After leaving the Big Island in November of 2005 to visit with family and friends in Germany, I returned to Wildwood, Georgia — to the farm of my Mom & Stepfather, in early 2006.  It was then that, after being asked to do so, I relayed to my family members there what I had rediscovered while on the Big Island, and that I intended to set out that Spring to “walk the talk” just as the Peace Pilgrim had done those many years ago (from 1953 to 1981).

After listening to my explanation of the innate practicality of living selflessly, my mother thought that her friends would be interested in hearing what I had to say, and she made it possible for me to share a one-day seminar with 13 other people from the Chattanooga community in February of that tear.

Even though the presentation was amazing for all involved, I still assumed that it would be a “one-time deal”, and that I would be setting forth sometime in April to walk the roads of the United States, spreading the message of “radical kindness” to any who would listen.

And then the calls started coming in … It seems that, by word of mouth, others in the Chattanooga area had heard about the presentation and wanted me to share with their various groups and congregations.  Of course, I was all too happy to comply, and gave another dozen presentations through that summer.

At that point, my good friend Emily needed a cat-sitter in Boise (Idaho) and asked if I would do the honors.  I readily agreed, traveled to Boise (a great city), and — much to my surprise, ended up sharing another eight presentations there for Boise’s vibrant, Peace-oriented community.

After brief stopovers in Tacoma & Seattle that fall, I was invited by some other good friends (Jon & Danielle) to Chicago in order to help care for their three boys while they searched for a suitable nanny.   Again, I complied, and ended up living in Chicago for the rest of that year doing just that.

Filed under: z Whereabouts of mySelf by Scaughdt