Blinded by the light--again!

My early morning dream had me moving again, this time into an apartment which seemed very much like the building where Mom and Jill reside in Manty. One of the bad things in the dream was that I could not see, could not focus my vision, although I could see light and dark, all was blurry. Evidently, my first night in the new place, I pushed a 'Help' button near the bed, and caused all sorts of confusion in the building. I looked in the hallway to find out what was going on, and there was Mom, sort of chuckling about it all. She told me I had summoned the rescue people and that they 'assumed' it was my sister-in-law, Sharon's, call button which had been rung so Lucile was also called. My mother-in-law was back in the picture. I asked where the button was located that I pushed but no one could find it, so how did they know it was mine??? Was I in an assisted-living facility????

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Same dream---I noticed some water stains on the ceiling tiles so lifted one (how???) and all sorts of dirt came falling down on me. Somehow I managed to get it back up but not secured, as I was searching for my cell phone. Being new in this apartment, I could not located it immediately. Some of the items Justin and I had unpacked on Mother's Day were in this apartment including a coloring book and crayons. Aha! Now it makes sense....dreaming about moving. Plus Bonnie, from Victory, was almost late getting to church yesterday for Bible study due to having photographers at her house. Their home is listed for sale and the photos were for the MLS but she was frantic about it. The photographer would tell her to remove personal items from tables and counter tops but these things were significant to Bonnie. After the Bible study, she declared it was just what she needed because her stress level was greatly reduced. I stopped on the way out and gave her a hug, then told her that when I moved in this condo, it was about move #27, and offered my assistance if she needed it.

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In my dream, back to that, I remember washing my hair in the sink but having no shampoo yet or even dish soap to use, and dried my hair on something other than a towel. There was a very lovely new vinyl shower curtain waiting to be hung....and then I woke up! The blinding feeling was again the sun in my face. If I want to avoid those type of dreams, I guess I could sleep with my head at the bottom of the bed so the sun won't get me until later in the morning!

*

Justin and I attended the Bible study as I mentioned and then went to Joe's Crab Shack for our lunch. It was 84 above zero and I wish we did not have an umbrella over our table because I would have loved to have the sun on me but it was okay. Earlier in the day I had posted on Facebook our plans to 'Eat at Joe's!' and my friend, Suzanne, commented that I don't eat fish so will likely have chicken. I did end up ordering the grilled chicken sandwich, but did not eat the bun with it. I did not see Suzanne's posting until after I was home again, so she was prophetic! Justin had some sort of shrimp dish and we shared a turtle sundae for dessert. I would have liked the apple but the turtle sundae just looked so delicious...and it was!

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When I got home in the afternoon, I worked on a few things for the anniversary including approving the final proof of the preschool banner---I have lost track of how many of those came through this computer, maybe this was Number Six?? Decisions, decisions, decisions, committees, committees, committees....Done! The next project is the invitation with a workable group photograph of the kids, the one chosen is from 2004, which will have some of those kids being the same age now as the preschool is in 2010! I received word that some of the names and addresses are being made ready so for this I can heave a great sigh of relief. Earlier in the day, after feeling renewed from our Bible study (like Bonnie!), I had come to the decision to just surrender, and let the chips fall where they may. I will take as much information as can be given and just shrug off the rest. Otherwise the dismay would take me over and perhaps ruin the joy of this event for me.

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My afternoon just got better and better as my friend, Judy R., whose birthday was yesterday, was chatting with me via Facebook and then typed: "Listen for your phone..." Sure enough, she opted for the vocal conversation vs. the written word. It is always good to hear the voice once in a while, as Linda J. and I experience. When Linda and I first started using e-mail for communication, Tommy said that was fine, as long as we did not forget the sounds of each other's voices. He is wise, funny, but wise. And every now and again we do long to hear each other's voices, just as Judy did yesterday. Interestingly enough, while I was talking with Judy on the phone, Linda J. popped in on the computer to chat! Could life get any better than that? Yes, if Linda or Judy came to the door!!!

Oops, where did Tuesday go?

