#NC2020 The Trails

 Brian and I arrived home safely from our WONDERFUL North  Carolina adventure late yesterday afternoon. To be honest, I am glad to be home among my people, I am sad to be home in storm-ravaged Pensacola. Life has been disrupted by " Sally", and while Brian and I sustained very little damage from the storm, most of the people in our county sustained more damages. 

Rather on " borrowing trouble " { as my priest advises against all the time} I choose to focus on putting into words some memories from our 2020 trip. 

All photos in this essay are the work of either myself  The Pensacola Hippie  or my spouse, Brian. 

This was the trail hair of Daisy Lake Trail at Kanuga Conference Center, located just outside of Hendersonville. We hiked this trail on our final afternoon in North Carolina, and it was our most challenging trail. However, in my opinion, his was the most beautiful scenery we saw. I'm reminded of the hours I spent playing in the Appalachian woods of the Alleghenies while growing up. 

This is an oddly-shaped pine cone that we saw on the Kanuga hike. Neither Brian nor I recall seeing pine cones shaped like this, so I asked our resident botanist to identify the tree. The expert said this is from the White Pine tree. 

Anyone who knows me at all is aware that I am drawn to all things purple. I noticed not only the rich purple blooms, but also the lush green leaves. 

Also at Kanuga, I saw a big boulder stripped of vegetation and I had to pose with the non-Florida geological form. I miss big rocks. 

On Thursday morning, Brian and I hiked the trail around the farm at Carl Sandberg Home National Park. The goat yard and the house itself is closed thanks to COVID, but Brian and I enjoyed a wet let lovely morning hike around the property My heart was so glad to be in the mountains that a wee bit of highlands drizzle did not " dampen" { haha , see what I did there?} my joy at hiking in the Appalachians. 

Here is Brian standing next to an old gate post at the Sandberg farm. As the photos show, both of us hiked the property while wearing raincoats. Thankfully, the hiking boots we brought are waterproof and warm: our feet stayed dry. 

Our adventures on the trails also included a walking trail tour of downtown Asheville. This is a retro theatre that I spied as we hiked the mountain city of Asheville North Carolina. 

We stopped at a local Asheville distillery where we purchased some local gin and sat with locally brewed REAL ginger beer { for me and a peach soft drink { for Brian}. Asheville is home to many small craft breweries. By the way, the ginger beer went down my throat very smoothly! 

This is the huge church that we saw at the beginning of our urban hike. While I am pretty sure that  it is a Roman Catholic church I forget the church's name. 

The leaves on western North Carolina are just now starting to show their alternative colors. This was at Kanuga near one of the historic cabins. For some reason, the Daisy Lake trail had us end up at the main road, and then walking back to the truck on Kanuga Chapel Road. 

At first glance, we thought this to be a pipe, Upon closer inspection, we discovered that it is a tree trunk that had been completely hollowed out. 

There is more to tell, but I'd need to see you in person to share.  Western North Carolina is a magical place and I am grateful that Brian and I have these memories. 

Shalom....

~Sarah

The Mountains Called: and I Went

One of the many painted bear statues in downtown Hendersonville, N. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

The mountains called. Brian and I went. We had a WONDERFUL time. Now we must leave. 

We've been taking a short vacation in southwestern North Carolina, about 3 minutes south of Asheville. We honeymooned here almost 5 years ago, and fell in love with the charming town nestled in the Appalachians. 

As much as I love Pensacola and the beach, part of my soul will always be a mountain woman. I grew up in the Greater Pittsburgh area, and Appalachian culture is dear to my heart. As much as it was tough growing up in a depressed steel town, the Appalachian foothills were my playground. As a child, countless hours were spent exploring the woods near my home. Additionally,  my maternal grandparents took a house in Avery County, in Northwestern NC and my family and I spent one week there on the summer. 

From the Pisgah National Forest , to urban hiking in Asheville, to the Sandberg property to Kanuga I am one happy mountaineer. It is so nice to get on the freeway and head towards the city in the view of mountains that are among the most ancient geologic features on Earth. The leaves here are just beginning to show their autumn colors. 

North Carolina takes public health during a pandemic very seriously, and Brian and I enjoyed both a craft brew and a good Middle Eastern lunch { sitting OUTSIDE} in Asheville. 

Sarah at the brew place with the traveling " St Christopher" figurine. This little figurine ha put some long miles on during this trip. Photo by Brian. 

