[Oe List ...] Reflecting

[Richard Alton]

Thanks, Dick

On Wed, Jul 30, 2025 at 9:15 PM mary hampton via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
wrote:

> A Year
>
> August 1 I will be 76 years old,  I reflect on this turning.
>
> In June we had a different vacation.  We took a Viking river cruise on
> the River Elba.  WE started with two days in Prague, then 5 days on the
> river and 2 days in Berlin.  It was a more pampered way than we have
> travelled with tours every day, excellent meals and drinks included.  I
> wondered if I would have had the endurance for a longer cruise.  We
> followed this with 10 days in England.  Highlighted more touring by
> train, staying with Stuart’s sister, Brenda and visiting His brother
> Malcolm.  I also met and immediately bonded with Quaker, Bill M – we are
> both penpals of Joseph on Texas Death Row.
>
> One of my favorite actions in England is to visit the multiple small
> thrift shops.  (Every charity from Air Ambulances to P.E.T.A. seems to
> have one in every local High Street.)  After shopping in some on our day
> train trips and having a longer wander in Watford High Street I observed my
> purchases:  assorted Knick knacks for gifts, 3 blue handkerchiefs, a blue
> dress, blue blouse and blue, print skirt.  I do not do this consciously.  I
> have worn them all since I got home.  One young woman at Meeting affirms
> “Blue is good on you.”  Without my asking.
>
> I just read *Iron Boy* by David Marshall.  So did Stuart.  When I talked
> to our daughter Lis, so did she.  I remember many years ago being asked
> if I grew up in the Order.   “Yes, but I was 20 when I came.”   A world
> of difference in being 20 and deciding and 6 and told this is where we live.
> Thank you, David.
>
> In February the State of Texas executed my friend of 16 years, Richard
> Tabler.  When we were travelling, I learned of the death of Martha (SKY)
> Dempster.  Martha was my college roommate, invited me to RSI, and was my
> bridesmaid.  It has been ten years since we talked; a loss.  I also lost
> Donna S, a dance instructor here in Austin.  Then 130+ died in floods
> between the Texas Hill Country and Travis County where live.
>
> In the midst of life, you know.  My year has been given to activity
> familiar with the exceptions being the last two months.  Being Quaker,
> Religious Society of Friends.  My shorthand definition “Go cheerfully
> through the earth responding to that of God in everyone.”  Some of that
> translates into direct care; I am currently clerk of Care and Counsel, our
> local pastoral care committee.   Death Row and other prison visits are
> important to me.
>
> I dance. This one of my communities meets twice a week for choreographed
> play,  I continue to keep an art journal—now on Volume 6.   We are lucky
> enough to live an hour or less from our children, Elisabeth and Christopher
> and from our grandchildren.  LIFE IS GOOD.
>
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>


-- 
Richard H. T. Alton
ICA Global Fund
United Methodist Creation Care
T: 773.344.7172
richard.alton at gmail.com
Make Plain the Vision, Habakkuh 2:2
Won't you be my neighbor?
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