Beloved Florence

As we were growing up in the Bachmeier household, our most frequent trips to the coast were to Florence. We didn't have a beach house, but the hour-long drive made Florence easily accessible for day trips and we would occasionally stay over with friends, like the Humble family (longtime friends from our days in Santa Clara). When it was only a day trip and that trip landed on a Sunday, we would often race home to catch the evening Mass at St. Mary's. Once or twice, good old Joe Mertz, head usher, would ask us to "take up the gifts at the offertory." We would try to say, "look at us, we just got back from the beach." But Joe would hear none of it . . . and we would leave a trail of sand, I'm sure, up the center aisle. When I was pastor at St. Mary's, people would sometimes bring the gifts forward and offer an excuse for their "beach dress & flip-flops." I would always respond, "No worries. I've been there, too!"

A few words about equipment: the stick is still waiting for a name (deadline for contest entries is noon Friday, June 17) and is still proving useful; there is nothing like moleskin for saving feet from blisters and other wear and tear; bandages and tape are helpful when hands and fingers are worn a little; and the iPhone app Run Keeper is ideal for monitoring pace and distance (check it out,it's free!).

Sometimes As Important as Feet,

to a Pilgrim

It looks like we're about a day ahead of schedule. Paula and I arrived in Florence today and finished 10.5 miles just beyond the Siuslaw River Bridge. Nonetheless, following up on the last post's theme, I found these reflections from a pilgrim on the world-famous Santiago de Campostela pilgrimage in Spain helpful: "Time and distance are no longer relevant things. You just continue, day after day and mile after mile, and that brings you somewhere. Back home time is the essential thing. As a pilgrim, it's great to feel that you have all the time in the world."

God is Good, All the Time