A Beacon of Light

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  • My name is Kevin Carroll. I was born and raised in San Francisco, California, where I attended Saint Ignatius College Preparatory. I am a graduate of both Santa Clara University and the University of San Francisco. Following a 40-year career in teaching and pastoral ministry, I launched a new career as a writer and speaker.

    I live in San José, California. My wife, Kathy, and I have three adult sons and five precious grandchildren. I have much for which to be grateful.

    I can be reached via email at kmc43sjc@gmail.com

    My books are available for purchase online from Amazon. I also have copies of some of these titles at my home for those who would like to buy them directly from me.

    A Moment’s Pause for Gratitude  (2017)

    Cherries in the Summer  (2021)

    The Ambassador of 38th Avenue  (2022)

    Dad: 12 Questions…  (2023)

    A Focus on Gratitude  (2024)

    Through the Lens of Gratitude  (2024)

    A Bahamian Odyssey (2026)

  • Bristol ~ Day 2

    “Never be afraid
    to sit awhile
    and think.”
    Lorraine Hansbury

    I’m not sure if I did much thinking yesterday, but I certainly enjoyed sitting for awhile. We’ve had a busy week exploring the areas in and around Rhode Island. The activities of the Fourth of July here in Bristol were both entertaining and exhausting. It’s not so much what we did that wore me out. I attribute my fatigue to the humidity. Being a lifelong Californian, I have little experience coping with humidity. So yesterday seemed to be an ideal opportunity to just sit, visit with friends, eat a bit, sleep a bit, and then enjoy a delightful dinner on the patio of a seaside restaurant, an ideal venue for watching yet another incredible Rhode Island sunset.

    I woke up this morning feeling significantly more refreshed and ready to explore Bristol. This town, from what I have seen so far, is quite walkable. The paths along the shoreline offer breathtaking views of Bristol harbor. A walk along Hope Street invites visitors to check out some of the shops along the way. I’m hoping to take a good number of photos of the various buildings in the area. The architecture is unmatched on the West Coast.

    Kathy and I have been staying in a guest cottage behind the home of my high school classmate, Steve, and his wife, Karen. Another couple, from Baltimore, are staying in a guest room in the main house, as is Steve’s daughter, Olivia. The seven of us have thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Sadly, the two Baltimore visitors are leaving this morning to return to their home. I am always grateful to meet genuinely good people.

    We’ll be heading out soon for a drive down to Newport for another look around there with Steve, Karen, and Olivia. It’s another beautiful New England summer day. 

  • Bristol ~ Day 1

    “Those who deny
    freedom for others
    deserve it not
    themselves.”
    Abraham Lincoln

    Our first day in Bristol, Rhode Island could not have been better. A fierce storm, with hurricane-force winds, had battered the town the night before, but the sun was shining brightly as the American Star pulled into port for the Fourth of July. 

    Bristol holds the record for the oldest continuous celebration of the Fourth of July in the United States. The parade dates back to 1785. People lined both sides of Hope Street in anticipation of the parade passing by. 

    My high school classmate, Steve Aveson, greeted us at the dock as Kathy and I disembarked the American Star a day before the end of our cruise. He walked us up to his home on Constitution Street, just a few blocks from the dock. We dropped off our luggage in the guest cottage of Steve and Karen’s home and walked down to the corner at Hope Street to watch the annual parade. It was quite an experience.

    When the parade ended, we returned to Steve and Karen’s home for an Independence Day barbecue. The post-storm weather was ideal, as the humidity level was lower than usual. We enjoyed our time with Steve, Karen, and the other visitors. Then it was nap time!

    We awoke and enjoyed an early dinner of leftovers from lunch before taking a walk down to the harbor where we were treated to a spectacular sunset. As it began to get dark, we headed back to the house for dessert. A perfect end to a beautiful day. 

  • New Bedford, MA

    “The dearest place to live
    in all New England.”     
    Herman Melville

    I’m just guessing that Herman Melville didn’t have an opportunity to do much traveling around the New England states. “The dearest place to live in all New England.” New Bedford? Seriously?

    I’ll admit that I have limited experience in the New England states. I’ve never been to Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont. I’ve only been on the toll road in Connecticut on my way to Boston, Massachusetts, where I enjoyed brief visits in 1968, 1975, and 1983. This cruise is my first visit to Rhode Island. I mention this because I am unable to substantiate Herman Melville’s claim that New Bedford, Massachusetts is “the dearest place to live in all New England.” My limited experience in this part of our country has led me to believe otherwise. 

