I spent the last nine days in Louisville Kentucky participating in NCCL's Annual Meeting and Exposition. (NCCL, National Conference for Catechetical Leadership) While I was in Louisville I spent some time with my sister Kathy and visited the Marker's Mark Distillery.
We stayed in the Galt House hotel so I had a wonderful view of the Ohio River from my room.
The Bell of Louisville was docked just down from our hotel.
Kathy and I took a long walk along the river one warm spring day. It was like the river held us and allowed our words to flow. I am grateful for the time I had to spend with Kathy that time was a true gift.
Participating in NCCL's annual meeting is an opportunity to renew relationships built over many years. While the phone and email keep you connected over the year, at NCCL our journey is face to face. The keynotes by Cathy Carrota and Peter Steinfels were the best of the event. I looked forward to hearing Steinfels after reading his book. I must say, the book was better than his keynote although I found the breakout session discussion very interesting. During that session we explored the findings Steinfels outlined in his Keynote. Taken as a whole I took away grist for the mill.
While at the Makers Mark Distillery we saw the mill they use to grind the grain that becomes the Maker's Mark Bourbon. The sour mash is placed in large vats to ferment and I was able to dip my finger in the mash and taste it... At that point it tasted like warm three day old beer. It takes roughly six years from start to finish to make a bottle of Maker's Mark Bourbon. No wonder it's so good.