Subject: Weekend Update: March 19-23, 2003
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 14:04:53 -0500

I made travel arrangements to the West Coast some three or
four weeks ago.  I thought the war with Iraq would have=20
started in late February and ended by the time I had to fly.
As my departure date approached, it became apparent that
the war would start while I was out west.  A manager with
whom I was to travel canceled his plans because of fear of
terrorism.  I didn't. I figure that you have to live your
life.  It is a very big country and world and the odds were
with me. Sure enough, however, war broke out on the day I
left.  Security at the airport was obvious and focused,
although I did not experience a slowdown of passenger
processing, and more suprisingly to me, my flights were
all full.  I believe the airlines have been cutting back
on the number of available flights already.

After I touched down in San Diego, I met my employee at my
hotel and we took our offsite meeting to Point Loma Nazarene
University.  It is really hard to beat the view from this
93-acre campus on the Pacific coastline.  In between business
discussions, we hooked up with Charlene Pate (Jessica's roommate's
mother) and the three of us concluded the business day with a
nice dinner.

I flew to San Jose the next day for an all-day meeting on
Friday, and then home on Saturday.  Half-way through the
last flight, I placed too much pressure on a cracked molar
and split it completely.  "Great!" I thought, as I imagined
passing out in flight, forcing a landing at the nearest airport,
and not getting home.  Not so dramatic, I also wondered
what I was to do on a Saturday night with a broken tooth.
I also lost part of the filling that was in that tooth.
Luckily, the shard is held in place and I have no pain (yet).
I'll get the damage assessment tomorrow morning.

Joy met me at the airport and seemed relieved to have me home.
She encouraged me to go and not change my plans, but it was
a time of nervousness for us anyway. Andrew was the only one
home when we returned.  Emily was off on a weekend retreat with
her friends from the Pepperell Christian Fellowship.  Miranda
was out with her friends, again.

The Magnusons joined us for Sunday afternoon dinner.  Their
Billerica house was being shown for sale that day; they are
hoping to move to Pepperell.  I napped on the couch - catching
up from the travel-weariness - while Joy, Linda, and Eric went to
look at some other houses in town.  Jessica called last night
for some motherly advice.  When she got off the phone, Joy
felt a lot like she had become like her own mother.  In a way,
she has.

Mark