    As I’ve mentioned in previous days, our cruise has taken us to Providence, Block Island, Newport, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and New Bedford. Our time in each location was quite limited, so I cannot speak with certainty about where these locations rank among the “dearest places in all New England.” This morning Kathy and I disembark the American Star here in Bristol, Rhode Island to spend a few days with our friends Steve and Karen Aveson. So I do not yet have any impressions of Bristol.

    Of the places we’ve visited so far, Nantucket Island is my favorite. There was a vibe there to which I could easily relate. The bus tour of the island provided a glimpse of the terrain, while our brief walk through town left me wishing we could stay longer. Oh, and yes, that soft-serve ice cream at the Surfside Café plays a significant role in ranking Nantucket as my favorite — so far. With our visit to Bristol beginning today, my opinion may change.

    Our day in New Bedford yesterday was a nice change of pace for us. With so little to see and do there, I took advantage of the opportunity to relax, take an afternoon nap, and socialize with a number of other passengers on our ship. After dinner, we were treated to an amazing performance by an international trio of musicians. The nighttime entertainment on this cruise has been excellent every night, but last night’s performance stands out as the best.

    During the concert, we were treated to a distant lightning show to the southwest of our ship. Then, when the concert ended, the New Bedford Independence Day fireworks display lit up the night sky to the southeast of the American Star. So the highlights of our visit to New Bedford were our onboard experiences.

    As Kathy and I prepare to disembark this morning, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the crew members on the American Star who provided such an enjoyable experience for us and the other passengers. On a small ship like this one, with only 87 or so passengers, it was easy to get to know a good number of the crew members who served us so well. Most of American Cruise Lines team have multiple responsibilities each day. I appreciate the hard work by housekeepers, food service workers, deckhands, the captain, the cruise activity director, and the cruise manager. They worked as a seamless team to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment for all the passengers.

    I am also tremendously grateful for the opportunity to have met a number of other passengers with whom Kathy and I hope to keep in contact after this cruise. Their presence contributed greatly to the positive experience Kathy and I have enjoyed these past few days. Our overall experience on the American Star exceeded all expectations. 

  • Nantucket

    Sankaty Head Lighthouse

    “Lighthouses don’t go
    running all over the island
    looking for boats to save;
    they just stand there shining.” 
    Anne Lamott

    Our cruise ship, the American Star, stayed docked in Martha’s Vineyard yesterday while we took a 70-minute ferry ride to Nantucket Island. Of the places we’ve visited so far on this trip, Nantucket is my favorite so far. 

    The ferry ride was relatively smooth. The catamaran-style vessel navigated the waters between the islands with ease. Upon arriving in Nantucket, we boarded a van for a fascinating tour of the island. My favorite stop along the way was at the Sankaty Head lighthouse, perched on the east end of the island. As I’ve mention in previous blog posts, I have this thing for lighthouses. This particular beacon of light, situated adjacent to a golf course, offers some excellent photo opportunities.

    When the tour ended, we walked down the street to Chubby’s, a local take-out restaurant which specializes in burgers and sandwiches. The ham and tomato sandwich I ordered exceeded expectations. The bread and meat were astonishingly fresh. The sandwich came with a bag of Jamaican Jerk-flavored potato chips and an iced tea. 

    As we headed back toward the ferry dock, Kathy and I stopped to get a soft-serve ice cream at the Surfside Café. It was another pleasant surprise. The vanilla soft-serve was the creamiest and best-tasting ice cream I’ve ever experienced. It was a perfect way to end our brief visit to Nantucket Island.

    Upon our return to the American Star in Martha’s Vineyard, we headed directly to the dining room for dinner. The food on this cruise has been amazing, but last night’s dinner was the best meal yet. I enjoyed a plate of butternut squash ravioli. The serving size was appropriate and the taste was delicious. For dessert, I ordered a pear turnover with raspberry sauce drizzled on top. It seems that each meal on this cruise has been better than the previous ones.

    After dinner, we went to the Chesapeake Lounge for another evening of musical entertainment. The duo performed a variety of songs by the local singer and songwriter James Taylor, who has homes in both Lenox, Massachusetts and Jamestown, Rhode Island. 

    Living in the Santa Clara Valley, I don’t see too many lighthouses in my daily comings and goings, but here in the New England islands, lighthouses are a normal part of the landscape. They provide a constant reminder of the importance of hope in our lives. As true beacons of light, lighthouses illuminate the night sky providing guidance for passing vessels. We, too, are invited and challenged to serve as beacons of light for those around us.

