The fire burns high above the pedestaled brazier. The interior of the Church of the Presentation lies in darkness. The congregation fills every pew and many seats in the auditorium wing. Some of us gather by the New Fire to share in the opening prayer and lighting of the new Paschal Candle. Deacon Andy leads…

A quick descent. A walk around Lake Mohonk, even past the “trail closed” sign. We stop at another summer house and take more photos of the lake and Mountain House. When we return to the house, we visit its latest addition: the spa and indoor pool. Afterward, we find an windowed alcove with comfortable rockers. Taking a…

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We arrive at the Mohonk Mountain House by ten. It’s iconic “summer house”–the inspiration for its logo–stands on a large rock to the right of the hotel’s main entrance. Called “one of America’s castles,” the National Landmark and historic moutain getaway has earned the name. The Mountain house boasts at least five floors of principally…

We hiked up the Mountain trail at Kakiat park. She thought of a day trip for the three of us, and her favorite place in the world came to mind: Mohonk Mountain House. Frankie had never been; she and I had last gone thirteen years ago. So she called from right on the trail. The…

What does a live tomahawk missile launch sound like? I heard only news footage of them–launched toward a Sudanese warehouse years ago. What would an incoming tomahawk sound like? Would Syrian maintenance workers, or janitors, at that air force base have even recognized it? What did the sarin gas released on children sound like? cardinal’s cry the crackle…

Vinnie, the bus crew chaperons and I herd the rest of our freshmen hoard to the Egyptian gallery. A para-professional nicknamed “G” stands at the sole exit. We give the group twenty-five minutes to explore the gallery on their own. They disperse down two corridors. a fast walk past Egyptian reliefs student-free I stride down…