From:	Mark Metcalfe
Sent:	Monday, June 16, 2003 3:29 PM
To:	Mark Metcalfe
Subject:	Weekend Update: June12-15, 2003
I called home last Thursday afternoon but thought that I had
pressed the wrong speed dial button on my phone because I heard
a male "Hello?"  "Dad?" I asked.  "Yeah" he replied.  An extra
syllable didn't make sense because it was my father-in-law's
voice on the other end of the phone; my speed dial at work goes
to my mom and dad's number.  "Dad?" I repeated.  "Yeah!" he replied
again.  "Are you at our house?" "Yes." That my father-in-law
was coming to visit before thwe wedding was not a surprise but
both Joy and I expected him on Friday and not Thursday.  It worked
out for the better, weather-wise, since Dad was able to drive up
in dry weather.  Joy and I were not able to visit with Dad much
on Thursday night because we sat down to arrange the seating at
the wedding reception; one more detail for the wedding.

Jessica and David went to visit my parents to pick up a bed and a
dresser, but the dresser will have to wait for another visit because
Goliath (their car) could not fit both items.  They had a good time
at dinner, going over the ceremony and getting to know each other
better.  Dad lashed the boxspring to the roof, covering it with shower curtains and plastic.

On Friday and Saturday, Emily and Andrew participated in a 30-hour
fast at church.  Miranda was called upon to chaperone over night,
which did not afford her much sleep.  Jessica and David returned
home in time to watch David's favorite Basketball team
(San Antinio Spurs) win their third game on the way to the
championship on Sunday night.

David has a summer job selling high-end cutlery.  We helped him
make some requisite cash by letting him practice his spiel on
us.  The cutlery was indeed impressive, but this soon-to-be
father-in-law was choosing to support his children in other ways.
He'll do well, however, because he has a good product that he
believes in.  I suggested that Jessica could be his cute but
capable assistant displaying the cutlery with panache.  Undaunted,
David plied his trade with the Bickoms who were already aware
of the product and contributed to the welfare of this college
student.

I had a fairly light Saturday planned, to putter about sprucing
up the yard for the wedding pictures. That all changed when
Miranda came into the house telling me that we must have struck
an artesian well or something because water was bubbling out 
of the ground in our yard.  I shut the water off that goes
outside the house and opened a hole in the ground where the
underground sprinkler system changes zones.  The solenoid was
fractured (probably didn't get enough water out of it this
past winter).  I spent much of the weekend "fixing a hole where
the rain gets in and stops my mind from wandering where it will
go"; (<-- lyrics from a Beatles' song).  After I wrestled the piece
from its hose attachments, we made a trip to Home Depot for a
new part and some other things.  Afterward, I was too tired to
tackle the hole in the ground and it was time for dinner anyway.
David let me use his cutlery on my steak.  I was even more
impressed than before.  After dinner, the family pored over
old photographs and made other wedding preparations into the
evening hours.  Jessica and David went back to Quincy; Jess
works until Wednesday when she comes home for the last time
as a Metcalfe to prepare for Saturday.

On Sunday afternoon, Miranda and Andrew went to a graduation
party for Kimberly Jeffrey.  Emily stayed behind at the church
to help prepare for a graduation service.  Joy, Dad C and I went
home.  The Nazarene Nap was very tempting but I decided that I
had to address the gaping hole in my lawn with time running out
on the approaching Day.  With much effort, we got the new part
on and turned on the water.  It leaked and I was about spent.
With Joy's help, we backed out the threads and added some pipe
tape and the second time was the charm.  We replaced the dirt
and sod.  I quickly cut the lawn, jumped in the shower, and
headed back to church in time for the graduation service.

David's parents arrive in the area this Wednesday. Joy's family
comes into town on Friday.  We'll be at the church much of Friday
putting things together.  For those of you who can be there, I 
trust that we will have a gala celebration of David and Jessica's
marriage. For those of you who cannot, we covet your prayers for
them.

Mark