Pilgrimages, Virtual and Otherwise

The day began beautifully - I woke from a deep squishy sleep on an inflatabed  in Manchester, NH, rested and quiet, already established in a travel-pattern that feels both familiar & new.  Timothy and I have hosted a lot of different people through Couchsurfing, but this was the first time I've stayed as someone's guest, and the experience reminded me of the equanimity wish in the liturgy at Wonderwell: may I let go of the delusion that separates beings into friends, enemies, and strangers.  It's really quite amazing to be trusted and welcomed in this way.  Thank you Emily!

Today's plan was not at all to go to New Haven, but, emboldened by my new GPS - a gift from my beloved & wise parents - I realized it felt totally fitting to include Yale in the pilgrimage, and I wanted to see my old home.  So I found a parking spot on Chapel Street, and went to pay homage to this place that taught me so much.  

I feel like the Universe has a pretty outstanding sense of humor.  For instance, I wandered onto Old Campus, and found, courtesy of some China Tourism folks armed with VR goggles and silk scroll paintings, Buddhist Pilgrimage Central.  Really?  I had 56 minutes, total, so after thanking my goggle-friends, I circumambulated Old Campus, put out some Safe / Resourced / Together fliers, had a lassi and a muffin at Claires, and headed off to NYC.  

I am now staying with my friends Elizabeth, Alan, and little Hannah, who took me on a harrowing-wonderful bike ride out to the waterfront in Red Hook.  Here they all are, after our improvised picnic, and during the course of an epic sunset:

It is so good to be here.  May the blessings of this day radiate outward to all.