It must be out there in Internet heaven somewhere........Tuesday's posting did not appear and I cannot find it in my dashboard. Am I being censored? Did that new ruling already go into effect, since the commencement speech given on Saturday? Are folks too distracted by information these days to read my blog???? Let's hope this posting makes the cut, so to speak...I wonder what I wrote yesterday, I have to try to recall.

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Tuesday was my kindergarten day and we had a wonderful time together. One little guy is gone on vacation with his great-grandma to Sanibel, as she takes the grands every year. This is my friend, Twila, and we never get to celebrate her birthday with her because she is gone! Hopefully their weather holds and the oil slick does not affect their time away. The rest of the kidlings in the classroom were simply a delight and no one was wounded on the play ground this time, either. The preschool kids had left their playballs outside so our kids could use them. Some of the balls had handles for sitting on to bounce. I did not try it, this would not be pretty. Besides the flowers we planted a couple weeks ago, they also planted a rainbow garden in individual containers, which, when in full bloom, should produce a rainbow of colors. Just planted on Thursday, the corn was already coming through the ground. I told Laurie that the expression in WI was 'knee high by the 4th of July' so we will see if that is true in north Florida as well.

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After coming in for recess, which was delayed due to Laurie having to go into the bathroom to plunge two of the potties (her son!), the kids got immediately busy writing in their journals. Again, I am so amazed at what these kids are able to do. Laurie showed me some of the testing she does for the end of the year, and three of the six kids she has tested so far show they are capable of reading 3rd grade words! Am I surprised? Nope, not one little bit, but I am absolutely blown away by the whole thing. I wish, I wish, I wish we could somehow afford to keep the kindergarten going and adding another grade but.....

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When I went next door to the church office, Mike C. was in there talking with Pastor. When they were finished, I grabbed Mike to discuss the meal for the preschool anniversary, trying to figure out the most economical way to feed the (hopefully) 5000 at lunch time. Much will depend upon how many actually do show up, ever the optimist, I think all the invitees will come. He reminded me that we cannot seat many more than 100 in the Fellowship Hall but I would expect folks to be outdoors that day. He suggested the water slide or something else entertaining for the kids so that adults find their way outside. With the Open House in the classroom building, I am not sure we want wet kids running around so I will think of something else we could do for them, something cleaner and drier!

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Pastor and I went over a few things in the office before I got busy with work on the invitation to the anniversary event. From the website I garnered a great group photo of the preschool children with Ms. Lisa which she and I determined to be the Class of 2002-03. This shot, I figured, would be a good one to include on the invitation because those children would be about 10 years old now too, just like Precious Lambs! We also discussed the possibility of refreshing the uprights for the banner using PVC pipes some of which just happen to be alongside our church building, leftover from construction. Since no one has laid claim to them (or disposed of them), perhaps Lonnie can use them for the banners. I am not sure if he put holes in the pipe or something to tie the banner securely but he is quite the innovator and will come up with a workable plan.

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On the way home, I stopped at Winn-Dixie to get a few items and ended up buying, quite by mistake, some No Sugar Added ice cream bars. That will teach me to buy such a treat! They were in the buy one, get one category but only took one No Sugar Added. I might have to share those with the kindergarten kids. Who knows? I might not even notice a difference between regular ones and these. Mom brought it up the other day that she was hungry for an Eskimo Pie and that stayed with me. Also got a half loaf of bread to use for the balance of my sandwich meat and cheese purchased on Saturday. I wish I had some more of that macaroni salad from Publix but can live without it. Saturday I also freed my pantry of some unused grocery items for the post office's collection for the hungry. My intentions are usually good to make some of these things, but unless I have a determined purpose, I do not press them into service. Someone will enjoy my donations from the Food Pantry.

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Just as I had shut down my desk top computer at the end of my day and was getting settled on the bed with my laptop to listen to the podcasts from the day, my phone rang. It was Judy J., calling me to meet her for dinner before Bible study. She had been at the car dealership and just got out so told me to take my time getting to Panera, as she would busy herself with a book. We dined el fresco, me with my Signature Mac ' Cheese and she with the black bean soup and panini sandwich of some sort. Half my food came home, which I generally order in the 'to-go' container right away. It made for a lovely mid-morning meal for me today!

