Other signs of the changing seasons include the annual sweater, sweatshirt, flannel pajamas, and sweatpants Round Up! Giving credit where credit is due, my Type-A, organized, and neat wife has a specific location for each of these items and this weekend seems to be a perfect time to: #1. Locate the tote, #2. Unload the tote, #3. Re-load the tote. Those stackable totes are a great invention and can store everything from clothes, old hand-me-down- nick-nacks, old photos, misc. documentation and paperwork from my 33 year DOC career, china and dishes that are never used (yes ladies, they are not all on display), and whatever else ones heart desires. And down the way, we will have the annual “test the fireplace gas logs” day! That’s when I volunteer to go outside and check the tank pressure while Karen gets down on “eye-level” with the beast and cranks her up. Oh the blessings of a handy wife!
So, what’s Up you say? Since May your humble pilgrim has shaken off the retirement cobwebs and started a part-time job as an Outpatient Therapist in Raleigh. Karen and I share a generous apartment with Kala in Cary and off I travel each Tuesday morning. My return to Morganton is Friday afternoon. I love the work and am blessed to be able to serve in this unique and challenging environment. The schedule is nearly perfect as I have a long and generous weekend with Karen, Brinks, Sadie, Emma, and Moses. Sadly, we lost Moxie last week. She was a sweet and loving pet of 13-14 years who succumbed to Kidney failure and a broken heart. Her mother, Bessie (or as Kala always reminded me, “Brownie”), died last March, and Moxie just never recovered. A real treat is when Karen and the pets accompany me to Cary for the week. We enjoy the sights and sounds of the area which include many visits to the Whole Food Market, shopping, or a visit to one of our new favorite Mexican restaurants, “On the Border”, where the wait staff are trained to prepare fresh Guacamole at your table as you salivate all over your chips in anticipation.
Additional summer highlights include seeing old friends at my 42nd High School reunion. It is amazing to see the way God has transformed lives (including mine) over the years! My good buddy, Jimmy Fortner, was there with his brother Mike. In from California was Mary Pat O’Rourke. Many thanks to the folks who are actively attempting to locate and “build bridges” to the ASI community through Facebook, telephone calls, visits, etc. I could sit for hours and listen to testimony after testimony of the miraculous works of restoration and transformation underway in so many lives. We truly serve a generous and loving Father who is actively at work in building His Kingdom. I hope many more from the ASI community will attend next year’s reunion. I will be the first to nominate my good buddy, Steve Ferguson, to provide the musical entertainment one night at the auditorium. It seems he has been getting in a lot of practice lately so he should be ready to Rock and Roll.
The biggest highlight of the past couple months was our vacation to Europe. Karen and I visited London, Brussels, and Paris. Needless to say, it is impossible to share all the special moments we had together. I loved all the people we met in London; from our “Beefeater” tour guide at the Tower of London, who, by the way, has the best job imaginable, down to the thoroughly entertaining Bus Guide, Tony, who does a great Winston Churchill imitation! Karen and I enjoyed Fish ‘n Chips all over London and marveled at the beauty of their Parks, Monuments, Cathedrals, and Palaces. Leaving London on the Thalys high speed rail train was a real treat. Coursing through the French and Belgian countryside at over 200 mph offered a unique view of a land rich in history, as well as the vicissitudes of many battles and conflict. Seeing the numerous “pill-boxes” in the middle of cow pastures reminded me of the many brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives so this pilgrim could enjoy the freedoms of travel and peaceful exploration. While in Brussels over the weekend we attempted to eat as many waffles, chocolate, and kebaps as possible. We lodged at the L’Carrefour, a tasteful and tidy 4 star hotel which had a luxurious breakfast buffet to start off a day of sightseeing and people watching! And Paris….well, what can one say about this beautiful city?? Standing on the top of the Arc de Triomphe looking over this grand city was breathtaking to say the least. And, believe it or not, being at the Eiffel Tower with your Lover is ever so special…even a 59 year old can fall in love all over again!
In the preview section, many events are on the upcoming agenda…Karen is planning a trip out to USMC base 29 Palms to see Staff Sgt. Stanton and his lovely wife, Crystal. She hopes to hike at the Red Rock Canyon as well as spoiling the “grand-kittys”, Tiger and Chloe. We are also looking forward to our nine week Read through the Bible study at Burkemont starting tomorrow night.
And of utmost importance…your humble Pilgrim is predicting an undefeated season for the TarHeels and a trip to the Orange Bowl; and of course for UNC Basketball to be crowned as National Champions. Life is Good!!
