Author Archive: Bill Black
I'm a baby boomer, lefty Democrat, Boston Irish Catholic, born in 1953. I work as a public affairs consultant in Washington.
First Fish
Danny and I did a fly fishing weekend last year for a long promised bonding experience. We bought an obscene amount of equipment, including a very nice fly rod.
On our first morning at camp, I decided to give it a spin. It was a mess. I couldn’t get the casting right and was getting frustrated. Then…..bam! Caught a fish.
It was a bit of a fight as I yelled for Rita to grab the net and the camera. The fish was surprisingly small, given the fight he put up. But it was a good way to start the trip.
Dead heading
In a break from the past, we decided to go to the camp on Friday night, instead of our usual Saturday arrival. Technically, we’re not supposed to arrive before Saturday, but we learned that our cabin was empty and ready for occupancy on Friday. So, instead of our usual stopover in Albany on Friday, we decided to go all the way to camp.
We left on Friday morning at about 10:30 am, prepared for a long trip. While we would be able to get through New York City before rush hour, we’d probably hit Albany at maximum traffic time, a Friday night during summer time.
One interesting experience we had on the way had to do with the Olympics. The sister of an acquaintance of Bridget’s was actually competing that day in the 800 meter freestyle swimming competition. Bridget had watched her progress from the trials on. Her name is Katie Ledecky. In a testament to the new media world we live in, we were able to get live coverage of the Olympics on both an IPhone and my IPad. The connection was a bit spotty on the IPad, but the IPhone seemed to get a petty steady signal. So, driving in a car, up Route 87 in New York, we were able to watch Katie win the Gold Medal. Good thing Rita was driving, as I am easily distracted while driving. Rita was able to manage driving and while simultaneously watching the race.
Sure enough, we hit a dead stop in Albany. So, we pulled off the road, did grocery shopping and had a quick dinner at a Panera.
By the time we got back on the highway, traffic had cleared and it was a smooth ride from there on. We arrived at camp at 9:10 pm and Luke was there to greet us. The vacation had begun.
Adirondacks 2012 – No Change!
Wednesday, August 1
I reveal to the family that I may have to leave the Adirondacks on Monday to attend a meeting in Boston. Bridget erupts.
“Don’t you people realize that I don’t like change? I’m about to endure the biggest change of my life by going to college. The only constant is the Adirondacks. Danny’s coming late because of the Joe Kennedy campaign and now you going to leave for a day. This has to stop!”
I explain the purpose of my Boston trip and when I say, “It’s Panera.” She’s say, “You gotta go.”
Adirondacks 2012 A Journal
I’m trying something new. This will constitute my journal for our Adirondacks vacation of 2012. However, since we don’t have either Internet or cell connection on the camp, these posts will not be real time. I’ll lot them up when I return to civilization, but they will be chronological.
To refresh, we stay at the Baekeland Camp in the geographic center of the Adirondacks, about halfway between Blue Mountain Lake and Raquette Lake. Our lake is Utowana Lake, which means “Big Waves,” presumably in the Iroquois language. It is a three mile long lake in what is called the Eckford Chain. Baekeland is the only camp on Utowana. There is no road to the camp. You have to come across the lake by boat. There is no TV and spotty cell service. It is the perfect place to unplug. We essentially own the lake when we are here. It is idyllic.
Here is Bridget diving off the dock of our cabin, situated on a small cove on the north side of the lake.
Lost in Translation in Beijing
Jintaixizhao Subway Station
Beijing is a difficult city to navigate, made more so by the fact that even the natives don’t know where anything is. I spent about a third of my day yesterday lost in the city and nobody could help me.
