In the Catholic calendar, June 24th is the Feast Day of St. John the Baptist. The opera composer Richard Wagner builds Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg around the day before, June 23rd, as well as the actual feast day.  Praise to St. John

In thinking about that day, and the baptism of Jesus, I came across a photo of the supposed location on the Jordan River of the actual baptismal act, which almost immediately (it is Sunday after all) lead me to recount how I had been there myself.  I had even taken photos of the site as part of a project I was involved with for a dear friend’s elementary school-aged daughter.  That was way back in time, when I went to Iraq in 2005.

Flat Stanley is a writing project usually done by U.S. second graders, age 7.  If you want to learn more about Flat Stanley, here is the link:  Flat Stanley Project.

Anyway, on an “R&R” from Iraq, where our first stop is usually Amman, Jordan for connecting international flights,  I made a brief trip out to some historical sites, the location of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist being one.  One thing in my mind lead to another, and soon I had located the Flat Stanley project I had done which can be found here:  FlatStanleyIraq.   The trip to the Jordan and the baptismal site begins on page 28.

So, a lazy Sunday afternoon brings together a confluence of memories:  St. John’s Feast Day, remembrance of distant times, friends dear and grown.  Overall, a satisfying saunter into the past.  May your weekend be as tranquil and pleasant as mine has been.