Transfiguration was on Monday, and the part of the Gospel story that really caught my attention was Peter's offer to build tents so they could all stay on the mountaintop and Jesus' reaction to his idea. I'm not saying that Holy Rosary was always a spiritual mountaintop for me, but it was certainly a place of which I could say, "Lord, it is good that we are here." Just because something's good, though, doesn't mean it should be permanent--which Jesus told his apostles. My favorite Transfiguration hymn, "'Tis Good, Lord, to be here," ends with the line "And since thou biddest us leave the mount/ Go with us to the plain." Literally and figuratively, I've left the mountains and am now on the plains, and I know that Jesus has gone with me. So whether St. Michael is a fun experience, a tough experience, or both--likely both-- "Philippians 4:13, for Pete's sake!" (Yes, my Catholic friends will have to look up the reference--I'm not going to give it to you.)
My last week in Anchorage was increasingly hectic as I tried to get everything ready to go. I have to have some credits here to some people without whose help I never would have gotten everything done:
Steve Vrabel, Alex Theis, Erin Furby, Monica Kinney, Therese Syren, John Fleming, and Fr. James Barrand--all of whom helped either with packing my things, transporting them to the post office, or transporting me to the airport
Rich, Val, and Christian Shaut for taking care of Perry until next Saturday and then loading him on the plane
everyone else who put up with my franticness as I tried to pack four years of stuff in one week
Memorable moments from the week:
17 trips to Walmart or places like it to get all the supplies I needed, including one last-minute (11:45 the day before I left, with the store closing at midnight) run for shower curtains and sheets, which I was specifically advised to bring
Drilling holes in my 15 70-lb and one 50-lb Rubbermaid totes full of survival equipment (including clothes, books, food, tech), zip-tying them all, and transporting the 70-lb ones to the post office--only to have to unzip four that were too heavy--2 hours before my flight was supposed to leave
Finding out upon my arrival at the airport that the plane to Unalakleet was overbooked and I might have to wait for the next day's plane
Getting a six-months' supply of my medicine so I don't have to rely on the postal service to fly it in (or, as I think Mom thought would happen, having it brought by dogsled like the serum to Nome)
Goodbye dinners and parties that I was simultaneously very happy to attend, very glad of for the break from packing, and quite nervous about spending the time on them when I needed to pack
Trying to convince Perry that his new crate was a good thing (I did get him shoved into it once, so hopefully the Shauts will be able to get him into it when the time comes)
Making my specialty enchiladas for what might have been (you never know!) the last time, and then not having time because of all the dinners and parties to finish them
Enjoying the mountains and trees, which I knew I'd greatly miss
And many other things that I've now forgotten, which is why I'd wanted to blog once more while I was still in Anchorage, before I had my perspective skewed by village life.
A few more Anchorage pictures will round out this post.
My apartment in Anchorage (top left):
The front of the elementary building at Holy Rosary:
Perry (or most of him) in front of my apartment building. Notice the beautiful hanging basket that is so typical of Anchorage in the summer:
My car, which I will also miss (it's being cared for by two good teachers at HRA):
The lawn and the chapel at HRA:
I have still more Anchorage pictures I want to post, but they're on my old computer, so I'll have to post them later. My first official St. Michael post will have to be tomorrow, as I'm still dead tired from all the things I describe above. That also might explain why this post rambles a bit--or that could just be me.
I love and miss you all!
AMDG
Tim
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