Mount St. Joseph ( https://www.facebook.com/ursulinesmsj/ ) On the way back from Virginia to my mom’s home in Arkansas, we stopped in Kentucky to visit my mom’s cousin, Sister Mary Grace.  This was my second visit to the place and the first for my mom.  I always enjoy my visit and the ability to chat with the wonderful ladies resident there.  Check out their facebook page or stop by if you are in the area. A great place to v...

I’ve been away from my computer and not able to provide posts while travelling.  This will continue for the next month.  I hope to return to a weekly schedule in mid-September.  Thanks. Family visits After a few of weeks I’m back from visiting my family in Arkansas and my wife’s family in Michigan and Canada.  I had a wonderful time visiting family and friends, although I put about 2,500 miles on the car. Ferry ride between US and Canada Canadian family reunion - nice time visiting everyone Sitting around at the Allore reunion with Theresa's family Bernie's family in attendance at the reunion My near term traveling adventures are not over.  In about a week I head off for visits in Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Colorado.  I expect to add another 3,500 miles.  My Prius is getting about 48 miles to the gallon, so I’m not destroying the environment as much as I might. Plans for Peace Corps Response fell through I wa...

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 wer...

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...

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...

The St. Louis Pride festival is this weekend and the Peace Corps has an information booth so I volunteered to help out yesterday.  I was there from 11 am to 1 pm, on Saturday before it got really crowded. Still I was able to talk with a number of people interested in the Peace Corps.  Some of the young people were looking for ways to improve career opportunities.  Some of the people with more grey than pink in their hair were interested in a change from their current career.  I was happy to speak with a number of high school students very interested in Peace Corps.  They know they need to get a 4 year degree so they have time to think about it. Nice sunny day out for the festival when I was there. Had to get a picture with the arch in the background. Still need to work on my selfie Replacements take off the booth at 1 pm, just as it is getting hot. (at least by STL standards - I thought it was still rather cool) There are m...