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We had fewer at Bible study but the two prospective members were there. We covered the Bible and its authorship and validity, etc. plus discussed the persons of God. Fortunately this was nothing new to the two fellas or it could really be confusing explaining and understanding the Trinity. We cannot wrap our heads around it, but that's because 'our heads get in the way'! (The Bucket List). Still fresh in my mind, that movie....Twice I used references yesterday from that movie, plus, at Panera, talked to the clerk about the muffin tops they were selling in the bakery. "Top of the Muffin to You!", Mr. Lippman! The Kosmo Kramer Reality Tour.....good stuff!

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I have made a decision to redo the floor in my bedroom, as I can no longer endure the dark path I look at daily from my desk. The floor under my desk is also wearing from my chair and feet under it, but the dark path came when I had the bathroom and closet remodeled. The workmen had to walk forth and back, and even though there was a tarp, after a few weeks of that, some thing's gotta give. The carpet has been shampooed professionally twice since that work was completed but the marks came back. I can also see a stain left behind when Lynx was sick which did not fully wash away so it is time. This carpet was an inexpensive Berber installed just prior to Justin's graduation to cover the parquet floors which were in poor condition. Since the little boys were coming, I did not want them crawling on the splintered floors. The hallway and other two bedrooms can stay carpeted as they are certainly not worn but this floor makes me loony, and perhaps, might help me deal better with the dust situation in this room. This dust is going to be the end of me!

What is this motley crew? Why, they all look alike....must be the Lahaie girls en masse! This photo was taken at my 25th wedding anniversary party in WI, July 1999. From left is Carol, Lynn, Lori, me, Kerry, and Jill. I am wearing the 'fish dress' which my mom absolutely hated but I loved when I saw it. It was too large for me but I had it altered for my big day! Not usually a dress wearer, I do not know what provoked me into buying a dress...I told Justin to bury me in it (I still have it packed away) plus my red leather coat...

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Yesterday afternoon, I nearly forgot to mention, I made the travel plans for Justin and me to go to Alayna's graduation. This was after numerous e-mails forth and back with Travelocity regarding the cancelled travel in February when Arno died. I just went ahead and made my travel arrangements, planning to use the balance of the cancelled flight value for my Christmas trip instead, since I have until January of 2011 before it expires. Whatever....I am looking forward to my non-funeral visit this time and pray the weather will be wonderful for Alayna's big day and then later for her party! Justin will only be there for three days, flying back home together on Sunday night. Packing much visiting into just over 10 days---I can do it!

Hope it does not snow....

The temperatures don't reflect it but the air feels much much cooler than 73 degrees tonight. In fact, those of us on the sundeck this evening decided to make an early night of it because we were getting cold. We are not weenies already---we have not had enough hot days in a row to make us that way just yet.

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Today was Bible study for which I was nearly late because I had to come back upstairs to fetch the packages of Dove candies that I picked up for Gretchen. I rode down in the elevator with the doctor who delivers babies, renting on the 5th floor. As we rode downstairs, both of us were holding cans of Diet Coke, plus I had the Dove candies in hand. Phil was eating a granola bar, and I laughed, saying we were each having 'the breakfast of champions'! He said he has the same thing every morning before work, which tickles me no end, knowing a man of medicine also enjoys a Diet Coke for breakfast!!! Aha!

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This evening I sent some digital photos to my pastor for his use in the Revelation Bible study. They will have nothing to do with explaining the book but might be interesting for the ladies to see where this place is supposedly located and such. We have only a couple more classes left of this topic and then we might be done for a couple month of summer. Yes, I said 'summer'!!! There are no photos of the inside of the cave which makes me think none were allowed to be taken or it was too dark inside the cave.

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Anyway, after the class 8 of us went to lunch at our standard place of Longhorn. Always a nice time and great food and service. From there I headed to the bank on Fleming Island and then came home, after getting myself a nice ice cream cone from McDonald's, to cleanse my palette...

