Aug 27, 2006

Rain drops keep fallin' on my chair

If one runs about in the rain with a chair on his head, surely one deserves to be addressed as: "Ya Goof!"

Or maybe not. You decide after you read the following, which I posted at
CarePages.com, a site that everyone should know about, because it provides (CarePages' description) "free, easy-to-use Web pages that help family and friends communicate when a loved one is receiving care. It takes just a few minutes to create a CarePage, share it with friends and family, and build a community of support."

I've been following two CarePages for two friends with cancer. One, Karen Eckenrode, died yesterday. Readers of this blog may know her and her wonderfully supportive husband, Ray. All sympathy to all of Karen's loved ones.

Readers may also know the other patient, Doug Rhodes. At CarePages, he creates beautiful and often-funny posts on his progress, with reminders to enjoy each day. Livin', as he says.

Today, Doug, who attends the same church as the YaGoof! goofs, posted that he missed this morning's service. This was my response:

Doug, you didn't miss anything at church this morning. Because the service was down at Camp Blue Diamond!

(Last I knew, there wasn't going to be a service at the church building itself, to encourage everyone to enjoy a change of pace. My apologies if there WAS a service at Hollidaysburg.)

We prayed for you, as always. Pastor Marlys told an inspiring story about a young man she met at M.Div. school--a PhD at 26--whose parents are both mentally handicapped. Have her tell you the rest; she'll do it with much more style than I would. The service concluded with four being baptized in the lake. It was a special time.

The Eldred and Imler families each spent last night in a separate cabin at the Camp; Bonnie and I were at the same training in the Lodge yesterday. We had a fire and made "banana boats." You probably know this recipe from survival training at Parris Island:

1. Take a banana
2. Slit the side
3. Scoop out some of the banana
4. Insert little marshmallows and chocolate chips
5. Wrap the banana in aluminum foil
6. Place the boat on coals to melt the marshmallows and chocolate
7. Pull it out with tongs OR
8. If you're a Marine, just pull it out
9. Remove foil and peel and eat with a spoon OR
10. If you're a Marine, just pop it (hot foil, peel and all) into your mouth

I woke up before everyone else and was showered and relaxing with a book before the rain started. It came down pretty good. I had to jog up to the car holding one of those folding canvas chairs (unfolded, upside-down) over my head for an umbrella, so I could drive down for us to pack up before the service. Another survival school trick (or should be).

A little later in the morning, while Janet got cleaned up, the boys each used the chair-as-umbrella trick as we ran over to the little gazebo in front of the Lodge, where we at a breakfast of cold Pop-Tarts and warm bottled water.

I guess I'm posting this because it's what you're talking about: Livin'. Enjoying the moment. Thank you for all the reminders to do that. God bless.

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