Another friend has died. Richard Goodwin, 1910 - 2007. Noted environmentalist, botanist and philanthroper. His obituary and picture were published in the New York Times, the LA Times, the Boston Globe and many, many others.



I remember his kindness, his thoughtfulness, his carefully chosen words, his passion and his generosity. For several summers, a friend and I organized an annual poetry reading, where folks just came together and read their favorite poems. Dick was always there, enthusiastically reading, not only some of the classics, but a few of his own poems from years ago.

His book, A Botanist's Window on the Twentieth Century is a jewel and a delight to read.

As is said too infrequently, "they threw away the mold when Dick was born."

Memorial service is this Saturday, July 28th, at All Souls Unitarian Universalist in New London, CT. Some of us in the choir will be singing John Rutter's For the Beauty of the Earth.

A friend died this morning. It's always very difficult to accept Death when a friend's time comes.



(This photo was taken a month ago on March 25, 2007)

( Click here for some of Nic's writing - fasten your seat belt, first! )

We came together this morning in our new building. Having everyone in the same place at one time really was inspirational.



The new sanctuary

( More Pictures )

The last service in the (almost 100 year) old sanctuary of New London, CT's All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation was held this morning. The past few years have witnessed our growth to about 250 members and many more "friends," while our old sanctuary has an occupancy of around 75 or so.


(The last hymn)

Next Sunday will be the first service in our new building (just behind the old one) which can hold 300 (more or less) at one time.

Today was a day of very mixed feelings. The old place holds so many treasured memories, many happy, many sad, but, as almost all agree, "It's time!"

This is yet another short talk I gave to the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation on August 6, 2006. Since I was a last-minute substitute speaker, I had to edit this on the fly so that the actual talk was shorter than my notes (printed behind the cut).

( Living Deliberately: Simplify, Simplify – How Much Do We Need? August 6, 2006 )

There's been a flap of letters to the editors in the New London Day of late on both sides of the "question," one of which, in particular, attacked, not only my own congregation, but also our beloved minister (who, by the way, is in a wonderful (same-sex) relationship of 14 years along with their great daughter (who is, in fact, very well-adjusted to Life (probably because she's lucky enough to have two moms, instead of a dad (we men tend to screw up these sort of things from time to time))).

Anyhow, the other night, after a few of us had our post-Earth Day meeting session at the Dutch (our favorite watering hole), I got home and at 2 am I hit the send key to put my own two cents into the fray.

You know what? They actually printed it!

( Holy Wars )

So here is one more archive/benchmark - stated about three months BEFORE 9/11/01

( Memorial Day, 2001 )

So, if only for an archival benchmark of where I WAS, here's a short talk I gave to the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation some time ago. It would be interesting if I took the time now to edit and rewrite it, given all I don't know at this point in time...

( My Credo April 16, 2000 )