Stuff

So Isaac, I found it amusing that you started using random names when you went to Panera for lunch! Yesterday I thought of a a couple that would be fun to try out:

Elvis- somebody actually gave me that name, and it was all I could do not to burst out laughing, or ask him if he was joking.

St. John- People really used to name their sons this, and pronounced it Singin kind of run together. It would be fun to see how people spelled it. :-)

Or how about Tintin! or Hezekiah! Endless possibilities.


Today contained several small pleasures, the sort of little incidents that make you thankful to be alive, and thankful to know Who to thank!

First of all, the weather was stunning! I can practically feel the bones of New England creaking with pleasure as they bask in the sun.

I drove with my shoes off and my windows down. Too bad my favorite tape is stuck in my tape deck. Otherwise I would have blasted loud classical music.

Today I got my paycheck for barn work, with and extra $10 and a note saying I was to celebrate spring. Don't mind if I do! So on my break I called Grandma and Sarah and set up an date to go to one of my favorite places- The House By the Side of the Road. Its a greenhouse for all those not in the know. It has everything from giant ferns and cacti to orchids and herbs. I LOVE it! It even has fish ponds down the center of one of the greenhouses with huge hideous goldfish swimming around lethargically in them.

I wandered about looking at all the beautiful plants and thinking about how dead they would be if I decided to bring them home. How I wish I had a green thumb.

I wanted to pick out something fairly easy to care for. I almost bought a huge fern in a hanging basket. But then I thought it would completely overwhelm my room so I didn't. Instead I came home with something that has thorns, needs fertilizer, pruning and full sun all day (which I don't have). Silly me! But it reminded my of Israel and I loved it and wanted it and that was that. It will probably be dead before dinner. Lets see if I can find out how to spell the name....

well, here is a picture: http://www.utexas.edu/rfsa/Assets/images/Copper%20Canyon/More%20Bougainvillea.jpg

Lovely, ain't it? Mine doesn't look a thing like it. Mine is small, skinny and scraggly: a close relative of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.

Okay, I have gone on about plants long enough. Next nice thing about today:

Regulars
I love the regulars at Panera! Thankfully we have no regular whiners. I guess that makes sense; if they whine they don't come back.
So ummm, where was I?

Regulars:

1. The middle-aged guy with very short hair who strides in with a purposeful air. Without a smile or a 'Good day' he says, "One Ginger Peach Tea, double cup, two bags, to go." After I get the tea and take his money he says, "Thanks kid," and walks out. Despite this brusque behavior I never get a sense of impatience or unkindness. I like him. I like being called kid. (I hope Clyde doesn't read this blog and start calling me kid.)

2. The classy lady who likes my cappiccinos. I find that I love making espresso drinks! In fact, I get much more pleasure out of making them than I do out of drinking them. Anyway, this lady is blonde, dresses to the nines with a lovely camel-colored coat, and has a delicious English accent. She also asks for skim milk in her drink, which makes a much better head of foam than 2% milk. Now you know.

3. Roger, the retired school teacher who knows my name, and wanders about the store like he owns it. He is part of the retired couples crowd which comes in most mornings and stays half the day. They all get their own pet things from the bakery every single day, pull tables together and sit around shooting the breeze.

Roger asked me today what I thought about the Israeli election results. We talked about it for less than two minutes, a good amount of time for political discussions, and went back to our respective meals (mine was a yummy bagel with raspberry cream cheese, an almond pastry and a cheesy, eggy, pastry thingy- think of all that fat!)

Enough about regulars.

Now I am going to go out in the dark and dig the dirt out of the bird bath by our front door. It has been growing moss and wimpy pansies for years. This spring I decided to gut the thing and start over.

Bye.

Quick Reminder

Pray for a miracle tomorrow in the Israeli elections!

Golden Girl

Today (March 24th) is Rachel's Golden Birthday: twenty-four years old on the twenty-fourth of March!

I know I'm posting this on the 23rd, but it really is the 24th over there!

Happy Birthday O most wonderful of sisters!

Joy

Saturday I walked down from my apartment to the Main House. On the way I saw Jeff Aldrich (2 yrs. old) at the end of the house all by himself. He was kicking a small blue plastic watering can and laughing. He would kick it, listen to it clatter down the driveway a few inches, laugh gleefully, kick it again, and laugh again. What blissful love of life!

I bet God likes to see Jeff enjoying the sound of a plastic watering can on pavement. I bet He likes it when he sees me enjoying the beautiful everyday things He has created.

Heaven... or Hell?

Today my favorite manager, Brenda, informed me that she and Kaili (college-age girl who works morning shifts with me) had decided that I would go to heaven.
Despite this obvious opportunity to spread the gospel, I am afraid that my less than pious response was this:
"When I get to the pearly gates I just say, 'Brenda said I could come in.'" Brenda laughed.
"Come visit us!" yelled Kaili from the other end of the bakery.
"Where are you going to be?"
"Brenda and I decided that we were going to H-E-double toothpicks."
I allowed as how I didn't think that was necessarily true.
Kaili said I didn't know how wicked they had been.
She hesitated for a second, then said, "But that could all change, right?"
"Yes, it could."

Yes, Kaili, you can get to heaven, and it isn't about how many wicked things you have done, or how nice you can be to other people. It has all the world to do with how much the Crown Prince of heaven loves you, Kaili, and Brenda, and how he died to give you life that goes on forever, and a mansion in heaven as a gift of love.