California, here I come!

Tomorrow I leave for California and only return on July 15; then I leave again on July 27 for a Higher Education meeting followed by our Provincial Assembly in Chicago until August 2. I may be writing a blog on some days, but do not be surprised to find out that I will really be taking a vacation from the blog for the times when I am away. Reverend Mother Stuart said that the best vacation was a change of occupation. I sit at the computer too many hours a day so may just give it up for part of this summer. I will be making my retreat at Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz from July 6-13 and count on your prayer for me during this time. I always think of it as a "honeymoon" with the Lord. It is a short retreat this year with only six nights there, but it is a directed retreat and I look forward to it. Last year I had thirty days there but the Holy Spirit was my director - I hope I still have the Holy Spirit as the real director, but it will be good to also have a Sister of the Holy Names who directed me in a couple of retreats years ago. She is very loving and has a great sense of humor so I am really looking forward to seeing her again. Actually, I did have a visit with her last summer when on a "break day" in my third week of retreat.
Before the retreat I will be visiting a friend from high school and college and then one who I met when I first came to Miami in 1986; she moved to California two years ago and I miss her very much so it will be good to catch up with her. Then I will have a few days in Oakwood to see my friends at our retirement home there before the retreat.
Have a great summer all of you with good reading and time to just be! Look for some interesting Letters from Maryland on Ignatian Spirituality to be published in this blog after July 16 to prepare for the Feast of St. Ignatius.