  • Martha’s Vineyard

    “We call it The Vineyard.” 
    Susan Branch

    Martha’s Vineyard. I’ve heard so much about it through the years. Since everyone seemed to give the island rave reviews, I have always considered it to be one of those magical places I might visit some day. Well, yesterday was that day. After an all-night cruise on choppy water from Newport, Rhode Island, we woke up Tuesday morning on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. 

    Our ship docked at Vineyard Haven. It was windy and raining when we went down to the dining room for breakfast, but by the time we got ourselves together to head out on a morning excursion, the rain had stopped. We boarded a local bus that took us to the town of Edgartown on the east end of the island. It was a quaint little community with New England-style homes, restaurants, coffee shops, and small boutique shops. We took a walk around town, then headed back to the bus stop.

    On the ride back to the ship, we crossed the “Jaws bridge,” where some of the memorable scenes from the 1975 Jaws movie had been filmed. We also passed through the town of Oak Bluffs, a community known for its “gingerbread houses.” Dozens of small homes, which look amazingly similar to actual gingerbread houses, lined the roadway. Because we were running short on time, we opted not to stop in Oak Bluffs, but to return to the ship on time for lunch.

    In the afternoon, Kathy took a bus tour of the island. I decided to stay on-board to do a little research on the island and the small communities located here. Apparently, I missed out on an excellent excursion which included visits to three lighthouses. 

    By late afternoon, the temperature was 80º with 80% humidity. Yuk! I was grateful to spend the afternoon researching and writing in the air-conditioned Chesapeake Room on the ship. The venue offers stunning views of the Vineyard Haven Harbor. The room also happens to be where fresh-baked cookies are set out at 3:00 each day. (The challenge is real!)

    I snapped the photo above at 6:25 this morning from the balcony of our stateroom on the American Star. What a great way to start a new day.

    There’s no question that Martha’s Vineyard offers a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. The architecture of the homes and buildings on the island is charming. The people we met along the way were kind and hospitable. Despite all this, my thoughts at the end of the day were reminiscent of what crosses my mind whenever I travel to other destinations: It’s all very nice, but it’s not San Francisco!

  • Newport, RI

    “Newport, Rhode Island,
    that breeding place —
    that stud farm, so to speak —
    of aristocracy.”
    Mark Twain

    Yesterday we spent the entire day in Newport, Rhode Island. Kathy and I began the day with a bus tour of Newport, highlighted by views of countless mansions of the rich and famous. Some passengers on the bus were hoping to catch a glimpse of Jay Leno, who lives in and among the locals and can occasionally be seen at the local grocery store or walking through the neighborhood. I have no interest in celebrity sightings, but I enjoyed seeing the impressive homes around town. 

    Lunch today was served at Fort Adams, located a short walking distance from our ship. It featured a traditional New England clam bake. I had heard the term before, but I’d never given much thought to what a clam bake entailed. Today, I found out.

    In reality, a clam bake is not a “bake” at all. It’s a boil. The meal is prepared by steaming seafood and other food items in a pit over a bed of hot stones and seaweed and covered for several hours with tarps. Settlers along the New England coastline learned the art of the clam bake from the coastal Indians. Our lunch consisted of clams, lobster, smoked sausage, chicken, potatoes, and corn on the cob. (See photo above.)

    It has been said that a clam bake is “the high tide of culinary experiences.” Um,… okay.

    While Kathy participated in the afternoon excursion with some of the other cruise passengers, I opted to take the afternoon off to do a little writing and to take a nap. The temperature was warm, but not oppressive today, yet the high humidity definitely took its toll on me. The afternoon break in our air conditioned room was exactly what I needed.

    After another amazing meal at dinner, Kathy and I attended a performance by a stand-up comedian in the lounge. I had no preconceived expectations for this event. I am well aware that we’re on a small cruise ship with only 85 other passengers. The possibility of the comedian being a complete dud was on my mind, but I wanted to check it out anyway. Both Kathy and I were pleasantly surprised. He was funny, quick-witted, and perceptive throughout his routine. He possessed an impressive ability to interact with members of the audience with insightful humor, but without insulting anyone. It was a pleasant surprise for both of us.

    Our ship departed Newport while we were sleeping last night. The swells on the Atlantic Ocean made for an interesting ride. I woke up about 1:30 and we were rockin’ and rollin’. I carefully navigated my way across the room, searched through Kathy’s purse, and found the Dramamine. It got me through the night without feeling nauseous. We arrived safely at Martha’s Vineyard at 7:00 this morning.

