A Day Get-Away
The annual meeting, two months of back-to-back meetings, piles of reports detailing everything from a potato bake to Great Aunt Nina's $200 memorial gift, the diligent work of two very competent secretaries and prayers of one administratively weary preacher culminated in celebration and business last Thursday night. It went well.
And it was well worth a one day mini vacation the very next day. I took off at a respectable hour (9 in the morning) and headed South. Visited with my friend Jim who, on more than one occasion, had cured my terminal computers from death by worms, virus, and other vicious virtual maladies. I met Jim at a time of dire cyber crisis through our oldest son who knew Jim's son from the service. I hauled my Compac over a hundred miles for " Dr. Jim" to diagnosis and cure what I feared would be fatal. The Compac lived! Dr. Jim became our family's computer physician until our youngest son became the resident computer miester. It had been quite some time I had talked with Jim. So I was surprised to meet his new wife and their 11 month old son. It was a wonderful visit.
From there I went East for another 80 miles or so to visit a jewelry store owned and operated by two long time friends (remember, I have no "old" friends). I first met Merle and Marilyn in another life, a much tougher time in life. It was when I had few friends that they were very loyal and very good to me, my husband and my family. Hoping to see them but not empty-handed, I brought a coin I had kept from the Paris trip. Might they make a charm of it for my bracelet? To my delight, they were still at the store: both of them, still working, still managing the jewelry business in their 80's! We talked about folks we knew, shared stories, and told jokes until way past closing. It was time for me to move on and accomplish the main objective of this flight along memory lane.
I pulled up to a nursing home that was non-existent when I worked in that town. It was unpretentious, but clean and nicely appointed. The reception area opened to the dining room. Residents were eating supper and, as always happens when a non-resident enters the room, all eyes were suddenly fixed on the novelty that just walked through the door. I scanned the white and gray crowned faces for the countenance of a friend I have known for over 20 years. She looked at me with disbelief and then welcome recognition. Back in the day, the early days, the first days, Edith and I had met every week over tea to plot and plan how we were going to salvage a church fated for financial ruin ...until the congregation was debt free, the parsonage mortgage was paid off, and the check book was in permanent black ink two years later. What all did I owe to this dear woman with the earnest heart, winsome smile, and unstoppable determination?
We talked of family, and memories, of chicken dinners and funnel cakes, of sweet spirited friends, and obstacles overcome. We talked about birthdays, mine that had just passed (on the same day as her daughter's) and of hers this mont
h when she will be 93. We talked about how time flies and pokes along. We talked Life.
The sun was beginning to set as I gave Edith one last hug. I had a long drive home, but a full heart and rich thoughts to keep me company as the miles passed. Most of the way, I just thanked God for the beautiful day, the beautiful season, the beautiful friendships, and the beautiful reasons to live.
In this picture of the infamous "Five Alive and One in Doubt" Edith is wearing a plaid flannel and the red and white hat. Her daughter is the one in pig tails.
And it was well worth a one day mini vacation the very next day. I took off at a respectable hour (9 in the morning) and headed South. Visited with my friend Jim who, on more than one occasion, had cured my terminal computers from death by worms, virus, and other vicious virtual maladies. I met Jim at a time of dire cyber crisis through our oldest son who knew Jim's son from the service. I hauled my Compac over a hundred miles for " Dr. Jim" to diagnosis and cure what I feared would be fatal. The Compac lived! Dr. Jim became our family's computer physician until our youngest son became the resident computer miester. It had been quite some time I had talked with Jim. So I was surprised to meet his new wife and their 11 month old son. It was a wonderful visit.
From there I went East for another 80 miles or so to visit a jewelry store owned and operated by two long time friends (remember, I have no "old" friends). I first met Merle and Marilyn in another life, a much tougher time in life. It was when I had few friends that they were very loyal and very good to me, my husband and my family. Hoping to see them but not empty-handed, I brought a coin I had kept from the Paris trip. Might they make a charm of it for my bracelet? To my delight, they were still at the store: both of them, still working, still managing the jewelry business in their 80's! We talked about folks we knew, shared stories, and told jokes until way past closing. It was time for me to move on and accomplish the main objective of this flight along memory lane.
I pulled up to a nursing home that was non-existent when I worked in that town. It was unpretentious, but clean and nicely appointed. The reception area opened to the dining room. Residents were eating supper and, as always happens when a non-resident enters the room, all eyes were suddenly fixed on the novelty that just walked through the door. I scanned the white and gray crowned faces for the countenance of a friend I have known for over 20 years. She looked at me with disbelief and then welcome recognition. Back in the day, the early days, the first days, Edith and I had met every week over tea to plot and plan how we were going to salvage a church fated for financial ruin ...until the congregation was debt free, the parsonage mortgage was paid off, and the check book was in permanent black ink two years later. What all did I owe to this dear woman with the earnest heart, winsome smile, and unstoppable determination?
We talked of family, and memories, of chicken dinners and funnel cakes, of sweet spirited friends, and obstacles overcome. We talked about birthdays, mine that had just passed (on the same day as her daughter's) and of hers this mont
h when she will be 93. We talked about how time flies and pokes along. We talked Life.The sun was beginning to set as I gave Edith one last hug. I had a long drive home, but a full heart and rich thoughts to keep me company as the miles passed. Most of the way, I just thanked God for the beautiful day, the beautiful season, the beautiful friendships, and the beautiful reasons to live.
In this picture of the infamous "Five Alive and One in Doubt" Edith is wearing a plaid flannel and the red and white hat. Her daughter is the one in pig tails.
posted by The Sermonator | 5:08 PM
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