Car and rain

 This morning I took my car to English Auto, who have worked on it since I owned it.

The 'check engine' light keeps coming on for no reason they can find.

But tomorrow I have an emissions test and wanted it fixed.

It took most of the day and was raining like crazy when Bern took me down to get it.

The rain never stopped--which Bern and Mrs. English both told me was greatly needed.

I don't keep up with stuff like rain, but I drove through it for 20 miles to see how the car ran.

It was fine, but I got real wet just getting to the house.

Rain is a blessing--when it's not on you!

Father's Day in the Forest

 My son called me earlier today and my daughter will later, I'm sure.

Father's Day is odd and I live in a forest.

A great guy from Torrington's Soup Kitchen was in church last Sunday and spoke to us as the sermon.

Afterwards we talked and I told him about the 20 trees in our side and back yard.

He said, "you live in a forest! And that's what I want."

I hope he finds it.

And I love it.

Happy Father's day to all the dads out there in cyber-land.

I'm loving it in my forest and with Bern making me a pizza for dinner.

What could be better?

Wedding

 It went well!

Well over a hundred guests.

Groomsmen in white, bridesmaids in green--groom in green, bride in white--very thought  out.

They're a great couple and their families were thrilled.

I kept it short but our musician did a great job before and during and after.

God love K and C--may their lives be full of wonder.

(But I'm glad I mostly go to Milton--30 miles away--on Sunday. The traffic the last two days through Waterbury was horrific!)

Wedding rehearsal

 I'll be leaving in half-hour or so to go to Milton for a wedding rehearsal.

Back years ago at St. John's, Waterbury, I did lots of weddings.

This is my first one in several years.

There's something encouraging about weddings--two people setting off on a journey of a life-time.

However, not all of them end up that way.

I like K. and C., who are getting married. I did their pre-marriage counseling  and came to admire them both.

I'll bless their vows and pray God that it goes for them as it has for me and Bern--decades of love, change and adventure.

Best of luck, K and C!

What to drink

 A few months ago, Bern thought I was drinking too much wine and asked me to stop.

She may have been right or wrong--I'm not sure--but I stopped.

Since then I drink 6 cans of Polar Ginger Ale a day.

I may have become a 'gingeraleaholic' for all I know.

But I love ginger ale--but only Polar when I can find it or Bern can.

Most times the bottom shelf of our refrigerator is full of it.

Have a Polar Ginger Ale on me....

Straighten it out...

 I don't know if it has to do with growing old or something else, but I have become frantic about having things straight.

Scatter rugs most of all. We have lots of them and I'm constantly moving them around to look right.

I'm rigid about having things straight.

I've also started counting stuff: how many people are in church or on the street, how many books are on the table, even how many steps I take to get from the house to the car.

I'm always saying to myself, "Stop Counting!"

But it doesn't work.

Next I'll be counting how many times I say "Stop Counting!" to myself.

Both these things are driving me a little nuts.

But I was 'a little nuts' already, so it won't hurt....

I am an idiot

 Church was great! The head of the Torrington Soup Kitchen was our speaker. Michael and I tried to find a gospel hymn having to do with 'eating' and the best we came up with was "Let us break bread together on our knees", which was fine.

Everybody--including our guest--received communion. That doesn't happen often--there are always a few who don't come forward.

But that has nothing to do with why I'm an idiot.

I went to the grocery store to get small crossants (excuse my spelling--I'm a spelling idiot too). I got them at Stop and Shop, where they are available--not at Big Y where I go always. Bern and I go to different stores!

When I came out I left my cane on my shopping cart and didn't realize it until I was home and reached for it. I don't need it much, which is why I forgot it!

So, I raced back and lo and behold, the cart and cane were where I left them.

I was as over-joyed as an idiot like me can be....