    A light rain has been falling through the early morning hours, but it’s beginning to clear up now. We’re off to explore Martha’s Vineyard.  

  • Block Island

    “One of the last 12
    great places in the
    Western Hemisphere.” 
    The Nature Conservancy

    Kathy and I spent the day of our 40th wedding anniversary on scenic Block Island. The island is located just one hour by ferry boat from Newport, Rhode Island. It seems to be one of the best-kept secrets in America.

    I had never heard of Block Island until we signed up for the New England Islander cruise. Since that time, many people, upon hearing our plans to celebrate our anniversary on a cruise, have raved about the small island. After spending a day there yesterday, I understand why.

    The original plan for our cruise ship, the American Star, was to make a stop yesterday at Block Island. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of boats of various sizes visiting Block Island for the week of the 4th of July, there was no place for our ship to dock, so we docked in Newport, Rhode Island instead. From there, we took a one-hour ferry ride to Block Island, which is located 12 miles south Newport.

    We landed in the small town of New Shoreham on the east side of Block Island. We spent a few hours exploring the sites and shops in the area. Then we boarded a bus for a tour of the island. My favorite stop was at the Block Island Southeast Lighthouse, situated on Mohegan Bluffs in the southeast corner of the island. The 52’ granite tower was constructed in 1875. It was the first of several lighthouses I expect to see this week. There are 28 miles of walking trails on the island which offer views of open spaces, rolling hills, stunning lookout points, and an amazing assortment of wildlife. 

    After enjoying a refreshing shave ice from one of the local shops, we boarded the ferry for the ride back to Newport. When we arrived in our stateroom on the ship, Kathy and I were pleasantly surprised to find a bottle of chilled champagne, along with four large chocolate-dipped strawberries — a gift from the crew of the American Star. On the plate with the strawberries was a message written in chocolate: Happy Anniversary! 

    After a delicious lobster dinner in the American Star dining room, Kathy and I joined other passengers in the Chesapeake Lounge to listen to an excellent performer who entertained us with a variety of popular songs from the 1970’s and ’80’s. In all, we could not have asked for a better day.

    We’ll head out this morning to explore the town of Newport, Rhode Island. From what I’ve heard, there’s plenty to see here.

  • 40 Years!

    “A great marriage is not
    when the ‘perfect couple’
    comes together. It’s when
    an imperfect couple learns
    to enjoy their differences.” 
    Dave Meurer 

    As of today, by the grace of God, Kathy and I are both alive and well. We’ve been blessed with three impressive sons and five delightful grandchildren. Through the years, we welcomed two extraordinary daughters-in-law into our family. We certainly have much for which to be grateful.

    Kathy and I also both enjoyed successful professional careers, positions which challenged us to grow, to learn, to serve, and to hold firm to our values in workplaces which were not always healthy or enjoyable. Our jobs provided opportunities for us to stretch ourselves to take on roles and tasks we may have initially felt unqualified to undertake. Through these experiences, we learned that we’d been gifted with strengths we didn’t realize we possessed. Sometimes we need other people who are able to see in us what we don’t see in ourselves… until we do.

    I met Kathy on August 9, 1984. We were married on June 29, 1985. Some might think that, since we had not known each other for very long, we didn’t know each other well enough to commit ourselves to each other in marriage. They would be right. We didn’t. Despite this potential obstacle, today we celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.

    There are two ways to approach marriage. One option is to wait until we find the perfect match — the person who possess all the traits and characteristics one would desire in a life partner. The other is to confidently move forward in a relationship with someone about whom there are things we don’t yet know, committed to getting to know that person over time and willing to accept them as they are. This describes my relationship with Kathy. We are not perfect, yet in our imperfection, we make a pretty good team.

    Kathy and I have both changed significantly in the past forty years. I would like to think that most of those changes have been for the better. I’m grateful that Kathy has been tolerant and accepting of the ways I have changed. It has been said that the person we marry is not the same person we are married to forty years later. Actually, it IS the same person, but we are different in many ways — and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

    So as Kathy and I celebrate our 40th anniversary, I am grateful for the person Kathy is today. I am grateful for her kindness, her willingness to tolerate my foibles, her commitment to our sons and their families, her desire to embrace learning as a lifelong task, and her desire to continue our journey together into a fifth decade. To borrow a line from the legendary Yankee first baseman, Lou Gehrig, “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”   

  • Providence, RI

    “What cheer?”
    Motto of Providence, Rhode Island

    I woke up in Rhode Island this morning — Providence, Rhode Island. Yesterday’s flights from San José (we had a stop-over in Denver) were quite pleasant, as far as air travel goes these days. From San José to Denver, the woman sitting next to Kathy engaged her in lively conversation from take-off to landing. 

