Anticipating Chautauqua

Soon after I became a blogger, we went to Chautauqua for two weeks, and I had a hard time explaining to my readers just what Chautauqua is all about. My first post tried to sum it up but I never felt that it succeeded. This morning I found this picture (and do not click for details where it says because that won't work) and found the three word caption to explain what I tried so hard to do in nine paragraphs!

We've decided to go back to Chautauqua this summer. The theme for Week Six is "Healing the Globe," and will examine issues such as maternal and child health, AIDS, TB, malaria, diseases related to global warming, the consequences of natural disasters, and response to famine and pandemics. In addition to attending the morning lectures on the theme, we'll also hear the Symphony three nights, sail, sew, attend other programs and lectures, and spend an evening with Peter, Paul and Mary. We'll attend religious services with thousands of other Christians. It will be a rich and full week.

Arranging accommodations is always interesting. We do it by phone and email, renting places we've never seen based on price, location, and the descriptions by the owners. One year it was a tiny house with plenty of space in a good location. The price was amazingly reasonable and there was not one single comfortable chair or sofa inside or outside of the place! The next year we rented a darling apartment that was practically perfect. So much so that the Institution now rents it to house their special guests and it's not available to us. For two years we spent two weeks in a nice little second floor apartment at a very low cost. It was a little longer walk to the Amphitheatre, but that wasn't a problem. We'd probably go back there again if it were available this summer, but it isn't. So once again we're buying a pig in a poke and it sounds like a pretty attractive pig. Close in to the center of activity, it is a studio condo with the porch that we can't live without.

At the end of our week in western New York state, we'll drive down to Kent, Ohio, and spend a night with Lloyd and Roberta before heading back home.

I'm looking forward to going back to this pedestrian community of faith, culture, and relaxation. I'm ready for the reflection and renewal that the Chautauqua experience never fails to bring.