How strange life is....

I talked on the phone to my cousin, M. today.

She and I realized that we were the only relatives we were still in touch with. I was the youngest and she was second youngest of 16 first cousins with Aunts and Uncles on our mothers' side of the family that added up to 10. As far as either M. or I know, almost all of those folks are dead now.

Then she asked me, "when we were in Anawalt" (the town in southern West Virginia where we grew up) "did you ever imagine you'd live in Connecticut most of your life and I'd live in Baltimore?"

It took me off guard.

I thought for a moment and said, "if you had asked me at 12 whether I would be an Episcopal priest living in Connecticut, I would have said, 'what's that and where's that?'"

I wouldn't have known an Episcopalian then and Connecticut would seem like it was on another planet.

Both M's and my mothers were school teachers but our fathers hadn't finish high school and both served in WWII.

M. became a teacher too and to my amazement, I have 3 post graduate degrees. The last in a D.Min. (Doctor of Ministry) so it's okay if you call me Reverend Doctor Bradley.

But just once, please!

Life is strange.

I'm sure you agree.

Church today

I hope I don't bore you talking about church--hey, I am a priest! OK?

It was good.

People liked my sermon, 5 or 6 wanted to talk about it.

 I preached about 'oil in my lamp' and like the idiot I am, I had decided before church not to anoint for healing.

After my sermon I realized how dumb to talk about oil and not use some.

So before the postlude I told people they could be anointed before coffee hour.

Almost everyone stayed to be anointed and, surprising me, went back to their seats until everyone had been anointed. Really great of them.

Problem was, R., who anoints me, felt bad and left after the sermon. I called her when I got home and she said she was better and though she might need to leave with stomach problems from all the meds she'd been taking lately.

I almost pooped my pants during the prayers of the people and left at the Peace to go to the bathroom. I got back just as announcements were over.

Pooped in clerical vestments might require a bishop to come cleanse them.

Don't want that....

 

Church tomorrow!

After two Sundays off, I'm back at Trinity, Milton tomorrow.

I've missed it.

I tend not to go to church when I'm not the celebrant.

That's one of the reasons I keep serving though I officially retired over a dozen years ago.

Besides, I really like Trinity and the folks there.

I wrote my sermon Tuesday--I almost never write it before Friday.

That's how anxious I am to get back to celebrating.

Yea!!!

Church tomorrow!!!

 

Why, I wonder?

 Most of the calls I get  on my cell phone aren't from friends--far from it!

80% of my calls are from recordings trying to sell me something or figure out something about me they can use to connect me to a real person.

I usually say, "Hello, recording," when they say hello. That gets rid of many of them. Other calls I either just hang up or wait until they ask a question.

"Do you own a car?" they ask and I say, "no, I ride my elephant."

"Are you between 65 and 85?" gets me to answer, "no, I'm 134".

That gets them to hang up.

How many people talk to a recording long enough to get a real person to sell them something?

Are they just lonely and glad to get any call?

I just don't get it.

Stop calling me, Recordings!

 

Still soaking up the wave

 Two Senate seats left to decide: Mississippi and Alaska.

Winning both would just add whipped cream to the dessert.

A friend sent me a cartoon on Facebook that, if I had any idea how, I would put here. (But I'm a computer moron and can't....)

It showed in the bottom right corner, a little cartoon of the President carrying an umbrella.

The rest of the picture was a blue ocean wave cresting above him and about to crash.

I hope it's telling the future.

Democrats, lean back, put you feet up and prepare for what happens next January...

Some popcorn would be good....

Feels like Spring

 I went to the library today and two older women were on a bench down from the back steps talking.

They had on long sleeves but no sweaters.

I smiled as I got out of the car and said, "Warm for November...."

One of them looked shocked. "It IS November, isn't it--I forgot."

They sat in the shade, no need for sun.

It feels like Spring!

Especially as the election results come in.

Democrats have not only taken over the House and Senate, they've elected Governors and the congresses of previously red states.

I am so Blue to day--not sad, but delighted.

It turned out ever better than I had hoped.

Lord, help them start to get things straightened out.

Impeach the Secretary of War, P.H., right off....

It does feel like Spring in my heart and mind and soul....

The sky will clear

Today began in Cheshire with the sky full of clouds.

But it cleared up and was quite warm, almost 70, for November.

In just that way, the election day is clouded over.

It won't clear until tomorrow--if then, given Alaska's strange way of counting votes.

So, it will either be warm--with Democrats gaining greatly--or chilly with Republicans holding on.

As they say, "we shall see...."

I pray for sun and warmth....