State of Grace

Named Mary- Land.

After my cousin godkiddies went to college, Maryland used to be sort of a fly-over place for me- because it looked like you could just cram so many malls onto Rockville Pike that it looked like all people did was shop till they dropped, regassed their vans and did it again. Of course there is the Congressional Country Club set and the debutante doyenne wannabees from high society emulating Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill- as is in every town of any size, but my favorite memories of suburban DC are driving my little godkiddie cousins to their gymnastics lessons (at the same place Dawkins trained) and watching their little toby blonde heads tumble and somersault in their little pink work out leotards then watching them scarf down their favorite pizza at chuckie cheese trading in tickets for trinkets with glee. Their walk to their swim club out toward Rockville was a source of scientific amazement as they learned the names of all the flowers and ferns on the route. One is now a Veterinarian and the other a Vice President of a prominent public relations firm in DC.
Then I recently discovered the "Baby's R Us" supermall on Cherry Hill off Rt.29 North on the way to Columbia. If you have not discovered the "Baby's R Us" supermall you don't know what you are missing. That mall also has a huge Potomac Book and Health with the largest selection of bibles and spiritual literature outside the Shrine bookstore and the CIC in the area- and a Target (pronounced by us francophones as 'Tarjay') with grocery section prices half of what you find at Wholefoods ('wholepaycheck'.)
This time of year the leaves on the trees are turning brilliant reds and oranges. I am reminded of the drive to the Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat Center near Emitsburg which is one of the most spectacular drives through rural farmland, past a few houses that look like castles toward Camp David.
It's worth running for President just to get to stay at Camp David. If you are not yet the President, ask the Jesuits how to rent the Bellarmine retreat center- with a beautiful chapel perched on a hill overlooking the Valley, now with more beautiful colors than Joseph's robe.
There are ghosts of Christmas past in the chapel - and hopes of Christmases to come.