Post 40/2024. Goshen, Indiana. The state of being peaceful, calm and untroubled. Serenity. Tranquility. A sense of peace and quiet. How can that be in these storm-tossed, fevered, splintered October days, like similar onslaughts of September, August, July, ad infinitum? I do venture that a smile–and a spot of beauty–helps.

The October Club

The October Club was a group of High TORY M.P.’s who, in the reign of Queen Ann “met at a tavern near Parliament to drink OCTOBER ALE and to abuse the WHIGS. It became politically prominent about 1710 although it had probably existed from the end of William III’s reign.” Thanks to the Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase & Fable (1970/1995) for that bit of history that makes me smile. Nothin’ new.

In the face of the natural and human disasters all around, I’m in some state of being peaceful, calm and untroubled. Not about the world, but about my personal equilibrium. What has helped my body and mind and spirit this week is the walks we’ve done, one in Syracuse, about 30 minutes from our home, one at Defries Gardens County Park and one at Ox Bow County Park, the latter two part of Elkhart County Parks. And another to the Goshen Dam, the Mill Race and through neighborhoods home.

Photos from this week

Goshen College

Another bright spot of the week is having a niece, Shari, spend two nights with us for Homecoming events at Goshen College. And we shake our heads at how can it be, Marty’s class of 1964 meets for it’s reunion on Saturday. If we couldn’t smile, laugh, cry, groan, and rejoice, what would we be doing?

-John