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I guess it is appropriate to be have cooler temperatures since I have been reviewing various Ladies' Advent Services to use for ours this year. It is never too soon to start looking at these things. Tomorrow, if I decide not to clean off my desk some more, I will get on the project of laying out the invitations to be used for the preschool anniversary. Tuesday is my day at the kindergarten and then perhaps I can work on that design project when I am in the church office after recess. Good thing I have some sandwich meat left to make a lunch for myself tomorrow. I like to tell the kids that I tried a new recipe for my sandwich, peanut butter with jelly. They look at me like I am bonkers, for some reason. Who? Me?

Wanting to go to bed!

But it is still too early. In fact, it is not dark outside yet but I am yawning and fighting the urge to crawl under my covers. It has been a marvelous day and it is okay to be winding down at this point. This a.m. I made it to Victory just in time for Bible study which was lead by Brent, although there seemed so be another class in the church proper. Hmmm....not sure why they were divided but it was fine since I knew most of the people in 'my' class. Justin came in when class was over, as we were meeting in their kitchen/fellowship area, and had me roll his sleeves up for him. He looked nice in an orange shirt and khaki-colored Dockers. We went into the church and got seated in the area where he can hear the organ best. Before settling in completely, though, I went to say 'Happy Mother's Day" to Rachel. The service was lovely, singing some wonderful hymns including one called "Joyful, Joyful". The closing hymn was one that always makes me think of Rosalie, my dear friend, now in Houston. That was her favorite hymn and she would play it often as organist at G.S. So, yes, I was thinking about Rosalie and let her know it later on.

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Justin and I came back over here, with my Pampered Chef purchases in hand, including my new pizza cutter which looks like it really means business. He was hungry for a brownie and even though I had a box mix, he would not let me make some. Instead he ate a section of my leftover calzone from our Thursday lunch. We were not having brunch until 2:00 pm so Justin needed a bite to hold him over. About 1:30 I decided we should go over in case they could seat us, which they did. But, before that, we ran into Jessica and Travis with their new baby out at the pool and Justin finally got to 'see the bayby', as they say on "Seinfeld".

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At The Club, we ran into John from Jax Memory Gardens, as Mike had told me yesterday that John and his family would be there. Both guys in one weekend, how wonderful! I was also greeted warmly by my former spouse's attorney, with whom I have scrapbooked in the past. Our last encounter was in front of the Judge so it surprised me that she seemed so glad to see me. It's that "Godfather" thing: "It's not personal, it's business...." It was great to see the wait staff again, since it's been a while since I've dined inside, since my birthday, actually. Summer brings out the extra staff, the ones who help take care of the cabana and outside dining. The neighbors who were having brunch were pleased to see Justin, too, many not seeing him since he lost his weight.

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After lunch we came back over here where he requested we watch a program on the cooking channel about diners and drive-ins. Justin is a big fan of this show and got a kick out watching the cooks make their creations. I must admit, some of it did look pretty good, although we were both nice and full from our lunch. At one point, Justin asked me if we should go and 'do my closet' today. Wow, I did not expect that and immediately answered, "Sure!" Together we opened and emptied about a half dozen boxes which had taken up floor space in my bedroom closet, making that room look giant-sized now. He put some of the stuff on my empty bookshelves, high up, and the rest of the things which were not disposed of, were repacked for a future yard sale.

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The newspapers wrapping the breakable items were dated July 2004, which was when a lady from church, Tinker, packed up our belongings while Justin and I were on a Mediterranean cruise. So, was I missing any of those items? Nope, not really, but it truly was difficult making the decisions regarding their fate. Keep? Sell? Trash? Yikes! There were many memory pieces found as well including a baggie with sympathy cards somehow kept separate from all the others. At first I read through some of the cards but then decided to put them aside for a bit, at least until after Justin was gone. Together we carried three trash bags full to the garbage bin plus the cardboard boxes he broke down, before he headed for home. As the afternoon had worn on, he was getting more and more weary. His evening plans included, as far as he told me, a nap while listening to Glenn Beck.

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Oh, my gift today was a 24 pack of Diet Coke which was much appreciated and well needed. The greeting card was perfectly lovely with just the right verse, telling me how much he values my sure and steady guidance, faithful living, and that my patience and optimism inspire him. Wow! If even half of this is true, on my part or on his, well, my heart will explode with joy. The balance of my gift is lunch on the deck at Joe's Crab Shack when the weather is hotter. We will do that either on a Thursday after Bible study or on a Sunday when I go over there to worship. Looking forward to that but will enjoy the soda this week! Plus having extra walking around room in my bedroom closet, well, priceless!

