Subject: Weekend Update: March 14-16, 2003
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 16:11:46 -0500

Emily was already out of the house to an overnighter with
friends by the time I got home from work on Friday.  Joy
had a kettle of water on the stove, presumably for something
of the pasta variety, but Miranda, Melissa, and Andrew were
headed out the door almost as I was coming in. Mandy called
earlier to ask if Melissa could come home for dinner and
Joy said yes, but they didn't tell Joy that they had other
plans that evening and wanted dinner by 5; I get home most
often around 5:30ish.  So they changed plans and headed out
to pick something up on the way, and to drop Andrew off at
the movies with his friends.  I turned off the stove and asked
Joy what she'd like to do for dinner.  She didn't know so I
speed-dialed Richard to see what they were having.  "Pancakes!"
said he; "Would you like to come over?"  "Sure," I said, but
after checking with Joy we decided against it and stayed home,
alone again naturally, and made separate dinners of leftovers
and soup. We talked about how this likely was going to become
the norm for us and thought how it had its advantages and
disadvantages. I sat down and recorded some more home movies
to DVD, listened to the news, and duked it out with Joy on
Dr. Mario.

Jessica and David were coming home from Virginia after their
Spring Break with his parents.  David's church held a wedding
shower for the Couple.  Goliath was loaded with presents to
be put into storage until June.  Just as Joy and I were
getting in bed, they pulled into the driveway. We talked
from our bed for a short time before Jessica tucked her
old folks in for the night, and Jess and Dave went to
their separate rooms.

The next morning, the phone rang while I was in the shower.
Rich called to invite us over for breakfast and this time
I accepted without Joy. :0) She had some cleanup in the
loft and some other chores before noon when the Shaws
were slated to arrive for a visit.  I scrambled over for
bacon and eggs and a visit before I did my own chores, which
included a visit to Mel the Barber and getting the van inspected.
Mel, at 77-years of age, said that he thinks he is slowing down.
He put his hands down by his side for a few moments saying that
his hands were going to sleep on him.  He finished trimming my
tresses and seated another customer, saying that he hoped
his son would take over the business.  I wonder how many
cheap haircuts I have left with Mel.

David and Lynn Shaw arrived around noon for some reconnection
time. Katelynn, known as the Friendlies Waitress to some people
in my church, was unable to get away from college to join her
family.   Jordan is 3 days younger than Andrew.  Melinda prefers
not to be called "Mim" (which I always thought was a cute nickname).
Rebecca is the littlest Shaw.  We enjoyed some v-games, pinball,
a movie, and a meal, but most of all we enjoyed being with
long-standing friends. We made plans for some common vacation
time at the Manor in the summer.

Sunday afternoon was little different from Friday night; our
children abandoned us again so Joy and I went out to eat dinner
Sunday afternoon at Chilis. On Sunday evening, our church celebrated
the 15th anniversary of John White's pastorate.  Each group gave
something related to the number 15 as a present.  I told him that
since his last child had left the home, the church got together and
donated 15 of their children to his care.  The only longer tenure
a pastor has had in our church since it was started 100 years ago
was had by the very first pastor, A.B. Riggs, at 16 years.  W. John
White (The W. stands for "Wild Bill") will eclipse that record in
a year, give or take a few months.  His kids, as much as my own,
mark the passage of time for me, because the girls at least were
frequent family members at our table. (Tim White belonged moreso
to the Magnuson family.)

I finished a DVD of church-related videos and lent it to the
Whites on Sunday for their entertainment and review.  It
includes Kara's baptism, so I thought they'd like to see that.
Kristi Linton's baptism was interesting because the style of
the time for young ladies was high-arched bangs stiffened with
hair spray. Her bangs withstood the dunking and remained upright
as she exited the baptistry; great waterproofing.  Mandy was
baptized that same evening. Her bangs did not fare as well.

Mark