This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.
Day 33: St. John the Apostle — A Saint of Loyalty, choreographed as the final ascent in your Leafing the World Behind devotional rhythm. This entry honors loyalty as the seal of character, and concludes the pilgrimage on All Saints Day, where every virtue becomes communion.
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 33
Witness: St. John the Apostle Theme: Loyalty as Love That Remains Virtue: Loyalty Virtue Connection: Faithfulness Without Fear Symbolic Act: Stay with someone today—physically, emotionally, spiritually. Let your presence be your promise. Location: A bedside, a vineyard row, a place of grief or joy—anywhere love remains when others leave.
🕊️ Introduction: On Loyalty
Loyalty is not blind—it is brave.
It is not possession—it is presence.
To leaf the world behind is to remain when others flee, to love when others forget, to stand when others fall.
Today, we do not abandon—we abide.
Loyalty, in this rhythm, is not obligation—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “I will not leave you.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. John the Apostle
John was the beloved disciple.
He reclined at the Last Supper.
He stood at the foot of the Cross.
He received Mary as his own mother.
He wrote of love—not as sentiment, but as sacrifice.
He did not run from Golgotha.
He remained.
John reminds us:
Loyalty is not loud—it is lasting.
It is not dramatic—it is devoted.
It is not heroic—it is holy.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Faithfulness Without Fear
Loyalty becomes virtue when it endures through pain, silence, and mystery.
When it does not demand reward.
When it does not fear the cross.
John did not flee the suffering.
He stayed with it.
He reminds us:
Loyalty without love becomes control.
But loyalty with love becomes communion.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Stay
Stay with someone today.
In grief, in joy, in silence.
Let your presence be your promise.
As you stay, say:
“Lord, let my loyalty be love.
Let my love be lasting.
Let my lasting be holy.”
If no one is near, pray for those abandoned.
Let your prayer be a presence.
🌟 All Saints Day: The Communion of Virtue
Today, we do not celebrate one saint—we celebrate all.
The known and unknown.
The canonized and the quiet.
The martyrs and the mothers.
The prophets and the poets.
We leaf the world behind not to escape it—but to sanctify it.
Every virtue we have practiced—mercy, courage, humility, joy—becomes communion.
Every saint we have honored becomes companion.
Today, we say:
“Lord, let my life be liturgy.
Let my virtue be vineyard.
Let my communion be complete.”
🔥 Final Reflection Prompt
Which virtue changed you most?
Which saint stayed with you?
Where will you go now—with loyalty, clarity, and love?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. John the Apostle—and all the saints—remind you:
Sanctity is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to remain, the grace to love, the joy to become communion.
Here is a conclusion for the full 33-day plan of Leafing the World Behind, choreographed to honor the rhythm you’ve cultivated—where virtue becomes vineyard, and every saint becomes companion.
🌿 Conclusion: The Communion of Virtue
You have walked 33 days through mercy, mystery, and mission.
You have leafed the world behind—not to escape it, but to sanctify it.
You have listened to the heart, imagined with the mind, judged with clarity, and lived with character.
Each day was not just a reflection—it was a rite.
Each saint was not just a story—they were a companion.
Each virtue was not just a word—it was a way.
You have practiced:
Mercy with Corrie ten Boom
Tolerance with the Four Chaplains
Generosity with St. Nicholas
Curiosity with Aquinas
Hidden zeal with Thérèse
Gentle discernment with Francis de Sales
Restless aspiration with Augustine
Enduring excellence with Sebastian
Creative authenticity with Joan of Arc
Conscience-bound honesty with Thomas More
Radical respect with Damien of Molokai
Loyal love with John the Apostle
And so many more.
🍷 The Vineyard of Virtue
You now carry a vineyard of virtue within you.
Each row bears fruit from a saint’s witness.
Each vine is a vow.
Each harvest is a holy act.
Let your life be:
A Magnificat of mercy
A table of justice
A fire of joy
A threshold of truth
A dwelling of dignity
🕯️ Final Symbolic Act
Choose one virtue to carry forward.
Name it.
Plant it.
Let it become your daily act.
