live in a pretty little purple house on a
pretty little street in a pretty little town. I do. Most of my day-to-day life
is within a one-mile radius. The University. The theatre. The shops and
restaurants and movie theatre. The grocery store. I love this. I love living
where I know the folks tending shops, know the folks at the University, and
know my neighbors. It is all charming in every way. But I also know the world
is big and vast and full of color and culture, and I love being part of that
too.
My passport is
a record of my cultural beliefs taking me from London to China to Prague. My
U.S. travel has taken me from Okracoke Island to Seattle to Denver to Dallas. I
have traveled by train, plane, bus, ferry, car and yes, bicycle! I have been
blessed in my life by the eternal words of my Uncle Dean, “Be curious about
everything.” I think of that daily.
Curiosity also
opens the mind, the heart and the soul of experiences. I can find these while
drinking tea in my pretty little purple house. This winter I have experienced
just that.
I don’t know
when I first became aware of the Buddhist Monks, and their dog, Aloka. I think
it was after Christmas when the first post came through. I was immediately
captivated by the story. A group of 24 Monks began their 2,300 mile walk for
peace on October 26, 2025. The journey took 120 days from the Huong Dao
Vipassano Bhavan Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The end of their journey is today
in Washington, D.C.
Every morning
when I wake up, I check on the Monks. Are they healthy? Did they sleep well?
Were they received with love? Their walk has taken them through snowstorms,
blizzards, deep Arctic cold and still they walked. People along the way have
showered them with flowers and bracelets, which the Monks gave back to those
along their way. They have been fed by towns and cities embracing their
message, housed by churches and synagogues and centers set up for them.
Personal challenges brought out their love and bravery as they marched. One
Monk was struck by a car near Dayton, Texas. His left leg had to be amputated.
His doctors were overcome with inspiration as he never became angry and was
full of forgiveness.
Why did they
walk? For love. For unity. For compassion. To give us all hope.
My other reason
for hope on this February day was the half-time show by Bad Bunny. Now, I will
say, do I know much about his music? (Well, I do now!) Do I know Spanish? No, I
do not. But do I know a man full of joy and love for this country and his own culture?
I do. The first part of the Superbowl I was at rehearsal for our new show so I
caught the second part of Bad Bunny’s show and the first part on Youtube.
(Lucky for us to have all of this available.) I am not embarrassed to say I
cried and cried. It was so beautiful and full of the same values of the Monks.
Love. Unity. Compassion.
Have we come so
far in this country that we have lost those values? Have we lost trust in our
friends or neighbors or those we do not agree with? I can only hope that our
minds are open, our hearts are open, and our eyes are open.
Two cultural phenomenons
have come our way this winter. Two completely different cultures have pulled at
our heart strings. How interesting to me to have these two residing within my
own mind telling the same story. Today, when I woke up, I was filled with much hope.
I wish the same for you. Let’s take what we have learned and share it. Can we
walk 2,300 miles or shake up the stage at the Superbowl? Probably not. But we
can do what we do best, my friends. Hold the door for someone, say thank you,
shovel walks, pay for groceries, make dinners.
As I said, I
live in a pretty little purple house on a pretty little street in a pretty
little town. But my passport and my travels tell stories about life and
culture. And, if you can’t travel in real time, there’s plenty of traveling
from your armchair.
“The only thing
more powerful than hate is love.” Bad Bunny, 2026 Superbowl.
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