Biola

Early Friday, Diane and I got up and prepared to say goodbye to Santee and my sister Melinda's family.  It was a great time seeing her and meeting new family members (very cute dogs), but we were eager to get back to Biola. 

After a brief navigation of the California freeways, or 'The 5' as the locals say, we were safely back in La Mirada shortly after 1pm.  Rachel was happy to see us, but looked a little frazzled. Torrey orientation had been fun, wonderful, and intense.  This day marked the beginning of regular freshman orientation, so the campus was coming alive with nervous looking students and even more nervous parents.  The Torrey students were asked to dress semi-formal for the first day of Freshman Orientation.  Rachel was in a pretty sun dress and her steam punk boots.  Those boots got quite a workout that day. 

We started at the Torrey Tea.  This event was held under a circus-sized tent that could seat over a thousand at round tables.  Diane and I got a chance to meet some of the kids in Rachel's group, which is named Rossetti for - I believe - the English poet Christina Rossetti.  First week of Torrey was a bit like summer camp, and Rossetti was crowned champion of the camp games.  Their prize: a big jar of candy.

We had to leave the tea early to scoot over to the Department of Cinema & Media Arts for a tour of the facilities, dinner, then a welcome from various CMA professors.  It was very inspiring for me to see the place where Rachel will most likely spend a lot of the next four years, and chat with some of the professors.  The only real negative was my wish that I could join her.  But how weird would that be?  Rachel, for her part, was a bit overwhelmed.  She'd now had three different orientations all tell her to balance various aspects of her life. If she balanced everything, it would be like juggling nine balls at once.  Stress!

Saturday was a more relaxed day.  Diane and I spent the morning back under the big top (that tent I mentioned) learning about the various departments of the university and how they were going to protect and educate our child.  I have to say, Biola is VERY good at this.  We heard from financial aid, campus security, campus health service, etc.  Everyone seemed witty, earnest and good at what they did. 

Saturday afternoon was free time, and it turned into some of the most memorable hours of the trip for me.  I made a Target run for various last-minute supplies, got Rachel's self-designed work lamp working, then spent a wonderful half-hour just talking with her like we always do.  She curled up in her bunk, I put my feet up and we both enjoyed the air conditioning.  She was relaxing for the first time all week and shared much about Torrey, film, her plans for the term, and her hopes. 

Later, we went to dinner under the big top with a few other Rossettis and their parents, and had a brief discussion on the biggest decision of the day: would we say goodbye tonight, or try to get together tomorrow?  'Tonight,' it was decided.  A weight came upon me then as I knew the clock was now ticking.  We ran some errands, looked around campus some more, generally killed time until the big event of the day: The Communion Service held on Metzger Lawn in front of the campus chapel.  Eventually, that time came.  We grabbed a back row of seats as Diane decided to avoid the uncomfortable chairs and just sit on the grass.  We were surrounded by Rossettis.  Rachel was the social butterfly, making plans with them for a Christopher Nolan movie marathon for Labor Day weekend.  Then, the service began.

Biola has an events department, and people with lot of theater and film expertise so this was an impressive service.  The worship team was set up on a stage with the chapel door as a backdrop.  Big screens were on either side of the stage.  At least four cameras were in operation giving us in the back plenty of good views.  But the worship was real.  Here we were with 2,000 people, outdoors as the sun set, worshipping God together in a way that we don't often get in the subdued Midwest.  But this was a Communion Service, so it was not about 'Holy Rolling'. 

We heard the president speak.  We heard the dean of students speak.  Then, four freshman got up and shared what had brought them to Biola: A blond Adonis from Sacramento, a baseball player who buried his grief at losing his father at age 12 in 'The Jock Lifestyle' as he put it.  Now, he was over baseball and looking toward the mission field.  A tearful girl from Egypt who's family used to kiss her goodbye when she went to church (she was the only Christian in the family) not knowing if she would be kidnapped or worse before making it home.  A sober young man from El Salvador whose family had come to the US fleeing the civil war.  And a bright young woman from Long Beach who was at Biola for her Mother, a single parent who had been victimized by a stroke many years earlier. 

I watched all this not wanting it to end.  I knew what the end meant.  As the sun set, Rachel grew cold so I loaned her a button-up shirt I had brought along.  I had my arm around her.  Occasionally, she would rest her head on my shoulder.  I cannot remember her doing this, though I sure she did when it was books and story time when she was very small.  Presently, we came to communion.  There were tables all around the lawn.  We had bread which we dunked in a glass of wine.  And as a bonus, they had put small glass beads representing the stones with which the Jews of the Old Testament had built altars everywhere they pitched their tents.  All of us, parents and students, were asked to do the same, to build an alter to the Lord no matter where we pitched our tent. I took two of these stones and put them in my pocket.  We stood in a circle with one other Rossetti girl whose parents couldn't stay, we prayed, we took communion.  And it was time.