As you do, say:
“Lord, let my virtue be vineyard.
Let my vineyard be communion.
Let my communion be love.”
🔥 Benediction
You are not leaving the world behind.
You are leafing it into beauty.
You are not escaping the ordinary.
You are consecrating it.
Let every meal be a liturgy.
Let every task be a testimony.
Let every day be a devotion.
You are now the witness.
You are now the saint-in-the-making.
You are now the communion.
Day 32: St. Damien of Molokai — A Saint of Respect, choreographed to deepen the rhythm of Leafing the World Behind, now moving through the terrain of Character of Destiny—where vocation becomes reverence, and respect becomes radical presence.
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 32
Witness: St. Damien of Molokai Theme: Respect as Radical Presence Virtue: Respect Virtue Connection: Dignity in Proximity Symbolic Act: Touch someone today with reverence—a handshake, a blessing, a gentle word. Let it be a gesture of dignity, not distance. Location: A hospital room, a vineyard row, a place of exclusion—anywhere where presence becomes healing.
🕊️ Introduction: On Respect
Respect is not distance—it is dignity.
It is not politeness—it is presence.
To leaf the world behind is to draw near to the forgotten, to honor the wounded, to dwell with the cast out.
Today, we do not pity—we participate.
Respect, in this rhythm, is not sentiment—it is sacrament.
It is the courage to say: “I will live among you.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Damien of Molokai
Damien was a Belgian priest who volunteered to serve the leper colony on Molokai, Hawaii.
He did not visit—he stayed.
He built homes, dug graves, bandaged wounds, and celebrated Mass.
He touched the untouchable.
He became one of them.
Eventually, he contracted leprosy himself.
He said: “We lepers.”
Not “they.” Not “them.”
“We.”
Damien reminds us:
Respect is not sympathy—it is solidarity.
It is not safe—it is sacrificial.
It is not distant—it is divine.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Dignity in Proximity
Respect becomes virtue when it draws near.
When it does not sanitize suffering—but sanctifies it.
When it does not observe—but inhabits.
Damien did not serve from afar.
He served from within.
He reminds us:
Respect without proximity becomes pity.
But respect with proximity becomes presence.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Touch with Reverence
Offer one gesture of reverence today.
A touch, a word, a presence.
Let it be healing.
Let it be holy.
As you act, say:
“Lord, let my respect be presence.
Let my presence be dignity.
Let my dignity be communion.”
If no one is near, pray for those cast out.
Let your prayer be a dwelling place.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you kept distance from the wounded?
What fear has kept you from proximity?
Can you name one person whose respect restored your dignity?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Damien remind you:
Respect is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to dwell, the grace to touch, the love to say “we.”
Would you like this formatted into your hospitality calendar or vineyard retreat guide? I can choreograph it with symbolic terrain, cellar acts, or Molokai-inspired meal pairings.
Day 30: St. Thomas More — Honesty as Conscience and Crown, choreographed to complete the ascent through Character of Destiny in your Leafing the World Behind devotional rhythm. This entry honors More’s witness as the final threshold—where truth becomes testimony, and character becomes crown.
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 31
Witness: St. Thomas More Theme: Honesty as Conscience and Crown Virtue: Honesty Virtue Connection: Truth Without Compromise Symbolic Act: Speak one truth today that could cost you something—status, comfort, or silence. Let it be gentle, but firm. Location: A courtroom, a vineyard gate, a family table—any place where conscience meets courage.
🕊️ Introduction: On Honesty
Honesty is not harshness—it is holiness.
It is not bluntness—it is bravery.
To leaf the world behind is to speak truth not for victory, but for virtue.
To let conscience be crown, and clarity be communion.
Today, we do not flatter—we testify.
Honesty, in this rhythm, is not exposure—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “I die the King’s good servant, but God’s first.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Thomas More
More was a lawyer, scholar, and Lord Chancellor of England.
He served with brilliance, humor, and integrity.
When King Henry VIII demanded allegiance to a false oath, More refused.
He resigned, was imprisoned, and eventually executed.
He said: “What does it avail a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”
More reminds us:
Honesty is not convenience—it is conscience.