Brian and " St Christopher" at our outdoor lunch stop in downtown Asheville. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

Of course we stopped at the downtown Hendersonville candy & ice cream shop that Christie introduced us to almost five years ago. Naturally we bought the darkest chocolate fudge they sold. It is delicious. 

St Christopher visits the sweet shop in downtown Hendersonville. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

Brian and I feasted on a HUGE  home-cooked Southern breakfast every morning while we were here. 

Thursday morning's yummy breakfast. " St Christopher" joined us. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

   It has been a whirlwind of a trip, and we made some great memories. To be honest, I am not quite ready to return home to Pensacola. But " home" is Pensacola and Brian and I have " our people" there. Yet it is hard for me to leave these sacred mountains-- where so much of my early formation occurred. 

Goodbye, Western North Carolina. We'll see you again. 

Peace,

~Sarah

 

And, Year 2020 Keeps on Giving

 My church's building, St Christopher's Episcopal Church in Pensacola, Florida. Front yard, with steeple in view. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie. 

The Year Of Our Lord 2020 is the year that keeps giving humanity unwanted gifts.  The pandemic-- where we all were asked to isolate  for two weeks in order to ' flatten the curve" has turned into a months-long ordeal. In spite of regulations, Americans refuse to heed the regulations set forth to protect everybody. 

States insisted that schools open, and more people catch the virus. People are getting laid off in industries across the economy--- usually with the lowest-earning employees getting cut first. 

The Atlantic storm seasons has been especially horrendous . The most recent storm TOTLLY changed its path---- wreaking havoc on the Alabama and western Florida Panhandle. As someone who lived through this storm, it was truly terrifying. The rains from the outer bands of " Sally " { By the way NEVER call me by that name: my name is Sarah} started arriving Tuesday evening. Rain did not cease until well into Wednesday afternoon. Brian and I had not shuttered our home { as was the reality for most of us here in the Pensacola area}. Without electricity, my spouse and I joined others for a front-row view of " Sally's" wrath.  Pensacola is located to the east of where the storm made landfall: so we fell victim to her angry east winds. The howling of the wind of a hurricane is something that is indescribable. 

Remembering IVAN 's coming ashore sixteen years ago, I felt the PTSD symptoms. Although this storm was milder than IVAN it shared many of the same characteristics. For instance, water was the biggest destroyer of property--- the winds made " Sally " a Catagory Two. 

Post-storm, and as soon as it was safe to do so, I went to my parents' house . They did not get the brunt of " Sally's" east winds , and retained their electricity. It was easier for me to deal with my storm trauma in a house with power than stare at the wall at home while my spouse & some neighbors chopped up a tree branch that had landed on our roof. 

Yesterday, as I was preparing for bed, I learned of the death of Justice Ruth Ginsberg. { may her memory be a blessing} If a pandemic and a hurricane were not enough in September of 2020, now one of my feminist icons has died ! To be honest, I am still processing this news: I'm trying hard to not " borrow trouble" by thinking about who will be put in RGB's place. Those thoughts will take me down a dark road, and I simply cannot afford the luxury of bemoaning right now. Rather, I choose to honor Justice Ginsberg's life and legacy by continuing to work for justice for ALL persons. As a female person, I owe so much to RGB and the women who caused GOOD TROUBLE . Due to them:

~ I was able to play school sports. 

~ I can own property on my own. 

~I can have my own credit card. 

... and more. 

But our fight for equality is not over. Transwomen & women of color still suffer discrimination. As a White cisgender woman, I realize that not all female-identifying people enjoy the same rights as I do. Following RBG's footsteps, I choose to educate myself on the issues that women of color and transwomen face daily. Most of the time I'm not correct, but a willingness to learn is key to successfully causing good trouble. 

Educate yourself { and others} Advocate. Never Give Up. 

By golly, we need to work TOGETHER to effect positive change. RBG would want progressive Americans of all stripes to unite Compromises must be made by everyone if we are ever going to move our society forward

For Jewish people worldwide, today marks a new year. 

L'Shanah Tovah

~Sarah 

Rosh Hashana 2020. 

~

Sneaky " Sally"

 A gas station in Santa Rosa County, Florida. Long gas lines are always the norm post-storm. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie 

Pensacola, and the communities surrounding her, got an unwanted & unexpected visitor Tuesday night. " Sally " which was predicted to visit the Louisiana/Mississippi coast, took a dramatic turn EAST and landed on the shores of Alabama. Pensacola, located directly east of where the storm hit land, got the easterly winds nd rain--- the worst side of any tropical system. 