    On the flight from Denver to Providence, I noticed right away that there was a young mother with three children, ages 10, 8, and 17-months, sitting directly across the aisle from us. I knew right then that it was going to be a chaotic three hour flight. It wasn’t. The kids, all three of them, were angels. It was a military family. Dad was driving a U-Haul with all the family’s belongings from Colorado Springs, where they’d lived for several years, to a town near Providence, where his new assignment took him. The 17-month-old boy would have been a great playmate for my grandson, Henry.  

    Enough about yesterday. Today is the first day of the rest of our lives, right? So here we are in Providence, preparing to board our New England Islands cruise, which will take us to Block Island, Newport, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket Island, New Bedford (MA), and Bristol. We have a lot of sightseeing to do in the next week.

    Did you know that Rhode Island is not an island? Just aking.

    Our adventure today begins with breakfast here at the hotel, followed by a bus tour of the must-see sites in Providence. We will board the American Star around noon time before it sets sail (no, it’s not a sailboat) for Block Island. I’m looking forward to a relaxing day.

    Now, about the American Star,… the ship in the photo above is NOT our vessel for this cruise. It’s simply the justification for it. Tomorrow, June 29th, Kathy and I celebrate the 40th anniversary of our marriage. 40 years! More on that tomorrow.

    For now, it’s time to head down to breakfast in the Mozart Room, located on the Mezzanine Level of the Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel. The window of our room looks directly across the street to the Rhode Island State House. Impressive structure, especially last night when it was all lit up.

    As for the motto of the City of Providence quoted above… maybe someone will explain this to us today. I don’t get it.

  • On Our Way!

    “The greatest adventure
    is what lies ahead.”
    J.R.R. Tolkien

    And we’re off… together this time. Kathy and I certainly don’t qualify as avid travelers or frequent flyers, but we have traveled a bit in the past forty years. Since we’ve been married, Kathy has taken a few trips without me — to Chicago, Seattle, New Jersey, some God-forsaken place in Texas, and a fall foliage cruise in the Northeast, to name just a few. She also spent 36 memorable days without me in scenic Los Altos, California! I’ve taken a few trips without Kathy, too — to Japan, the Bahamas, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Pacific Grove, Palm Springs, and San Diego. 

    In addition to those trips, Kathy and I have traveled together many times — to Chicago, Orlando, the Bahamas, Nagasaki (Japan), Fort Wayne (Indiana), Lake Tahoe, Twain Harte, Pacific Grove, Eureka, Spokane, Seattle, Solvang, San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the upper Michigan peninsula, Carmel by the Sea, Santa Barbara, and San Louis Obispo. I’m probably missing a few other places. 

    Last summer, Kathy and I embarked on our first cruise together. It was a river boat cruise on the Columbia River, from Astoria, Oregon to Lewiston, Idaho. The journey followed the path of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, but in reverse. We enjoyed it immensely, so we signed up to take another cruise this summer — a New England Islands cruise from Providence, Rhode Island to Block Island, Newport, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, New Bedford (Massachusetts), and Bristol, RI. At the end of the excursion, we’ll spend a few extra days in Bristol visiting with my high school classmate, Steve Aveson, and his wife Karen. 

    Our 2025 adventure begins today. We fly out of San José this morning, arriving in Providence, Rhode Island around 8:00 tonight. Tomorrow we’ll board the American Star for the cruise. It’s a small ship, carrying only 200 passengers. Kathy and I prefer this to the mega-cruise ships which are like floating cities. American Cruise Lines offers a variety of small boat cruises across the United States. One more we would like to take some day is to Alaska.

    Last year’s cruise was, essentially, a practice run. I wanted to see how I coped with being on a ship for a week. Kathy has been on several cruises in her life, but last year’s was my first. At no time did I feel queasy, so we booked the 2025 trip to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.

    Kathy and I married on June 29, 1985. I’ll never forget the headline of the Sports section of the San José Mercury News that day: “CARROLL SAYS HE’LL FIND ESCAPE CLAUSE.” Apparently, the Golden State Warriors center, Joe Barry Carroll, was unhappy playing for Golden State and wanted out. The timing of the headline could not have been more perfect. Well, it’s been forty years and I still have not found an escape clause!!!

    I don’t know how much I’ll be writing over the next week, but, if nothing else, I’ll post a few photo updates of our trip. We will return to San José on the evening of July 7th. I’m looking forward to including you in our adventure.