OK, so what is a photo of the Holy Father on vacation doing on my blog? I don't know, it just really appealed to me. I'd like to imagine being the person on the bench next to him, chatting about something, (not that I have any idea what I'd actually say) or being one of the people in the area who go for a hike and encounter the Pope, out for a stroll, taking a break from work on the next book.

I'm reading his new book - Jesus of Nazareth - it is delightful, clear, simple without being simplistic. A delight.

Did a day trip to Wheeling, West Virginia last week - 10 hours there and back by myself in the car - but it was a great trip. Listened to EWTN, enjoyed the scenery. It is beautiful, with rolling, wooded hills. Nothing stunning, like the Rocky Mountains in the distance, but pastoral, comforting, safe.

I can always tell I'm under too much stress, when I long to move to the mountains and hole up in a cabin and be the crazy old lady who chops her own wood and grows her own vegetables. Sounds pretty good to me right now.