I am at my parents' house . They never lost power and they have internet access. I'm heading home tomorrow , as we need to prepare for vacation. Our scheduled departure date is still Monday morning, and I need to complete a few last-minute tasks

Downtown was flooded as rain pummeled our area for hours. Thankfully, Brian and I live in a part of town that is over 100 feet above sea level-- we are not a flood risk. The hours of rain left much standing water on our yard & street, but the drainage & the sand in the yard helped dry our property & street where we live. Other parts of my City & County are not so fortunate.  Downtown was under water , and many trees fell both in our Northeast Pensacola neighborhood and the neighborhood where our church building is located. 

Santa Rosa County, where my parents live, did much better. Mom and Dad never lost electricity at their house, and had minimal yard and fence damage. However, the beaches are totally decimated. 

The main bridge between Gulf Breeze and Pensacola has been damaged--- it is unusable for the immediate future. News tells folx that it will be 60 days , but I am very wary of that timeline. the alternate route east from Pensacola is not easy for many Pensacola residents, so traffic on the interstate will increase soon. The state has lifted the toll for the newer bridge from Gulf Breeze to a point directly north of there, and that will help ease some of the congestion. 

Curfews are in place for all of Escambia County from 7PM until 6 PM. I am glad for this preventative measure, because many traffic lights are still out and it is easier to control potential looters during daylight hours. 

When I am here, I am able to use the internet to find information and to see how others are coping post-storm. Brian figured out a way to hook our TV to the generator so we can both charge our phones and watch the local news. Knowing where we can find gas helps ease some of my anxiety and I borrowed a book from my parents' house. 

Tonight, Jews will celebrate their New Year--- and I wish everyone a blessed, happy Jewish New Year. I am ready to kick 2020 to the curb. 

Shana Tova, Friends....

~Sarah

Travel in the Time of COVID

                                 Some of our face masks, all washed and hanging in our laundry room to dry.                                                              Photo by The Pensacola Hippie 

With the storm coming ashore in New Orleans, Pensacola is in for a rough couple of days of eastern bands of wind and rain from Hurricane Sally.  I am so grateful that we are not in the path of a direct hit, and my prayers are for all those on the Louisiana/Mississippi coast . 

I am using today to start getting ready for our vacation. This included doing some laundry-- including the washing of all of our face masks. In order to preserve the ear straps, I am machine washing them, but hanging them out to dry in our laundry room.  

North Carolina, unlike FLORIDA, has some strict masking regulations . This makes me feel better bout our trip there. We are driving, and taking our own food & drinks with us-- no food stops at fast food joints in the interstate.  The place where we are staying while in North Carolina is a family-owned Bed & Breakfast that offers a huge breakfast every morning. We'll pack trail snacks, but d not plan to eat a meal until take-out after the day's activities. 

I planned our itinerary to include only outdoor activities. We will go to the Carolina Highlands to spend time in the mountains , so there is quite a bit of hiking. I have the carl Sandberg property on our list, but the outdoor trails are all that is open right now due to the pandemic. We are okay with this arrangement, as we prefer outdoor vacations anyway. The Sandberg House would be interesting, but it will e there after COVID { whenever that may be...} 

We plan to spend on day in nearby Asheville, and I found that the Botanical Gardens there are open to foot traffic. Additionally , a sweet friend gave us a map of the walking tour of downtown Asheville and we naturally plan to stop and sample a craft beer at one of the breweries there { using the outdoor seating option}  If we are hungry, we can get take-out and eat it on the way back to Hendersonville. Again, since we will stock our backpacks with good trail food, hunger should not affect us. 

Our truck will have enough wipes and rubbing alcohol , we want to keep our hands clean while we are out in public. 

I am glad that we can take this trip together-- a much-needed respite from our isolating COVID existence in Pensacola. 

~Sarah

 

77 times 7 : Forgiveness Math

                                                Morning sun photo by The Pensacola Hippie 

CW: Assault & Domestic Abuse  

.

.

,

.

Today I had the treat of tuning in via Facebook Live to the Saturday evening Mass at St James Episcopal Church in Hendersonville, NC{ Yes, the same Hendersonville that Brian and I will stay during our vacation in the Carolina Highlands. } 

First , let me mention that I had not heard Christie+ preach since she left Gulf Breeze, so I'd forgotten what an excellent preacher my former rector is & always has been. It was such  treat to see her online and hear her preach again. 