Rachel hugged the other girl, who was crying, and offered to meet her at the campus coffee shop in ten minutes.  We walked through the remnants of the crowd.  There were tiny clusters of people everywhere: two parents consoling a weeping daughter, a son consoling his weeping mother, several family members consoling an inconsolable girl who looked about 11 who clung to her big sister.  Presently, we made it to our rental car.  Rachel whipped off my shirt and presented it to me.  'Your shirt, sir,' said with a small laugh.  We hugged, we offered last minute advice, she offered last minute assurances.  Then, Diane and I got into the car, and Rachel turned away.

As I sat in the car, Rachel's retreating figure was framed by the light coming from a breezeway along a building.  She had the same jaunty step she'd always had; an on-her-toes gait that reminded me of the little girl she had been.  She went everywhere on tippy-toe until about age 8.  I reached for my camera, then stopped.  My good friend the photographer Tom Roush once told me, 'Some images are too important to photograph.'  This was one of them.  She moved through the light toward the shadows.  She was headed to the coffee shop where she would probably console a lot of other friends who needed it.  She got smaller, and smaller.  And presently, disappeared in the darkness along the stage where the worship team still played.

I drove to the hotel and managed to get into our room before the tears came.  Then I had a good 15-20 minute cry, and came out cleansed.  This was right.  This was correct.  She was where she needed to be, and so were we.  I haven't had a doubt, or shed a tear, since.

Flowers for Mom

This post is because as we have explored and visited various locations in southern California I several times remarked that mom would want to see the variety of flowers. I have no clue what these plants are for the most part but I was amazed at seeing trees and shrubs in bloom in August. To me, for the most part, those are spring bloomers. I'm not a great photographer, but thought I'd share a few of the blooming plants we have seen. The pale blue blooms are very dainty, petite and look strangely out of place on the shrub. While not a flowering plant at this point, this fern was just too cute to ignore. It was soft, almost fuzzy. This tree was beautiful and in many locations around the Biola campus. I didn't get very good pictures but was surprised by trees full of delicate blooms in August. Both of these plants were thick, almost shrub-like in appearance, about 1 foot high. I'm not sure if they were individual plants or not. These two are the same plant, the leaf growth was unusual and the blooms were very lily like. All four of the above were taken at the park surrounding the USS Midway and stood out. Okay, not a plant but a cool statue about 8 feet above the ground and moving in the wind. We were on Coronado Island at a park looking across to downtown San Diego. Again, not plants but a couple of photos of the amazing Coronado Hotel. This hotel built its own power plant, kiln for firing bricks, metal shop and foundry, laundry and telephone lines all before most of these services were available in San Diego. In fact, I learned that the hotel still does not only its own laundry but laundry for approximately twenty nearby hotels and motels. The woodwork was awesome and impressive. Bird of Paradise. I was amazed at how much like a fancy, colorful bird this flower looked. Don't think my pictures do it justice. And finally, there are lots of different succulents. This is one. Many weren't blooming but I was amazed at the variety of leaves. This had very delicate, mini-petaled blooms scattered across it. Enjoy, and know we are thinking of you all as we take in this new to us environment. Diane

San Diego

Morning, everyone

I'm writing to you poolside at the moment from the cozy and luxurious Casa de Hartman in Santee, California.  It's my sister's place, in truth, but there is a very lovely pool to my right and separate guest quarters and all, so I think the luxurious label fits.

For those of you interested in all things Rachel, I can't really help you.  We have had only one communication from her after dropping her off at Biola.  This is all according to plan, however, as we knew she would be crazy-busy this week with Torrey orientation and Diane and I welcomed the chance to get off the road for a while.  Her one communication was very upbeat.  She loves her Torrey group, and is exhausted but happy.

As for Diane and I, we got to see some of the sights of San Diego yesterday with my sister, Melinda

The Coronado from the beach.

and her kids Kyle and Allison.  The highlight was a visit to the Hotel de Coronado on a peninsula named Coronado directly across the bay from downtown San Diego.  It's a grand hotel in the Spanish style that has quite a bit of history.  The film 'Some like it Hot' with Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon was filmed there back in the 50's.  We looked around at the elegant building, then wandered down to their private beach to dip our toes in the blue Pacific (it'd be a shame to come all this way and not do that).



