A Week of Winds

Well, for those of you who noticed my absence, I have just spent a whirlwind first week of classes and then, instead of stopping to catch my breath, took a little side trip up to Philly to attend my dear friend Sharon's commissioning service before her trip to Africa. Things have been mostly crazy, but I have been having some good fun every now and again, especially this past weekend. The trip entailed a five hour car trip both ways with people who, I have to confess, I did not know all that well. Or rather, I did not know them well at the beginning of the trip. By the end of the trip, I think it is safe to say that we are all fast friends. We talked about everything in that car, about faith, about poverty, about clothes and chapstick, about parenting, personal struggles, music tastes, man, there is nothing like a long car ride to help you get to know people. And then, our time spent in Philly was wonderful too. We spent the afternoon in downtown historic Philadelphia, which turned out to be a much greater adventure than I ever reckoned on. We set out in a light drizzle, but by the time we parked downtown at the art museum, it had turned into a steady shower. Then, as we walked down Benjamin Franklin (for whom everything is named) Parkway, the shower started to get a little more determined, especially as large gusts of wind kept driving the rain into us from behind, soaking our backs and popping our umbrellas inside out. Oddly enough, this all made the afternoon that much more enjoyable, adding this wonderful spark of hilarity to everything. It was good that we were in this group that was able to take things in stride and still have a lot of fun in spite of some slight trials. We still managed to see the old Town Hall and the Liberty Bell, as well as walking around a bit in Reading Station Market, which was a wonderful place where they sold fresh produce, flowers and meats, as well as all kinds of prepared foods from all over the world. I love places like that. Unfortunately, Rick's was out of buns, so we did not get our authentic Philly cheese steaks, but that's something to look forward to another time, I suppose.

The service this morning was also beautiful. Sharon, Grace, Jo and Brent did the music, and they did an amazing job. Sharon looked so beautiful standing on the platform this morning, in her deep purple skirt that her parents got her from Zambia. I must confess, it was difficult not to get choked up, thinking about her heading off to Africa, first to study in Tanzania, and then for nursing work in Uganda. I so admire her dedication and clear-eyed vision, and in some ways envy the opportunities she will have, as I do, to a degree I suppose, with all my friends who are going to be off campus this semester instead of me...Ah well, soon enough, I suppose ;-)

Then, after a delicious pot roast lunch at the Askey's home, we started out on the long trip back. We got back tonight and I have been footling around since then, trying in vain to get ready for the week. Instead, I have had to content myself with being ready for tomorrow. Well, one day at a time, I suppose.