However, the lessons that are appointed for this week center around FORGIVENESS. Starting with Christ's commandment about how much to forgive a sibling-in-faith : 77 times 7 ! { I hate math! } The priest talks about how the number 7  symbolizes physical & spiritual wholeness .  So, perhaps Jesus is telling us that we must continue to forgive-- that forgiveness is a lifelong journey?  

Interestingly enough, I remember a conversation Christie+ and I had regarding forgiving some people who had done some spiritual damage to my soul. 

Regarding forgiving my siblings-in-Christ, she said { and I am paraphrasing} " Sarah, Christ commands us to forgive. However, it is not always wise to forget."

I am older and a wee bit wiser now, and looking back, I realize that it is true. As long as we humans hold onto resentment, anger , and other negative emotions towards what was done to us by another, we cannot be whole nor free. Forgiveness is essential for our psychological & spiritual health. For Christians, living according to The Way of {Christ's} Love  means that forgiveness is constant. We do not forgive others for their benefit. Rather, true forgiveness { or accepting another's forgiveness when we wrong people} sets US free. 

Yet forgiving someone does not  require that the person accept the offender back into their lives. Yes, reconciliation is possible and should occur in most situations. However, some situations require a " clean break" from the offending person. Reconciliation is not safe. 

For an example: I would NEVER advise a person to return to their abusive partner/spouse. Forgiving one's domestic batterer is essential: but to return to living with that person is dangerous. the same is with a person who harms a child. My forgiving my ex-neighbor who will face trail for some hideous behavior towards a child is essential for my  spiritual & emotional well being. It is not my duty to punish him--- he will have to face both the court and his maker to reckon for what he has done. Yet forgiving him comes with my keeping an even safer distance from this person. I don't want nor need all his poison, so I forgive but remain safely away from his drama. 

In other words, revenge is NOT mine to have against this person, but I surely am not footing the bill for his defense! If a clergy person told me that I had to welcome back to my life a person who had harmed me physically, I would find another church. { thankfully I've been blessed with awesome clergy} 

Perhaps we women are especially careful to separate forgiveness & reconciliation. I hear stories of women who are sexually assaulted by a person { gender DOES NOT MATTER HERE} in a position of power & are convinced that they must return to the toxic environment. 

Forgive? Yes. Return to relationship with that person? NO! 

All of us are given so much grace: we can never attain perfection and we will get hurt and hurt people. None of us are without sin-- but we have a God Who knows what " being fully human " entails. 

The Way of Love is paved with forgiving others and accepting forgiveness. Thanks be to God! 

Amen. 

~Sarah McCarren 

9/12-13/2020

Obligatory 9/11 Musings

                                               Candle lit. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie

We all know where we were and what we were doing 19 years ago this morning.  How can we forget?  Today I want to not only remember those who lost their lives in these attacks, but to also honor those who were on that plane, near or inside the Twin Towers and were at The Pentagon this fateful day. 

I remember feeling anger and fear.  I was in college at The University of West Florida and late to an 8 A.M. class. Although I did not see the " live" footage of the attacks, the replays still haunt me now.  I remember waiting in line to use the public telephone { this was before everyone carried a cell phone in their pocket} to call my dad. I remember silently riding back with him after he picked me up from college--- I needed to take a long weekend away from campus. 

Yet in the horror of the aftermath of the attacks, I saw a unity among Americans of all stripes-- that of which I had not seen since. For one part of history-- Americans were AMERICANS. We were not liberal versus conservative, people of color versus white people, rich versus poor. We were UNITED as a nation. 

Guess what? No matter the messages that the TV and talk radio forces upon us, we are still Americans. 

On this day, in the middle of a worldwide pandemic and during what is the ugliest political season in my 44 years of life on Earth, I continue to pray about unity. Additionally, I put my words into actions and work towards peace and unity for all. 

I love this nation. She is not perfect, but I do believe that we can overcome the divisions that plague us s much as does the threat of COVID. Perhaps COVID is " the great equalizer"-- the virus cares not what color skin, what age or gender, nor one's political leanings.  If there is any " silver lining" in Pandemic Life and on the anniversary of the worst domestic attack on US soil it is this : We are all human. 

Perhaps the best way that we as a people can remember those who perished today and honor those many who were physically there when those planes went down is to untangle ourselves from the debacle of Year 2020 and work together to make life more just for all Americans. 

Amen.

Sarah McCarren

Patriot Day 2020