Bulletin #3: March 16-20, 2020, Living Legacy Pilgrimage

 Can you believe we're only a week and a half away from our pilgrimage? All the plans are falling into place nicely. We are looking forward to meeting you all.riv

Arrival
The Pilgrimage officially begins at 8:45 am on Monday, March 16, 2020, at The Church of the River (First Unitarian Church of Memphis, 292 W Virginia Ave, Memphis, TN 38103). You can meet us there, or you can join the group at the following times and places:  

• 6:00 am – the lobby of Holiday Inn Express Memphis Medical Center Midtown (1180 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38104)
• 6:30 am – outside Memphis Central Station (545 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103) – look for the blue and white Cline Tours bus.
• 7:00 am – Everyone is invited to join us for a breakfast buffet at The Arcade Restaurant (540 S Main St, Memphis, TN 38103) across the street from the train station. You must let us know as soon as possible if you plan to come so we can reserve a seat for you. If you did not already complete a travel survey, or if you have changed your mind, email us at [email protected].  Otherwise, you are on your own for breakfast that morning. 

If you’re confused about how to connect with us on the first morning, or you have questions, please email us at [email protected] and we can discuss your specific circumstances.

Healthy habits
Over the past few days, federal health officials have advised us all to begin preparing for the anticipated spread of the coronavirus in the United States. We want to reassure you that the Living Legacy Project Board is paying close attention to this emerging situation. 

At this point in time, we see no need to cancel the Pilgrimage. Currently, the CDC is recommending that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea. The agency also says that older adults and those with chronic medical conditions should consider postponing nonessential travel to Japan. We’re not going to any of those places, and there is no recommendation to avoid travel within the U.S., so for now, we’re moving ahead as planned.

Just as in any flu and cold season, we can best protect ourselves and one another by paying close attention to careful hygiene practices. On the Pilgrimage, we ask that you: 

• Wash your hands fully (for a minimum of 20 seconds) at each restroom stop. 
• Keep your hands off your face, particularly your mouth, nose, and eyes. 
• Disinfect your cell phone, camera, and other electronic devices with electronics wipes. And remember the cleaner your hands, the cleaner everything you touch.
• Avoid hugging or touching other people, including hand-shaking. Feel free to greet others by pressing your palms together, holding your hand over your heart, or giving a friendly nod. 
• Notify the LLP staff immediately if you start to have cold symptoms or feel sick in any way.
• Don’t go on the trip if you are feeling sick. 

Because the coronavirus, like the flu, is spread from close, person-to-person contact, as well as contact with contaminated surfaces and objects, we’re taking extra steps to make sure you are as safe as possible. We will have Clorox wipes available on the bus, so you can wipe down the arms rests on your seat. You can also take them with you to your hotel room if you want to wipe down any surfaces in your room (especially the TV remote!). 

Please know that we will do everything we can to keep you safe and informed in the days ahead. We will let you know immediately if anything changes.

For those of you who might like some additional information, here is an NPR podcast I found helpful in decreasing my anxiety by focusing on prevention and preparedness: LifeKit: Coronavirus 101

Weather
The weather continues to look promising: low 70s in the daytime and 50s at night. There is a high possibility of showers, so it's a good idea to pack an umbrella or rain gear. We encourage you to watch extended forecasts for Memphis, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma as we get closer in case anything changes.  

Packing list
Below is a recommended packing list. We encourage you to pack as light as possible.

• Water bottle (for the good of the environment, we will have only a limited amount of bottled water on the bus)
• Umbrella or rain gear
• Small tote bag or backpack if you want easy access to things on the bus
• Journal
• Pens
• Camera
• Comfortable clothes that you can layer
• Comfortable walking shoes
• PJs
• Unscented hand lotion
• Sunscreen
• A cap or hat, especially if you're sun-sensitive
• Hand sanitizing wipes or liquid hand sanitizer
• Screens wipes for your electronics
• Tissues
• Personal toiletries
• Prescription medications
• Personal snacks, especially if you have special dietary needs
• Thank-you cards

We ask that you not pack perfume, cologne, or other scented lotions or creams. Being in group for several days can be difficult for people who have chemical-sensitives, so anything you can do to be mindful of added scents is appreciated. 

Cash
Several people have asked about how much money to bring with you. It’s a good idea to have cash to leave a tip for the housekeeping staff at each hotel along our route. We generally recommend $3-5 per night. If you’re sharing a room, you can split that between you.

We also recommend at least $5-10 per day for a total of $25-50 for our bus driver. We present him with an envelope at the end of the trip with our thanks. Cash is best, but if you want to write a check that’s fine too. If you can afford more that will help those who aren’t able to contribute as much.

You might also want cash or credit cards for incidentals, gifts, etc. That should be all you need. 

Parking your car
If you are driving to Memphis, you will be able to leave your car at The Church of the River (First Unitarian Church of Memphis, 292 W Virginia Ave, Memphis, TN 38103) at no cost for the duration of the trip. Please park as far back in the lot as you can. After we’re all there, we might move our cars so they’re parked together.

Time Zone
Please note that we'll be on Central Daylight Time (UTC-06:00) throughout the trip so you might need to reset your watches when you arrive (or remember that your phone might have automatically reset). 

Sharing your experience
We encourage you to document and photograph this journey by journaling, blogging, keeping notes, and taking photographs. Be sure to include your preparations for the trip, traveling by planes, trains, and automobiles to Memphis, the time on the Pilgrimage itself, and your reflections after you return home. This is important for your friends and family and for your own memories.

And please share your photos and reflections with us. They are invaluable to us and to people who are considering a pilgrimage for themselves! Talk with Annette if you have questions about the best way to do this.

If you're into social media, we appreciate all the tweeting, Facebooking, Instagramming, blogging, and whatever other social media you want to share. Please use hashtag #LLP20 so we can identify your posts and share them on Living Legacy Pilgrimage platforms.

Gratitude
Expressing gratitude is an important part of developing relationships. We encourage you to bring thank-you cards and/or find other ways to express gratitude to those you meet along the way. 

In case you have missed important information
Some of you have not opened previous bulletins and emails we've sent. If you're concerned that you missed anything, you'll find all the information you need, including what’s contained in this one, at this link: http://www.uulivinglegacy.org/03162020bulletins. Scroll down to see earlier bulletins. 

This is the last bulletin you'll receive, so let me know if you have any additional questions. We’re looking forward to seeing you in Memphis. 

Safe travels!
 
Annette

Annette Marquis
Director of Operations
Living Legacy Project, Inc. 
804-551-0241
​[email protected]