In the morning, I set out for breakfast with some colleagues at the Park Hyatt Hotel, a seventy story high rise near the China World Trade Center. I was told it was close by my hotel, the Grand Millennium. When I asked the concierge for directions, he suggested I take the subway. It was only one stop away and he wrote the name of the hotel in Chinese on a card. Feeling adventurous, I took his advice. Big mistake. Continue Reading
Anniversary of the Vatican Reading
Today is the 7th anniversary of my family’s visit to the Vatican in Rome where I was invited to give the reading. It was the Letter from Paul to the Romans, Chapter 6, verses 3 to 11. Today, I’m starting a tradition where I will post this video every year on this anniversary. I’m assuming that anyone who stumbles across this post will have already seen it, so you can move on….
Excepts from Bridget’s Graduation Speech
At long last, I am posting an excerpted version of my daughter Bridget’s graduation speech, entitled “The Autobiography of the Class of 2012.”
The Catholic Church, Heading for a Schism?
The institutional Catholic Church is testing me like never before. I’m frankly disgusted by the lawsuit against the Obama Administration on the contraceptive rule, the “Fortnight of Freedom,” and the attack on the nuns. I have ceased my contributions to the “Bishop’s Appeal,” although I maintain my donations to my local parish. It is galling to me that these bishops think they have the moral standing to lecture the rest of the world on issues of sexuality. They actually should be humbly begging forgiveness for their crimes and focusing on the true message of Christ, to serve the poor and needy. It beggars belief that they have chosen to make a stand on a Church mandate that is rejected by 90% of Catholic women.
In times like this, I tell myself that the institutional Church is a human institution separate from the real body of belief. History is replete with scandals and corruption at the highest levels of the Catholic Church. In my mind, the true Church is found in Catholic social teaching. And I am heartened that there are voices within the Church who are rejecting the Vatican and the American bishops.
Among the voices rejecting the Bishops’ political activities are a group of “lay leaders” from my own parish of Blessed Sacrament in Washington, DC. Andrew Sullivan called attention to their open letter that is a very powerful statement warning the bishops that they are treading on dangerous ground. You can read the letter here.
In addition, the Franciscans have issued a letter supporting the nuns against the Vatican attack. That can be read here.
There is a huge split in the Church that is driven by the conservatives who think that regulating sexuality is Job One for the Catholic Church. I really believe this split could grow into a schism. I, for one, would be open to attaching myself to a religious movement/institution either within or outside the Church that reflects more closely the values that I truly believe reflect more closely Christ’s teaching. I’m not there yet, but if they keep pushing these divisive policies, who knows?
Disney in DC
Baby Deer Among Azaleas
I felt like I entered a Disney movie this weekend. While working in our garden, my wife, Rita, discovered a baby deer curled up and nestled in the Azaleas right in front of our house beneath our front steps. The deer was tiny, about the size of our beagle, Maggie. It was about 2 o’clock in the afternoon and we had no idea how she got there or how long she’d been hiding. After a few tweets, Facebook and social cam posts, we began to wonder what, if anything we should do about the situation.
Should we just leave her alone and hope the mother returns? Do deer mothers return when separated from a baby? Might she be ill and was left to die? Could she find her own way back to nearby Rock Creek Park? We finally decided to give her water and some veggies, both of which she ignored, and wait. I decided that, if she was still there the next morning, we’d call animal control. We then went about our business.
My son, Danny, however, began to get very concerned. He determined that her breathing was labored and he worried about her health. So he called animal control and they promised to send someone. Of course, this is the District of Columbia, so no one ever came, but that’s another story for another blog post.
Stotesbury Regatta
I’m spending the day at the Stotebury Regatta in Philadelpha, reportedly the largest high school regatta in the U.S. It is quite a scene. An endless row of tents along the river. Barbeque grilles firing up. Groups of kids in sleeping bags, presumably after sleeping overnight outdoor the night before.
I’m watching the time trials now, boats are going by our little camp, one after another, some with 2 rowers, some with four, some with eight. Regular reports from the loudspeaker announcing schools that cross the line.
Our tent is clearly in the Washington regional section. A large number of local schools are represented, Gonzaga, Sidwell, McLean, etc., etc.
It’s a beautiful day, perfect for rowing….and watching.