Another life altering week coming up

In a few hours, I will be here. This is the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More. It is the Bishop's seat in the diocese of Arlington, Virginia which includes Nothern Virginia.

It will be my 2nd Cathedral in 3 days (Saint Matthew's in Washington DC).

On the surface, this is not a fun trip or a sightseeing tour but maybe I can get some pictures before I leave. I haven't been to this place in about 40 years and today's visit is going to be very difficult and unpleasant.

My wife of 32 years unceremoniasly walked out on me 9 years ago this month. After finally accepting that reconciliation appeared impossible, the divorce was finalized almost a year later in September of 2018.

I kind of went into a spiral and I'd say it bottommed out around Christmas of 2022. It has been a long, painful journey of faithful discovery and self inventory. 2023 was quite a bit better. 2024 better still. 2025 and 2026 have been, in many ways, unbelievable. Scars still exist, work needs to be done but, by God's Grace, I'm getting there.

At the counsel of several priests, deacons and counsellors, I have come to accept that neither of us were who we thought we were and, this year, with the help of one of those priests, I started the process of seeking a declaration of nullity of my marriage. Why now, 9 years after she left? Closure. Wholeness. Healing.

If I can get through this in one piece, I will then go to work.

Later this week, another epic journey emerges. A continuation of my exploration of JFK and his death.

On Saturday, I will leave Dulles airport for Dallas. That's an irony in itself. Dulles Airport is named for Allen Dulles. Dulles was a former CIA director involved in the Bay of Pigs disaster. He later sat on the much-maligned Warren Commission. The Warren commission determined JFK was killed by a single gunman. Everyone knows that is baloney.

Dulles was a central figure in the coverup.

I will arrive in Dallas, Texas and pick up my rental car and drive to Holy Trinity Catholic church for Mass before going to the Magnolia hotel and checking in.

On Sunday morning, after breakfast, I will walk the 11 minutes or so to the meeting point of a guided tour of Dealy plaza, the assassination location of John F Kennedy. I plan to allow myself some time for privately walking the grounds and praying.

Time allowing, I plan to spend some time at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dallas.

Monday morning, I check out of the hotel, return the rental car and fly back. Pray for me.