It is not strategy—it is sanctity.
It is not survival—it is surrender.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Truth Without Compromise
Honesty becomes virtue when it is rooted in love, not leverage.
When it does not bend to power.
When it does not betray the soul.
More did not speak to win.
He spoke to witness.
He reminds us:
Honesty without conscience becomes cruelty.
But honesty with conscience becomes crown.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Speak the Costly Truth
Speak one truth today that could cost you something.
Let it be gentle.
Let it be firm.
Let it be holy.
As you speak, say:
“Lord, let my honesty be conscience.
Let my conscience be crown.
Let my crown be communion.”
If no truth arises, pray for those silenced by fear or power.
Let your prayer be a courtroom of grace.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you compromised truth for comfort?
What truth still waits to be spoken?
Can you name one moment when honesty became your altar?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Thomas More remind you:
Honesty is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to speak, the grace to lose, the love to remain true.
🛤️ Transition: From Right Judgment to Character of Destiny
Right judgment discerns the good.
But character chooses it—again and again.
To leaf the world behind is not only to see clearly, but to live courageously.
To let every decision shape the soul.
To let every virtue become a vow.
This is the final movement of the pilgrimage:
From clarity to character.
From discernment to destiny.
From virtue to vocation.
Character of destiny is not fate—it is fidelity.
It is not a script—it is a summons.
It is the courage to say: “I was born for this.”
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 30
Witness: St. Joan of Arc Theme: Authenticity as Vocation Virtue: Authenticity Virtue Connection: Integrity in Fire Symbolic Act: Speak one truth today that costs you something. Let it be gentle, but real. Location: A battlefield, a vineyard gate, a courtroom—any place where truth stands alone.
🕊️ Introduction: On Authenticity
Authenticity is not self-expression—it is self-offering.
It is not rebellion—it is revelation.
To leaf the world behind is to live the truth you were given, even when it burns.
Today, we do not perform—we proclaim.
Authenticity, in this rhythm, is not ego—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “I am not afraid. God is with me.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Joan of Arc
Joan was a teenage peasant girl who heard the voice of God.
She led armies, crowned kings, and stood alone before judges.
She wore armor when told to wear silence.
She spoke truth when told to recant.
She was burned for her authenticity—and canonized for it.
She said: “I am not afraid. I was born to do this.”
Joan reminds us:
Authenticity is not comfort—it is calling.
It is not popularity—it is prophecy.
It is not survival—it is sanctity.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Integrity in Fire
Authenticity becomes virtue when it costs something.
When it is not curated—but consecrated.
When it is not about being seen—but about being true.
Joan did not invent her truth.
She obeyed it.
She reminds us:
Authenticity without integrity becomes performance.
But authenticity with integrity becomes destiny.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Speak the Costly Truth
Speak one truth today that costs you something.
Let it be gentle.
Let it be real.
Let it be holy.
As you speak, say:
“Lord, let my truth be Yours.
Let my voice be clear.
Let my courage be communion.”
If no truth arises, pray for those silenced by fear.
Let your prayer be a sword of peace.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you hidden your truth?
What fire still frightens your voice?
Can you name one moment when authenticity became your altar?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Joan of Arc remind you:
Authenticity is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to burn, the grace to speak, the love to obey your call.
Day 28: St. Lawrence — Humor in the Face of Fire, choreographed to deepen the rhythm of Leafing the World Behind, now moving through the terrain of right judgment—where clarity meets courage, and humor becomes holiness.
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 29
Witness: St. Lawrence Theme: Humor in the Face of Fire Virtue: Joy Virtue Connection: Levity as Love Symbolic Act: Laugh today in the face of something hard. Let your humor be healing, not hiding. Location: A kitchen hearth, a vineyard row, a place of pressure—anywhere fire meets faith.
🕊️ Introduction: On Joy
Joy is not escape—it is endurance.
It is not denial—it is defiance.
To leaf the world behind is to laugh not because life is easy, but because love is stronger.
Today, we do not flinch—we smile.
Joy, in this rhythm, is not entertainment—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “Even this, Lord. Even this.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. Lawrence
Lawrence was a deacon in Rome, entrusted with the Church’s treasures.