 Then it was back to Melinda's house in Santee, just east of the city.  The big entertainment of the week, other than the backyard pool, has been a new dog in the house.  The Hartman's already had a lovely, lanky greyhound-sheppard mix named Lacee, and just added a little Chihuahua called Dolorous (Dee Dee for short).  It's been fun watching the dogs play and frolic as they figure out who is alpha. 

Dee Dee & Lacee around the pool.

Tomorrow, Diane and I head back to LA for the general university orientation at Biola.  This will be our chance to see the Cinema and Media Arts department where Rachel will be doing most of her non-Torrey work, and to spend a couple more hours with her before heading back to the hotel.  On Saturday, there will be a number of parent orientation programs on campus followed by a worship service on Saturday evening.  Bright and early Sunday morning, Diane and I will head out for real and start back to Minnesota.  More on that as it comes up.  See everyone soon.
-J

Halftime

It's halftime of our journey west, and unfortunately I won't be able to bring you any of the interesting news of the trip, that is - Rachel related news.  Diane and I have re-located 60 miles south of her to the San Diego suburb of Santee and the home of my sister, Melinda, for some well-earned rest off-road.  Rachel has begun 'Torrieantation', the orientation into the Torrey Honors institute at Biola.  This is an intensive program that will largely replace her general education requirements with a classical curriculum based on texts such as the Odyssey and the Iliad, including a lot of time spent in discussion.  She has been assigned a 'house' (just like Harry Potter!) and a small group within that house of 10-12 students.  These students will be tied together their entire 4 years, learning how to challenge and support each other as they move through the curriculum.  She'll still study film, and have a few general classes to take, but most of her academic life at Biola will be tied to Torrey.

Yesterday, after move-in (I was nearly 'done in') we all gathered at the school chapel for a discussion between three of the Torrey faculty to give us parents a taste of what it'll be like.  They were very smart and funny people, and they spent 90 minutes giving us an example of the type of discussion Rachel might expect over the next 4 years. What excited Diane and I most about the program is it's focus on developing people who can not only think, but discern truth from falsehood.  One professor (the funniest theology prof I've ever heard) described it as learning a core value such as, in his case, the Trinity.  Then, allowing your mind to expand around that core value in ever widening spirals until you find yourself miles away from the core, but still tied too it.  This really resinated with me.  Begin with truth, then move away without fear.  So much of Christian life has become about identifying falsehood so we can disapprove of it, making sure everyone within earshot knows we disapprove.  The best statement to sum up our introduction to Torrey yesterday was, "Learn to love all things appropriately."

Enough of that.  Back to travelog!  After Torrey intro, we took Rachel and a new friend named Miranda out to the Chinese place just down the street from campus.  Miranda is from Albuquerque and, like Rachel, is a very motivated, smart kid.  We had a chance to meet her Dad and Grandma, but they had to head back to New Mexico early, hence our dinner invite.  After that, it was a strictly non-tearful goodbye (we'll see Rachel in three days) then another blessedly uneventful trip on the California freeways to Santee.  Since we'll be here for a couple of days, I'll write more about that later. 

Rachel, Miranda and Diane head to dinner.

California Snoozin'

We made it!

That's right, we have successfully navigated half a continent and approximately 2.200 miles to arrive in the City of Angles, or at least a very nice corner of the City of the Angles called La Mirada.  At the moment, we are all taking a very well earned morning off.  The traditional 'Moving of the Stuff into the Dorm' happens at 1pm at which time Rachel has about a few hours to start setting up.  Not quite sure what Diane and I will be doing, but I imagine we'll be helping some.  Then, at 5pm, we all get together at the college's chapel for a Torrey orientation session.  Rachel is part of the Torrey Honors  program at Biola, which is the reason we drove out this week instead of next.  For the next few days, she'll be going through orientation for Torrey while Diane and I head down to Santee (near San Diego) for some time with my sister, Melinda and her family. 

Yesterday, everyone felt great about finally getting here, and the city itself was a welcome change, too.  We started the day in the desert and had had just about enough of that experience by noon.  It is very beautiful to look at, but a little warm and dry for our tastes.

We were greeted with a fine day in LA.  No smog that you'd notice, brilliant sunshine and around 85 degrees.  Our hotel has a very nice, private pool surrounded by palms, and we spent a pleasant afternoon lounging.  It's strange, but pools just seem more 'pooley' in Southern California. 

