My nephew, JR, was able to serve as the escort for a visiting dignitary recently in Afghanistan. The newly elected WI Senator, Ron Johnson, toured the facility where JR trains Afghani recruits. I am so proud of JR and the work he is doing!
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While sitting at this desk, I am unable to see across the river due to the low clouds, the misting rain, and overall gloominess of the day. Though it is 56 above zero, the air feels much cooler and makes me feel like climbing under my covers again. I just got home from Bible study and lunch, today at Longhorn again, and was telling the ladies how I felt like getting back into bed. Almost all agreed with that mindset, whether or not they are able to do so themselves. Martie and I are supposed to get together for dinner, postponed from last Monday but again the weather makes me feel like eating in. I sent her a text message to see if she would be okay with me cooking for us, which I am sure she will approve, but need confirmation on that before I make too many plans. Meat loaf and baked potatoes make a mighty fine dinner on a nasty night!
Oh, oh, now the weather folks are warning about possible flooding in some low-lying areas as the rains will make a return this direction. We go from being too dry and having fire dangers to flooding in regions. On the bright side of this is my family and friends in WI are currently ‘living in a snow globe’, as Alayna described it, or finding folks stuck in the parking lot and being out of Diet Coke!!! Kerry, you know when snow is predicted, you must get the staples---like D.C.!!!
On this Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday, my mind goes back to 2001, the morning after Timmy died. The Dohner’s had brought Justin home, and I made phone calls to St. Johns to let them know what had happened, speaking somehow with Mr. Edwards, the lower school Dean. Carol Jo, the guidance counselor and mom of one of Justin’s classmates, came over to our house to speak with Justin and us, offering her condolences. Twila and Jackie came over and if memory serves, spent most of their time with Mom. But it stays with me that Twila was there, which I mentioned to her today at lunch. Earlier in Bible study when we were discussing the workers in the vineyard parable, Twila mentioned how her husband was ‘an eleventh hour convert’ and how happy she was about that. Me, too, Twila, me too!
Rosalie, my friend who used to be the church secretary and queen of Good Shepherd, traveled from Houston to be with us, staying in the neighborhood with a fellow church member. We have been communicating this past week quite a lot, as she remembers that time for and with us, even posted a photo of Timmy and herself, taken on the porch at the Misty Lake Drive home, on Facebook yesterday.
Today Rosalie sent me an e-mail reporting that Hal and she are coming this way at the end of the month and will be visiting Good Shepherd and me! Yippee!!!!! One of her family members down state is in failing health so they are coming over to see him. I am so happy! Perhaps they will stay here with me, she will let me know all the details when the time gets closer. While it would be great to have her here when I have my planned ‘remembrance party’ in mid February, I will appreciate even 10 minutes with her for a personal visit.
When I got home from church yesterday, I read an e-mail from my friend and dentist, Peggy, asking if I had seen the news that Royal Marshall, a producer for Neal Boortz Radio Show, had died suddenly Saturday. NO! I had not seen it but she saw in on Neal's website. Immediately I sent Justin a text message and I wrote back to Peggy about how stunned I was that so young a man would die, and how sad that he has two young daughters and a wife left to live without him. In the meanwhile Justin text messaged me back saying almost the same thing I wrote to Peggy, including, "...and he's got two little kids!"
No one knows the day or the hour when we will be called home, and I am glad that Royal was active in his church and would even witness about the Lord on the radio program. My heart aches for his boss and co-workers, Neal and Belinda, who will be back on the air tomorrow. Today the morning crew at the mother station conducted a tribute show for Royal which they were recording to give his daughters for posterity sake. Again, the book "Counsel of Dads" came to mind, thinking about the men in Royal's life who could step up and offer 'fatherly' counsel in Royal's stead. Only 43 years old...Twila heard that he'd had a heart attack. He was a deacon at his church and did volunteer work for various groups for disadvantaged children. A really good example for folks, and I am going to miss hearing him rein in his boss, Neal. Rest in peace, Royal Marshall!
