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| You know you are in Philadelphia when even in the Franciscan Sisters, have this posted on one of their office windows. http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=phi |
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| The Atlantic Ocean - http://www.capemay.com/ It is Saturday and time to head to Cape May, NJ for the Sacred Rhythms retreat. Yet first I spend some more time with my Aunt Marianne, eating breakfast and attending Saturday morning mass. Then I get repacked, organize the car and head on leaving behind my face wash and body wash for my aunt to enjoy(oh well it happens I am just thankful I didn't loose my one set of car keys on this trip or get stopped because I was driving on expired tags sometimes when you are so excited you forget the details). Then I head down I-95 driving past the Philadelphia Skyline my brain moving down memory lane as I pass the exits for Central Philadelphia, Penn's Landing and then cross over the Walt Whitman Bridge. I head down the back roads past Vine land NJ ( due to my memories of having to have exact change on the Garden State Parkway as a kid and not wanting to pay more tolls )and enjoy nice trip down to the Jersey Shore. I start to smell the Ocean and soon I am in all of the Saturday shore traffic but I have been in my glory enjoying the scenery, listening to KYW 1060(the 24 hour news station in Philadelphia that my mother would listen to for theweather report; it even still has the same jingle) and to the Splendid Table on WHYY from Philadelphia(Public Radio and TV in Philadelphia the station that brought me Mr. Rogers, Sesame Street and Captain Kangaroo). Yes, Saturday shore traffic, or yes the ocean is often still warm in September and why not because if you live in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas you can be at the shore in 2-3 hours. I arrive at Cape May and the above picture is the one I took the first day I walked down to beach actually even before I completely unloaded my car because after all I hadn't put my feet in the Atlantic Ocean in over 20 years. My first dream come true; then a few hours later after unpacking and exploring St. Mary's by the Sea where the retreat was being held; my second dream came true of meeting an online friend from West Virginia and then last but not least I got to meet Christine Valters Painter and her husband, John Painter, who are the online abbess and prior of Abbey of the Arts. So much beauty, so many memories and so much to look forward to as my dreams came true and I met new friends, fellow sister dancing monks who I will spend the next four days with. Links to Radio Stations: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/station/kyw-newsradio/ http://www.whyy.org/91FM/
It is difficult for me to talk about Philadelphia without remembering two of my favorite things attending Phillies Baseball Games and Flyers Hockey Games. And even now, when they are not doing well I am still a fan because while I rarely watch the games on TV, I always check the stats on the sport page. I once collected baseball cards and had a baseball pennant collection. I loved the pitcher, Steve Carlton because he was left-handed like me and my best Phillies memory is being present at the sixth game and watching them win the 1980 World Series. I did not become a Flyers Fan until I was older but I did wear a Brian Tocchet jersey and I did enjoy the fights(anybody remember the Sutters brother). One of these days I will attend some games in Philadelphia in their new venues but for now I am content with my memories of the Spectrum and Vet Stadium both of which are long gone now.
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Yes couldn't resist taking a picture of the Flyers sticker but realized out of privacy I should not take a picture of the license plate; fortunately no one was around and asked what I was doing.  |
| The entrance to St. Mary's by the Sea |
Links to some of my favorite places in the Philadelphia/Jersey Shore area:
Penn's Landing: http://www.visitphilly.com/outdoor-activities/philadelphia/penns-landing/
Ocean City, NJ: http://www.ocnj.us/
Philadelphia Art Museum: http://www.philamuseum.org/
Ben Franklin Court: http://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/franklin-court.htm
Franklin Mills(Shopping): http://www.simon.com/mall/philadelphia-mills
The CrabTrap Somers Point, NJ: https://www.thecrabtrap.com
City Tavern: http://www.citytavern.com/
Learn more about the Splendid Table on NPR: http://www.splendidtable.org/
Also visit the website for the church where I attended Saturday morning mass: http://saintjohnbosco.org/
To learn more about Christine and John along with the Abbey of the Arts which since 2012 has changed my life and led me to meet many people online from around the world and now in person as well visit: http://abbeyofthearts.com/
To read my Monk in the World post on the Abbey website visit: http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2014/01/16/monk-in-the-world-guest-post-jennifer-trently/
I could go on and on but I will stop here for now; what a wonderful Saturday transcending the new and old; while dreams come true.
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