After that, we thought we'd go check out campus not half expecting to get in (it's gated) but arrived to discover open gates and empty parking lots.  We walked through campus, found her dorm which was also wide open because a few people, RA's mostly, we already moving in and getting set up for the year.  Rachel found her room which appears to be at the very outer edge of campus.  It is literally  as far away from the film school as you can get.  Ah well, at least she won't have to worry about working out.

After that, it was a quick dinner at a Mexican place, then an adventure on the freeways to visit friends from Minnesota who live in LA proper.  We got lost once, but actually found our way again without GPS!  It was good getting off the beaten track and getting a feel for the real city, the packed in homes, the diversity, and winding hilly roads were all pretty exotic for us Northland folk. 

I've attached a few pictures of looking around campus.  More of that to come, of course.  Talk to you soon.

-Jeff

The Bells of Biola

Finding our way.

Sigma Hall -- home

Through the doors for the first time

Rachel's room.

Lovecraft's Desert

The Desert

Hi folks!

I'm writing this, once again, from the road.  We've descended from the heights of Colorado into the desert of Southern Utah/Arizona.  Today's route takes us from St. George Utah, through a tiny corner of Arizona before moving into Nevada and eventually, California. This is our last day of driving this leg of the journey, and I think everyone is ready to be done.  The hotels have been fine, the breakfasts maybe a little too big (at least for me) so we have no complaints.

Yesterday, we traveled through the barren wastes of Eastern Utah.  I was reminded that this territory was once a giant lake, and looking at the mountains all around us in that country, I could really see it.  They look like the drawings you see of the bottom of the ocean.  I even got inspired for a Lovecraftian tale.  Maybe its never been done before.  For forest dwellers, that landscape was an intimidating sight.  The sky is huge, devoid of trees as it is.  And every climb of the road feels significant because it seems like something should be over the other side.  Of course, there's mostly more of the same.  As we descended, a bit more green began to come into the landscape until we arrived at St George where there was plenty of low green growth and a few trees. 

Last night, we stepped out of the car into real desert heat for the first time.  No one was terribly hungry, so we walked a couple of blocks down to a frozen custard stand and called our berry sundaes 'dinner'.  Given that our last two meals were huge, it was a good thing.

As I write this, we have just come down out of the mountains and were greeted with the sight of the desert plane.  The next landmark is Sin City, followed by our destination.  More later as we stop traveling for a few days. 

Rockie Mountain High

Evening all,

We're all sitting at the Academy Hotel in Colorado Springs at the moment, zoning in front of screens.  It was, methinks, a good day.  First off, there were no travel issues which is the biggest blessing.  Weather has been good throughout the trip and the roads have been pretty open.  Diane had to deal with a few twists and turns and hills as we crossed the Missouri River into Nebraska this morning (not many hills in Nebraska, but we found them!) but other than that, smooth sailing.  The day ended in Colorado Springs, the town where Diane's folks grew up and she still has a lot of family.  We had dinner with Opa Lissenbee (her father's father) and Uncle Hans and Aunt Julie.  It was catfish night at the Cracker Barrel, so we ate well, staggered back to our very nice hotel, and are getting ready to hit the sack.  Rachel is chipper and excited.  Her mother and I are tired, but hey, we're getting up there and this was the second 10-plus hour day. 

Tomorrow, the climb over the Rockies and back down again to the very Southwest corner of Utah and the town of St. George.  Apparently, it's 100 degrees there this week so that will make a nice change.  Then, on Monday, the final push across the desert and into the City of Angels. 

The photo for today is one you on Facebook have already seen.  I call it: Nebraska - A Portrait.  Take care, all.  And I'll connect tomorrow. 

And...We're Off!

Greetings All!

I'm coming to you through the miracle of wireless internet on I-90 just outside Mitchell South Dakota.  We have completed the first day of our journey to California, and have begun the 'Plains to Mountains' portion which will dump us out on Colorado Springs by 7pm tonight.  Day one was wonderful.  We started with a bit of rain on familiar roads, then drove into 70 degrees and sunshine by day's end. 

The trip, in case you didn't know, is to take Rachel to college at Biola University in Los Angles.  Yes, we're driving.  We've rented a Jeep Liberty for the purpose (picture attached) and it's a very comfortable car.  It's a little short and boxy compared to our Sable wagon, but the only real challenge with that was learning to pack all of Rachel's stuff vertically instead of horizontally. 

I'll be checking in frequently (plenty of time to write on the road) so check back soon.