"Has your life brought joy to the lives of others?"

They are likely not even to their cars yet but I can't help but write about watching "The Bucket List" with my lady friends! One of them, Kristi, had never seen it before which made it all the more special to see again. It took every inch of me not to recite the movie, slipping up only a few times, but I did make sure to point out things which would come up later in the movie, that type of thing. When it was over and I was mopping up, Judy C., my BFF announced more than once that this movie was worth seeing a second time (probably 50th time for me!). Kristi liked it, too, for which I rejoice. Of course, I had to regale them with the story of the first time Martie, Linda J., Justin (poor Justin....), and I saw it 2007. Oh, how we cried, Justin less obvious than we ladies, and when we had collected ourselves sufficiently, Linda said something that made us start all over again. Patient Justin sat back down again while we cried some more, and, boy, we looked like heck when we left that theater! A week later I went again to see it with Twila, Jean, and Madeline with the same thing happening, tears all over the place! We just had to go to TGIFridays and have a drink!

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Kristi has not seen "Freedom Writers" yet either, nor has Judy so that will be our next showing. Instead of cooking for them, as was my original plan, I bought sandwich meats and hard rolls plus some macaroni salad and carrot raisin salad to have with it. I had been at the cemetery a long period of time this afternoon after cleaning at church, so by the time I left there, I decided no cooking! A cold supper sounded good to me. The temps outdoors were in the high 80's and quite muggy, so much so the A/C felt good in the car. I had talked for nearly an hour with Mike at the cemetery, telling him all about the Stand Up for America event last night at UNF. He and I used to talk regularly when I was there almost daily, and today, when we parted company, Mike said, "You should come around more often for a visit" and he did not mean just to Timmy's grave site. Aw, nice! I laughed and said, "But I am doing so much better...." and he said he knew that, but they missed me. Again, aw, nice!

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Last night's event was absolutely fabulous, as I was telling Mike. Afterward, Justin and I went to 5 Guys. As Justin and I shared a hot dog and some fries, I told him that I loved the event, but did not really know what I had heard. As though I was still trying to process it all. Lots of information was shared, some of it, much of it, frightening, but also a fair dose of optimism from our friend, Clark Howard. We talked for a long time, even though the place was closing, which was fine since we were dining "el dente", Linda!

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One of those 'in the house' at the event was a candidate for senator, Marco Rubio, but he was classy enough to not draw any attention to himself. Unlike the candidate running against Corrine Brown, whose last name happens to be Black, which we find ironic. I am in her district, much to my embarrassment, due to the gerrymandering. Oddly enough the opposite side of Hwy. 17 is NOT hers, but my side is. This district goes all the way down the river to the suburbs of Orlando and points north into Duval. Absurd!

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As I mentioned, I had the opportunity to serve this a.m. by vacuuming at church, and paced myself well in order to spare my back and hips. While there I worked on a couple bulletin boards since I will not be at GS for worship tomorrow. The Sunday school children are singing "I Am Jesus' Little Lamb" so it is just as well that I am not at GS because I know that would blow me away. It might still be an emotional day tomorrow, spending even more time with my Justin, coming back here after church for lunch at The Club. Watching "The Bucket List" with my lady friends might have drained some of those reservoirs and I will manage nicely.

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Happy Mom's Day all you mamas out there!

One of my favorite subjects

Please do not make me choose a favorite thing to talk about because I would have a tough time. But, for today, it is friendship, and another word I do not like to use, relationships. Let me change that to 'connections' for my comfort and purposes.

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At this time of the morning I would normally be off the bed, showered, and dressed but instead, decided to do this. The skies are overcast but the sun is breaking through the clouds and sparkling on the water. The weatherman said it might be over 90 today which really makes me question my plans for the day. If I go to lunch, I might miss the better part of the day poolside....I must be on the Southside, meeting Justin in the parking lot at Victory at 6:30 so we can drive together to UNF for the "Stand Up for America" event. We are quite excited about this gathering and imagine we will come out all pumped up!

