Princeton to Bridgewater; Distance = 18 Miles; People Met = 12
Photos at the end
We stopped at a Deli to use the restroom and got into a conversation with Sonny, the owner who hails from India. Upon learning what we were doing and that I would write a book about it, he had every confidence the book would do well. He explained that in his country there are people who give up everything, go climb a mountain to find their soul, and return as impoverished, nomadic preachers. He then observed that in this country people climb mountains to find their souls, write a book about it, and then make a million bucks. Well, with that certainty in hand I might as well end the “pledge drive!”
We stopped at a Starbucks near Hillsborough to use up gift cards given to us by Kathy Ruis of California, barely a week into our trip. We sat outside, sharing a table with Maria and Zack. Zack worked next door at the Pretzel Factory. He decided that people doing what we are doing deserve a free pretzel and persuaded his manager Randy to do just that.
Ky picked us up in Bridgewater and brought us ahead to Chester where we would stay at the Community Presbyterian Church for a few nights. They were working on their Mother’s Day service when we arrived. Our connection Lisa Burns, who worked with families of the church, welcomed us with enthusiasm and was a bundle of energy. We also met Ann Marie and Christy that evening.
After some misfires with churches throughout New Jersey that were worried about insurance we landed in a very good place for our last church stay of the journey. I was partly feeling nostalgic and partly looking forward to the Mother’s Day service on the morrow.
Insurance! How ironic that our stumbling block with churches at the end relates to what I’ve been writing about lately in regards to “Be Safe!” vs. “Be Happy!” I know that insurance has become a necessity in our society. Yet insurance brings us security while interfering with the happiness that stems from kind society.
Thanks for the pretzel Zack! You have a good boy Maria!
Sonny insisted his cook Alejandro get his picture taken instead
Thanks for chatting Ricardo and Fred
Sandy at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Princeton
Who's the judge of this?
Isn't that just a fat tortilla