When ordered to surrender them, he presented the poor, the sick, and the outcast: “These are the treasures of the Church.”
He was sentenced to death by fire—grilled alive.
And in the midst of agony, he joked: “Turn me over. I’m done on this side.”
Lawrence reminds us:
Humor is not irreverence—it is resilience.
Levity is not weakness—it is witness.
Joy is not distraction—it is defiance.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Levity as Love
Joy becomes virtue when it is rooted in love, not escape.
When it lifts others, not mocks them.
When it heals, not hides.
Lawrence did not joke to avoid pain.
He joked to sanctify it.
He reminds us:
Humor without love becomes cruelty.
But humor with love becomes holiness.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Laugh with Courage
Find one moment today to laugh in the face of pressure.
Let your humor be healing.
Let your levity be love.
As you laugh, say:
“Lord, let my joy be courage.
Let my courage be communion.
Let my communion be fireproof.”
If no laughter comes, pray for those who suffer in silence.
Let your prayer be a spark.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you feared to laugh?
What pressure still steals your joy?
Can you name one person whose humor healed you?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. Lawrence remind you:
Joy is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to laugh, the grace to endure, the love to sanctify fire.
·Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
·Spirit Hour: As evening approaches, unwind with a cold beer in honor of National American Beer Day. Pair it with some Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to elevate the experience.
·Foodie-7 course meal
o🍷Pilgrimage Table: A 7-Course Meal of Memory and Communion
·🥣 1. Desert Broth of Clarity
oInspired by: Sabino Canyon and Safford’s Guadalupe Chapel
·Mental health experts recommend everyone just take the day off to chill out and watch the old cartoon version of “The Hobbit”.
·How to celebrate Oct 27th
oStart your day by running a virtual marathon in the comfort of your own neighborhood. Challenge yourself and feel the endorphins kick in as you complete the miles.
oKeep the Navy Day spirit going by reaching out to a former or current naval member. Show your appreciation through a heartfelt message or a simple gesture of gratitude.
oNext, celebrate National Mentoring Day by being an encouraging mentor to someone in your life. Offer guidance, support, and wisdom to help them navigate through challenges.
oEmbrace the playful energy of Cranky Co-Workers Day by organizing a virtual game night with your colleagues. Bond over friendly competition and lighten the mood.
Dates: October 27–November 2, 2025 Theme: Memory and Communion Route: Tucson → Las Cruces → El Paso Style: Borderland pilgrimage with All Saints reflection, All Souls remembrance, and Eucharistic hospitality Climate Alignment: Daily highs 70–76°F
💰 Estimated Total Cost Overview
Category
Estimated Cost
Lodging (7 nights)
$455
Food (daily meals)
$210
Fuel (~400 miles)
$80
Symbolic extras
$55
Total Estimate
$800
🌵 Day 1 – Monday, October 27
Route: Tucson → Las Cruces (~275 miles) Symbol: Threshold of Memory Ritual Prompt: “Memory is a threshold—crossed with reverence, held with light.”
Drive east via I-10
Pause at St. Joseph Apache Mission Church
Evening reflection at Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Foodie Stop: Simple vineyard-style meal or picnic (~$20)
Day 27: St. John Paul II — Courtesy in Dialogue and Dignity, choreographed to deepen the rhythm of Leafing the World Behind, now moving through the terrain of right judgment—where clarity becomes communion, and courtesy becomes courage.
🌊 Leafing the World Behind: Day 28
Witness: St. John Paul II Theme: Courtesy in Dialogue and Dignity Virtue: Courtesy Virtue Connection: Dialogue as Dignity Symbolic Act: Speak today with intentional gentleness. In one conversation, let dignity guide your tone more than agreement. Location: A threshold, a vineyard table, a civic gathering—any place where words become welcome.
🕊️ Introduction: On Courtesy
Courtesy is not politeness—it is presence.
It is not performance—it is peace.
To leaf the world behind is to speak with reverence, to listen with love, to honor the dignity of every voice.
Today, we do not argue—we attend.
Courtesy, in this rhythm, is not etiquette—it is Eucharist.