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Yesterday I spent some forth and back time with a former classmate, a year ahead of me at MLHS, who expressed on FB the need for a friend. She posted it in the form of a Wanted Ad with the stipulation that the applicants be under the age of 70. Some of the ladies I do fun things with are near or beyond that age so I would not limit myself but J. has her reasons, I am sure. It has been years and years since I have seen her, and she found me on Facebook. Her brother used to live in the same house as my sister, Lynn, a few years ago. So, anyway, I told J. that if I lived closer to her, I would go to lunch with her! You know I would!

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With what I remember from high school, which I realize was a LONG time ago, she was the last one who would be without a friend. She said all she has in her life now is work and home (computer), and although she is married, is not the same as having a 'girlfriend'. I get that, I really do. This just breaks my heart and I know I should realize that not everyone wants or even needs friends 'on the outside'. I say again, I realize it but certainly do not understand it!

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A couple Fridays ago I mentioned the craft night at Victory and how our devotion was about friends and what makes them. If memory serves me, Linda J. and I were talking about this on the phone, you can correct me if I am mistaken, Linda said, "You have to be a friend to make one". In other words, when you are good and decent to others, and open, you are more apt to make a friend. That might be a keyword, not wanting to be "open" to letting others into your life, or feeling the need, as it were. However, if that is the case, no crying about not having any friends, okay? Now, I am not saying this is the case with J. in T'Rivers, not at all, but I am thinking about a lady whose entire relationship with her friend hinged on whether or not she got a Christmas card after she moved. No! In my opinion, it would be what goes out from you (me) than what comes in to you (me).

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J. said she had taken many, oh what was her word?, bullets, in her life after high school. Her best and dearest friends had moved away, leaving her alone with computer friends. I am one of those now and am not offended, I am privileged, that she can 'talk' about this with me, us. I jumped on that, 'suggesting' she get out there and make some new friends, telling her to start at church. Immediately she replied that the congregation she belongs to, an 'old' one, already has their circle of friends in place and there is no room for her. This may be true in part, but I encouraged her to get in there and stir things up a bit, muscle her way into the holy huddle. Hey, she asked for it, and now she is going to get it from me! I answered the ad.....

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Our shared friend, Dolly, whose name I invoked during this afternoon-long "conversation", chimed in later, reminding J. about a Bible study they were in together years ago and even recalled a musical group I do not remember that these ladies played in. There are some gaps in my friendship with Dolly, which might have been when she was a rock star with J.! Now we are getting somewhere!

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Dolly stepped up and answered the ad, too, and since she actually lives 'up there' and attends the same church, she is inspired to go to lunch with J.! She even suggested going to a Bible study again with J. which really warms my heart. I absolutely MUST be sure to get in touch with J. when I am home in June to see how she is doing with her friend harvesting. Frankly, I do not know, I do not know, where I would be without the Christian friends in my life. They are the icing on the cake, whether they are sitting across the table from me in the Cracker Barrel or 1200 miles away in the snowy north. Go out there, folks, and be a friend, so that you foster some friendships! DO NOT MAKE ME COME UP THERE!

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When Justin and I were driving back to Victory for his car after lunch yesterday, we were talking about that poor guy who had been burned in the accident, needing help with his JEA bill. I said to Justin that I wish I knew who this guy was, because my heart was breaking for him, to see if I could help him out, my words trailing off.......Justin looked over at me and said, "Your Wilson's Disease again!" We both laughed and then I told him I actually heard about this disease again on "House" a couple weeks ago when the Team's patient was a man who was just too nice. I thought the first time I heard them say that they were teasing Dr. Wilson who is also very nice, but it was an actual disease! It is not reasonable to try to help everyone, but even just a little bit of assistance would be good, right? I do have to be careful about what I say in front of Justin because sometimes I actually tell him 'no', so how would that be to help the stranger and not help Justin get a new pair of plaid shorts for volleyball....?

