The sermon, as always, was excellent. We had a group visiting from SE Missouri (who had worked with the leaders of Epiphany UCC for the past week)... and four people from the youth group sang "Sanctuary" which literally brought tears to my eyes... very powerful message coming from the mouths of children... What a blessing this group shares...
After services, we were scheduled for a pot luck luncheon... (doh! I had failed to bring my contribution!) Rev. Mary suggested (in her persuasive way) that I stay to join in the meal... which I was very happy that I did. As usual, Houston got to have his run-on-the-turf out in the garden area of the church. He seemed as happy as I about having returned!
Afterward, John had let me know that he and Fred would be attending a play at St Louis University... one based on a woman's visit to Palestine... I asked if tickets were still available... and he told me "surely they are... it's just a $10 donation fee with the proceeds going to a youth artist group in Palestine."
Besides, John's daughter was in charge of lighting... How could I resist? At 3:00, I arrived for the play... which began the moment that a patron got in line to get a ticket... er, "passport"... for entering the staged performance area... From beginning to end, the show was entertaining... thought-provoking... and quite a welcome event given my current state of mind... I enjoyed it much.
John, Fred, and I met up after the show (having arrived at different times)... when John introduced me to his daughter... and went around meeting the various actors, the producer and... wow!... even the author upon whose life-event the play (named Beautiful Resistance) is based. Anyway, Fred and John invited me over for a discussion at their place... which was a lovely home.
I learned that the two had been together for almost 2 decades... so I quizzed them on the "secret" to a successful relationship... and the most striking answer was that the couple should have "no secrets." Well put.
Later, they invited me to spend the night... so that I did not have to journey back to St. Robert that late... and I accepted the invitation where I rested the best that I have for some time. Wonderful Hosts. So H-O-S-P-I-T-A-B-L-E... that even Lot and his angelic visitors would have been impressed!
I awakened... kidded around some with John... who reminded me of the time... that I'd have to jump in the shower and pack and all if I were to make my 1:45 appointment with Dr. Karen Tabb in Lebanon... Speaking of which (Lebanon)... the locals pronounce it as if it has been spelled "L-E-B-A-N-O-N-E"... Just FYI for those, like myself, who are not well-informed of such things...
It's been a wonderful past 30+ hours... despite the pain (quite reduced from 2 weeks ago)... Dr. Tabb took me off the Protonix... and suggested that I remain Narcotic-free... while we assess the remaining pain... which has her baffled... as it does me as well... Let's just leave our faith where it belongs... and I'll keep my readers informed of any changes in status.
p.s.
Despite the fact that my 21CSI issue has moved on to legal grounds... Warren Noll, the FLW Office Administrator of 21st Century Systems, Inc. (and 21CSI PAC Board Member and employee who had someone else take his technical exam on his behalf) sent me a disconcerting email... to my personal email account and followed up this morning with a harassing phone call...
The nerve of this not-so-gentle man! I immediately informed Mr. Noll of the fact that he and I should refrain from contact while the attorneys sort this all out... and followed up with a call to Marcia who admitted that -- despite best practice otherwise -- she had not notified employees that, since litigation may be imminent, no one should directly make contact with me...
Hmmmmm.... Inefficient? or Incompetent? This is the question which came to mind... She's such a nice person, otherwise.
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