It is the courage to say: “Your dignity matters more than my dominance.”
🌺 Witness of the Day: St. John Paul II
Karol Wojtyła, later Pope John Paul II, lived through war, oppression, and exile.
He dialogued with atheists, communists, artists, and youth—not to win, but to witness.
He kissed the ground of every country he visited.
He forgave the man who tried to kill him.
He wrote: “The dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.”
He reminds us:
Courtesy is not weakness—it is witness.
Dialogue is not debate—it is dignity.
Speech is not strategy—it is sacrament.
🛡️ Virtue Connection: Dialogue as Dignity
Courtesy becomes virtue when it honors the image of God in every person.
When it does not flatten difference—but dignifies it.
When it does not silence—but sanctifies.
John Paul II did not speak to conquer.
He spoke to connect.
He reminds us:
Courtesy without courage becomes flattery.
But courtesy with courage becomes communion.
🕯️ Symbolic Act: Speak with Dignity
Choose one conversation today.
Let your tone be gentle.
Let your words be welcome.
Let your presence be peace.
As you speak, say:
“Lord, let my courtesy be courage.
Let my courage be communion.
Let my communion be dignity.”
If no conversation arises, pray for those whose voices are dismissed.
Let your prayer be a welcome.
🔥 Reflection Prompt
Where have you spoken without dignity?
What voice have you failed to honor?
Can you name one moment when courtesy changed a conversation?
Write, walk, or pray with these questions.
Let St. John Paul II remind you:
Courtesy is not weakness—it is witness.
It is the strength to speak gently, the grace to listen deeply, the love to honor every soul.
Would you like this formatted into your hospitality calendar or vineyard retreat guide? I can choreograph it with symbolic terrain, cellar acts, or civic meal pairings.
If the unbeliever
separates, however, let him separate. The brother or sister is
not bound in such cases; God has called you to PEACE.
Paul here is
talking about the keeping of your marriage vows. If possible, you are to live
in peace with your spouse but if you cannot it is better to separate but there
is a stipulation you must remain chase and not remarry. We must remember our
physical marriage is a sign of our eternal
wedding with the Holy Spirit. Peace is the target or mark in a marriage.
In the military,
units of archers are men who are expert at hitting a mark or target.
Sin is the act of violating God's will. Sin can also be
viewed as anything that violates the ideal relationship between an individual
and God, or as any diversion from the ideal order for human living. To sin has
been defined as "to miss the mark" to have a hardened heart, a loss
of love for God, a disposition of the heart to depart from God because of
inordinate self-love
We need to live
the Shema Israel. Every day, every action of ours should be metaphorically
speaking target practice aiming to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul
and strength. We should exemplify this with the proper attitude toward wealth
and be completely occupied with good deeds and alms-giving.
Let us never
forget that Satan does his utmost to destroy mankind. In a thousand ways he
plots and wars against God and tries to usurp His throne. On this subject, the
following instruction given by Our Blessed Mother to Venerable Mary d' Agreda,
is worth quoting: "My daughter," she says, "by no power of human
words wilt thou in this mortal life ever succeed in describing the evil of
Lucifer and his demons against men, or the malice, astuteness, deceits and
ruses, with which, in his wrath, he seeks to bring them into sin and later on
to eternal torments. He tries to hinder all good works . . . All the malice of
which his own mind is capable, he attempts to inject into souls. Against these
attacks, God provides admirable protection if men will only co-operate and
correspond on their part." Among the means provided by God for our
protection, is the ready recourse we may have at all times to the strengthening
Blood of Christ. "This Blood," declares St. John Chrysostom,
"has the power to drive away the evil spirits and to draw to our side the
good angels, aye, the King of Angels, and to blazen the way to Heaven."
Fortified by the Precious Blood, let us place ourselves under the leadership of
St. Michael and unfurl everywhere the banner of our Faith, without fear of godlessness. If Satan tries to
induce us to sin, and promises honors, riches, happiness on conditions that we
omit a good work, or commit an evil deed, let us ever oppose the tempter with
the energetic words: Who is like unto God? God is my only treasure, my highest
Good, His Blood is upon me, and "though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I shall fear no
evil." If in time of temptation, we have the courage to rebuke the evil
one and call upon the assistance of our leader, St. Michael, the enemy will
surely be put to flight. But if we wish to enjoy the great Archangel's
protection, we must also imitate his virtues, particularly his humility and his
zeal for God's glory.