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Speaking of friends, one of the very nice young ladies from my last big cruise to the Mediterranean region in 2007 contacted me about finding each other either in WI in June or here in Florida in July. She is coming down here to the Orlando area and south of there and hopes we can get together for at least a few hours. I might have better 'luck' finding her in Rhinelander or points in between her place and Manty in June! Those are the kind of friendships I like, we can just pick up the fun where we left off! She also asked me to join some of the same group who are going to NYC soon, and man, I wish I were going with them! Her dad and mom were the ones who picked up Lynn, Nancy M., and me at the airport in Seattle and took us to dinner and to the hotel before our Alaska cruise. Love it!

What a great day today!

And it is only half over! Justin and I attended Bible study at Victory this morning, with fewer of us there than usual for some reason . No matter, the subject carried us along as we discussed decision theology vs. what the Bible says regarding God adopting us. Not the other way around, it does not work that way. One of Pastor's favorite things to remind us of is that there are only two religions on earth: "Do" and "Done". We are the Done people as we recognize that our salvation is a gift to us and there is nothing else we must do to earn more salvation. Others are "Do" people who are always looking for how to earn their salvation. Always a good class with ample give 'n take time. Justin and I used his coupon at the Italian place, finding one of this chain's stores much much closer to 'home', Hodges Blvd., rather than going to Fruit Cove. It was lovely and the bill came to just less than $2.00 for the two of us. Quite the discount for our calzones!

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Back to Bible study: Pastor shared a story about a poor man who came to the church doors yesterday with his utility bill in hand, asking for assistance with paying it. He had been in a terrible fiery car accident which caused the skin on face, ears, and hands to basically melt, leaving only stubs for fingers. He was a black man, an immigrant from Africa two years ago, sponsored by Lutheran Social Services. Well, sadly, Pastor had to tell him that this church was not in a position right now to help anyone out, that it has been a rough year financially for everyone, etc. but felt just terrible having to turn the man away. Pastor did refer him to LSS again for help and found out later that there is a Catholic agency who is helping people with their JEA bills. We can designate $5 additional each month to go into this pot. He did not get the man's information to call and let him know this, but has to hope that LSS was able to guide him. Man, that is rough! It was obvious that Pastor felt badly about having to send him along.

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Something similar happened to me on Tuesday afternoon, after being in the kindergarten. I stopped at the bank and was driving through the parking lot of Target to get back onto Wells at a traffic light. A young woman was sort of pacing around and as I stopped at the sign she sort of gestured to me, so I put my window down. She wanted to ask me a question, and hopefully it was one I could answer. In her hand was a cell phone with a stack of bills clutched to it, and in the other hand, a cigarette. Ugh! She told me her car, gestured over her shoulder, needed a new belt and she called around to find the cheapest one, but was $5 short. I encouraged her to check at the CarMatics nearby to see if they could help her out. If she did not have the cigarette in her hand, I would have helped her, but.....

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As I drove off, feeling badly, I looked back and saw her heading west on Wells in the direction of the store where she got the best price on the belt. Rats! I thought, 'What if that was my sister or my niece and she needed some help???" so I turned around and headed back to find her. Well, I just could not see her, wondering where she got to in such a short time. I went to the car parts store and waited to see if she would show up but nope, no sign of her. Now I felt even worse for not helping in the first place. After a little wait, I decided to give up and go home, but had a sick feeling in my heart, again, picturing one of my family members being in a pinch and no one helping. I was prejudiced by the smoking and let an opportunity to help slip away.....I could have handed her an Outreach flier with the $5, right?

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This is the part of the month I wait for, when I am expecting a check, so go to the mailbox with a bit more frequency. Today I got a lovely note card from Jackie at church. Hmmm....was she thanking me for something or what? No, a little news clipping dropped out as I opened it, a job opening she thought I would like. Now, isn't that sweet? She said she saw it in the Clay Today and thought of me, an Activity Director at a senior center near the Beaches area. The job description is what she wanted me to see: stimulate residents with fun and creative activities; excite the residents with programs that promote well-being physically, mentally, and socially (she underlined that word!). Since I do not have a bachelor's degree (I guess I would be a bachelorette!!!) I do not qualify but I do have a background in working with seniors, after 10 years at Shady Lane Home! She just got a kick out of this ad, thinking of me, and made me have a happy heart by her sending it to me.