Pat Carter

Links

Greetings from Pat Carter!

Dear Friends,

I hope all of you are having a peace-filled and relaxing Christmas Season! I began this last year about this time, but life events stepped in and it never got finished. 2007 was very challenging, and 2008 was a time to recuperate and transition.

Instead of putting everything on this page, I have organized things so that you can go to those parts of my year that are of interest to you and skip the rest. There is a brief summary of each section and then a link to any additional information or photos.

Family: In December of 2007 we celebrated mother's 98th Birthday. Her physical state had been weakening over the year leaving her with an increasing difficulty in caring for herself, speaking and swallowing until she was only on thickened liquids.continues to weaken. Her mind was still very sharp and she enjoyed playing Solitaire with either my niece, Debbie or myself turning the cards for her. At the end of January 2008 she was admitted to the hospital with a high fever caused by an urinary tract infection. She must have also had a stroke because her limbs were more immobile, her speech even more difficult to make out and her swallowing issue was worse. After struggling with this, she finally died on February 22. The last picture taken of her is on the left which was taken with Josh and his friend, Emily, at her birthday party at Sherbrooke Village where she lived which I wasn't able to attend because I had a cold. I have also included a link to the eulogy I gave at the funeral. Her death left me as the only member from our nuclear family still enjoying life here.

Josh just turned 24. On September 29, 2007 he also served as the best man at his father's wedding. He has worked for three years with an epoxy concrete company and he was led crews often during the 2008 season. While he enjoys the outdoors and the work he is exploring other opportunities. In the fall of 2007, a friend gave him Anthony De Mello's book, Awakening. This book resonated deeply with him and as a result he became involved Ron Paul's campaign and has gotten himself deeply involved in politics, even becoming a representative to the State Republican Committee. He is part of a group that is trying to bring the Republican Party back to its true roots.

Dogs: 2007 and 2008 were years of loss for me. BJ who had joined us in 2002 at the age of 4, died suddenly in February 2007 from what we found out was a tumor on his spleen. He seemed fine on Friday and died on Sunday. At the same time, Unk, who was 14 at the end of 200, developed health problems. In 2006 he began showing symptoms of degenerative neuropathy which had continued to worsen so that he really had no use of his back legs. Then early in 2007, he was also diagnosed with Cushings which affects his adrenal gland. This was being controlled by medication, supplements, and acupuncture. But he gradually got to the point where I had to help him do everything, and I finally made the painful decision to have him put to sleep in January 2008. This was made less painful and even a sacred time by the fact that a caring vet, Dr. Sheila Snodgrass, came to our home to help him transition. I put together some memories of both dogs. The links are to the left.

Josh's dog, Sam, is enjoying being the only dog in the house.

Work: I continue to work with the Adorers of the Blood of Christ part-time and my own graphic design business. The Adorers moved their offices in 2007 from I-270 and Olive to Sulphur Avenue just behind Hampton Village here in the city. This saves a considerable amount of time and gas for me especially with the closing of I-64 for reconstruction. An addition to my graphic design business, is selling my photographs and photo cards along with my calendars. Locations can be found on my graphic design page. I have included a link to download an annual calendar on the right.

Workshops/Retreats/Spiritual Direction: I have been doing more in spirituality work. In 2007 I gave a workshop on Gandhi's Seven Deadly Sins at Mercy Center as well becoming the presenter for seven Mentoring Sessions for guides in Bridges and am continuing that ministry. In January 2008, I gave a one-day workshop on Living Ignatian Spirituality in Community. In July of 2008, I was part of a team that presented a two-day meditative retreat at Cahokia Mounds and then at the Ignatian Spirituality Conference a few days later, I gave a workshop on Transformational Suffering. I am also doing on-going spiritual direction outside the Bridges Program.

Bridges: In February 2008 I completed my two-year term as President of the Board of the Bridges Foundation which is the program for the Ignatian Retreat in Daily Life. In December 2008 I completed by term as a board member. I took a year off from being a guide this year, but plan to return next year.

CLC: My CLC (Christian Life Community) involvement has evolved from being in leadership to occasionally guiding and facilitating meetings. I do still continue to do the graphic design for Harvest and the CLC-USA and Missouri Region web pages. And of course, I'm involved in my own community, Discipleship.

Universe Story: My passion for the universe story continues to deepen. Early in 2007 I participated in a discussion group using a wonderful resource, the book, Amazing Journey. After the wonderful experience I had with this group, I decided I would try to gather a group to do the same thing during that summer. So for six Sunday evenings, 9 or so of us gathered in Tower Grove Park to reflect and share together on this wonderful universe we are a part of. Sharing with others on their experiences and insights is always a sacred time for me.

Another cosmic event was the Spiritual Directors International Conference, Coming Home to the Universe, held in Vancouver in April 2007. Brian Swimme was the keynote speaker and most of the workshops were centered on this theme. This was the fourth SDI Conference I have attended and it was an especially renewing and healing time for me.

One of the workshops I attended, Animals in our Midst, was especially healing since BJ had died just a couple of months earlier.

Parish: After my parish of 30 years, Immaculate Conception/St. Henry, was closed in 2005, I joined St. Cronan's Parish not too far from my home. It is a progressive parish and is designated as the social justice parish for the archdiocese. I am enjoying the liturgies, music, community and overall spirit of the parish very much. It is both nurturing and challenging.

Vacation: One of the most relaxing and nurturing events in 2008 was my vacation at Priest River, ID, with my friends Larry Gooley, SJ and Sylvia Swanke, RSM. Besides the companionship, the highlight of the trip for me was the sunrises and sunsets which inspired this year's calendar. Since pictures tell the story, I put together a slide show of a few of the pictures I took on that trip.

As I put this together, I realized there is much more I could share, events as well as my own thoughts and reflections, so I have decided to share some of those as the year progresses instead of waiting until the holiday season. I have added a Pat's Ponderings page which I will update as the mood strikes.

May all of you have a blessed and peace-filled 2009!

Pat Carter

Images
Click on images for larger view.

Eulogy at mom's funeral.