"O great St. Michael, take us 'neath
thy shield, Thy mighty power in our favor wield!"[1]
Copilot’s Take
Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 7:15
reminds us that peace is the divine aim in every relationship, especially
within marriage. When unity is no longer possible, separation may be
permitted—not as a failure, but as a faithful response to God’s higher calling.
Like archers trained to hit a mark, we are summoned daily to aim our hearts
toward love, fidelity, and spiritual alignment. Sin, then, is not just
rebellion—it is missing that sacred target. To live the Shema is to make every
action a form of target practice, loving God with all our heart, soul, mind,
and strength. Against the cunning of Satan, we are fortified by the Precious
Blood of Christ and the leadership of St. Michael, whose humility and zeal we
must imitate. Let us unfurl the banner of faith, rebuke temptation with
courage, and walk in peace, knowing that God is our highest good and our
eternal aim.
Bible in a
Year Day 113 Broken Trust
In today's readings, we learn how Doeg the Edomite betrayed David, the priests,
and the Lord. Fr. Mike explains that betrayal is painful because our hearts are
deeply wounded when trust is broken. Today we read 1 Samuel 21-22 and Psalm 52.
Theodore Roosevelt's birthday Oct 27th (1858)
Enthusiasm-Teddy Roosevelt.
We need to be enthusiastic about all things that God wills for us. John McCain
in his book “Character is Destiny” points out that to have a creative mind we
must be enthusiastic. John’s example of a man filled with enthusiasm is that of
President Theodore Roosevelt.
McCain says of President
Roosevelt:
He led one of the most eventful lives
in American history and did it all with the delight and eagerness of a
six-year-old boy. Yet he was not afraid of work: library shelves would
eventually groan under the weight of his forty books, many of them with
multiple volumes. Besides being a writer and politician, he was also a warrior
during the Spanish American war and led a charge up San Juan Hill.
Roosevelt was sickly as a boy. He was
small, terribly nearsighted, and plagued by asthma that left him chronically
breathless. His father, who was the greatest influence on his life, and whom he
loved more than any other, took him for carriage rides in the evenings so that
the cool night air might restore regular breathing to his gasping child.
Despite the crowded duties of the respected and civic-minded reformer, the
older Roosevelt never deprived his son of loving attention. He calmed his
fears, and encouraged him to defy his physical handicap, build his willpower,
and strengthen his body. The dutiful son complied, and pushed himself with
exercise, sports, and sheer bloody-minded determination to begin his lifelong
crusade to become a vigorous, exuberant outdoorsman. He swam and fished and
hunted and rowed and hiked and rode on horseback whenever he could. His mind
was as eager as was the body he willed to health.
Theodore as a young “Harvard” man had a
romantic temperament, but he was a scrupulously moral young man. He did not
smoke or drink and would never offend God and womankind by pressing unseemly
affections on a young lady. And he could not abide, under any circumstances,
indolence. He always thought “My duty is clear—to study well and live like a
brave Christian gentleman.” He spent a few weeks before the start of his junior
year living in Maine’s north woods with a rugged outdoorsman, lumberjack, and
hunting guide, Bill Sewall, who became his lifelong friend. He was still a
skinny kid, with thick spectacles. His constitution looked fragile to those who
didn’t know him, but he impressed the older man immediately, carrying as much
in his pack on their hunting trip as Sewall, sharing the chores, keeping the
pace in their canoe, hiking for endless distances through all kinds of weather,
swimming in freezing water, and falling exhausted into sleep beneath the stars.
Teddy
Roosevelt was a determined guy, and when it came to dinnertime, he made sure
that his favorite comfort foods were a priority. Pigs in blankets, turtle soup
and fried chicken smothered in white gravy kept him running—that and plenty of
coffee, sweetened with as many as seven lumps of sugar!
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