Mike Bickhaus arranged for me to speak to two different Men's Groups yesterday. The first group of men about 15 or so meet on Wednesday at a location near 30th and Broadway. Jim Burns accompanied me to the first meeting but had to leave for his Wednesday night class on miracles he teaches.
They're a rowdy bunch of professional men in their 50s and 60s who gather every Wednesday afternoon at around 5:15pm and discuss any and all topics...all while drinking several different brands of beer which they purchase at the adjoining liquor store. Mike told me I could get any kind of beer I wanted so I chose a 6 pack of a wheat ale closely related to Blue Moon in taste.
I hadn't laughed that hard in years listening to these men talk about politics, their lives, their businesses. One guy is a physician, another a banker, an attorney, several business owners, a funeral director, an insurance broker and a male nurse.
It's an eclectic gathering of male cameradie. They didn't just listen to my presentation they participated by throwing questions at me along with their own ideas and advice for me for when I continue my journey.
It went on over an hour before we had to stop; but, they invited me back next Wednesday as well. I thoroughly enjoyed myself telling stories of the road with the guys laughing non-stop at my foibles and mishaps.
After a quick dinner at Kelly's Tavern Mike and I traveled the several blocks over to St Francis Catholic Church where the second group meets at 7:30pm on Wednesday nights. This group of about 20 men were older, more sedate and conservative in their views.
They were less receptive to a radical lifestyle but still interested in the whys and wherefores of my trip. 3 of the men came up to me afterwards and we spoke for another half hour or so.
After everybody left, Mike and I discussed Catholic Church history, religion in general and spirituality until 11:00 pm out in the church parking lot. It was the type of conversation I live for but rarely get back in Idaho Springs.
We also talked about Mike's burgeoning family. With the addition of little Margaret, he and Kristine now have 7 children! They range in age from 17 year old Katherine to 9 month old Margaret. Mike is the managing partner of a law firm in downtown Quincy and specializes in corporate law and estate planning.
Mike wants to get his family and I together for dinner soon. So, I'm looking forward to that.
Jim and I are planning to go out for supper tonight. Sunday I'm planning on driving to Morton for mother's day. I may stay with mom for a few days to reconnect with friends and hike the River Trail to East Peoria.
Gotta hit the Rock Island Trail my old haunt as well while I'm in the area. I have hiked the entire length of the trail several times which is 26 miles long. Would like to hike it north of Princeville to Wyoming, IL which is about 10 miles there and 10 back.
The third photo shows Mike Bickhaus making a point. Other pics show St Francis which was built circa 1860s. The aarchitecture is so ornate and beautiful!
I gotta get back to my reading assignments so I'll say see you later. Grace and Shalom to y'all!!
BR Schoenbein
May 5, 2016- Thursday
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