Browsed by
Author: Kat

Thistle Stop Cafe

Thistle Stop Cafe

Today Andrea and I had lunch at the Thistle Stop Café (thistlestopcafe.org).  It’s run as part of the community of Thistle Farms and Magdalene, which offer residential communities and a social enterprise for women who have survived prostitution, trafficking, and addiction.  For two years, they offer housing, food, medical and dental care, therapy, education, and job training without charging the residents or receiving government funding.  The community operates under the principles of hospitality to all, healing, chado (a Japanese word…

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First Impressions — Day 2

First Impressions — Day 2

I’ve only been back in the US for two days now, and I’ve had limited mobility, but I have some first impressions to share.  It will be interesting to see if these change with time, or possibly with location, as I meet more people and travel more widely. Looking out of the airplane window as I flew in to Nashville, I was stunned at how green and vibrant everything here is.  I think I’ve had this reaction every time I’ve…

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Beginning with a single step

Beginning with a single step

A journey of 10,000 miles (16,000 kms) begins with a single step.  Very early Wednesday morning I took that first step, and after stops in Sydney and San Francisco, I landed on schedule in Nashville, TN.  Except for being surrounded by – I kid you not – EIGHT babies and kids under 5, on my last leg, everything went surprisingly smoothly.  I highly recommend the upgrade to premium economy for long trips in the 787, the bit of extra leg…

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Song of the Open Road (Excerpts)

Song of the Open Road (Excerpts)

Afoot and light-hearted, I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me, The long brown path before me, leading wherever I choose. Henceforth I ask not good-fortune–I myself am good fortune; Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing, Strong and content, I travel the open road. The earth–that is sufficient; I do not want the constellations any nearer; I know they are very well where they are; I know they suffice for those who…

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Last Days in Oz

Last Days in Oz

I’ve been working madly to get everything ready, and I think I’m almost there.  All my things have been moved into storage, the house is cleaned, I have flights booked, I have insurance arranged, I’ve said goodbye to everyone, and I’ve quit my job.  There’s very little left to accomplish before I board the plane to the US. It all happened very quickly in the end.  For the longest time it seemed like something that I was doing in the…

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