Dignity & distractions

"The thing I remember most about you is that you always had dignity."

As compliments go, this one seems like a pretty high one. Especially when you consider that the person remembering this about me hasn't seen me since shortly after my 21st birthday, which is, strictly speaking, two decades ago.

Apparently, Joe was in a nostalgic frame of mind when he started typing old college friends' names into Google. (He either has a great memory about spelling, or some accurate source that helped him correctly spell my surname.) A year behind me at Allegheny College, Joe transferred out during my senior year, and as far as my middle-aged self can recall, we haven't been in touch since November 1987. What a great surprise, and welcome distraction, to receive his email when I came in to office on October 18th, the day after the one-year anniversary of my mother's death.

It's amazing to me that a full year has passed already. Thanks to the prayers and sensitivity of many good friends, the milestone wasn't nearly as painful as I expected it might be. A huge arrangement of mums left with a card on my front porch that day moved me to tears; I had no idea that Bryan and Sarah had remembered, and I was so touched by their thoughtfulness. Gestures like that, time with my dad, brother and niece, and a busy schedule helped me to move through the anniversaries of her death, her funeral, and what would have been her 66th birthday (October 24) with relative ease. God is good.

Another distraction has been the new addition to my household: Charlotte the kitten, rescued at age four months (ish) and delivered to me all the way from Philadelphia by Dr. Meredith, my cousin the veterinarian. Be careful what you say while lounging on the beach. Thanks to a casual mention back in July, when were in the Outer Banks together, that I'd been thinking about adopting a cat, I received an email about a month later with news of a little gray tiger-striped tabby kitten in need of a good home. As I type, my affectionate little companion is stretched out next to me on the couch, purring away.

It's been a full several weeks since my last blog entry. In September, I cashed in my 2006 Christmas gift from my dad: an amazing two-week vacation and visit with friends in Ireland, where I also got to celebrate my 41st birthday. It was a reunion of college roommates, as Myrna and I traveled over to visit with Christine, Brian, and their two beautiful children.

Two weeks later, I was privileged to celebrate my dear friend Hank's wedding to Renee, and to serve communion during the worship service. It was an amazing celebration, a wonderful reunion with many old friends, and a privilege to be the one to serve the body of Christ to the bride, the groom, and their two sons, from Renee's first marriage.

So, all in all, life is good. Joe is hoping to travel to western Pennsylvania sometime in the not-too-distant future from his home in northern New Jersey, to visit the city of his birth and reconnect with old friends. Pitt basketball season is about to start (woohoo!), and I am enjoying my favorite season of them all: the autumn leaves are just reaching their peak.

Thanks to those of you who faithfully check in here from time to time, in spite of my abysmal writing record of late. I'll try to do better.