Back from Omena.

Before I run off to watch Game 2 of the World Series, a quick report on the weekend. We all had a great time at Omena, though the weather left something to be desired (lots of wind and rain, especially on Saturday). The Jesuit villa property is located on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, an inlet of Lake Michigan, and the surrounding area is nothing short of breaktaking, especially right now with all the vivid foliage. Charming Leelanau County, where Omena is located, and nearby Traverse City were aptly described to us by a local Jesuit as coming pretty close to an earthly paradise; for my part, the whole area reminded me a lot of Maine. On Saturday I visited Northport and Suttons Bay, two villages near Omena with quaint downtowns and - of most interest to me - well-stocked used book stores. Saturday afternoon we watched Boston College come from behind to beat Notre Dame 24-23; this annual confrontation offers one of the few occasions on which I actually root against the Fighting Irish, so I was pleased with the surprising result. That night seven of us went to watch Game 1 of the World Series at the Leelanau Sands Casino, a casino operated by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Despite being outnumbered by Cardinals fans, I had the consolation of seeing the Sox win, and was suitably impressed by the casino itself (though never having been to Foxwoods or anything similar, I don't have much basis for comparison). Though we'd had Mass the night before at the villa, on Sunday a couple of us went to Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Church in Peshawbestown on the Ottawa-Chippewa reservation. The interior decoration and liturgy at Blessed Kateri incorporated elements of the Native American heritage of many of the parishioners, which made for a very enriching and interesting worship experience. After brunch at the villa, we began the return trip back to Loyola House. On the way we spotted a tavern with the intriguing name of Spike's Keg O' Nails ("The Meeting Place of the North"), which I would've enjoyed stopping at had I not spent the better part of my funds for the trip at the bookstore in Northport. It's just as well, however: we're expected to return to the villa for two weeks next summer, during which I may have another opportunity to visit Spike's and other places of interest. Considering how much I enjoyed my first stay at Omena, I can hardly wait for the next one. Go Sox, AMDG.