Steve's Journey

It's interesting how funerals can tend to be more like reunions. You get to see old friends and family from near and far. I wriggled into my tie (ugh-h) and joined the family for receiving at the church. Aside from a few indecisions (does the family go out and come back in; should the casket be closed for the funeral?), it was a very nice service. Memories were shared by a son, a daughter, her husband and my daughter (who also sang). A grandson read a scripture passage, and a granddaughter had designed and prepared the bulletin.

Of course we didn't get away without a thorough dousing with the gospel message, given by the full time worker (they don't call them pastors or preachers in the Plymouth Brethren church) and sprinkled in the comments of one of the relatives who shared. My father-in-law was buried in the Resurrection Section of Woodlawn Cemetery in Orlando. It was a beautiful, sunny day (70 deg), with a gentle breeze. Another round of gospel message was presented, in case we didn't get it back at the church.

*****

Aside from my wife, Lois, I have not given any family names of my daughters, sons-in-laws or grandsons. This is to protect and respect their privacy. But if any of you are reading this and want to give me permission to use your first name, you know my number. I love you all.

*****

The trip back was safe and joyful. We encountered significant icing on the roadways in Atlanta, including witnessing the aftermath (by sheer moments) of a pile-up on the interstate due to the icy roads. It was in the opposite lanes, with a barrier separating us from them. Traffic was heavy, and emergency vehicles were having difficulty in reaching them. The rest of the trip went well, and we arrived in Fairview (outside of Nashville) after dark. My 11-month-old grandson won Cutest and Most Cooperative Traveling Baby award, and the two-year-old grandson won the Best Traveler EVER award. They both were amazing and a lot of fun.

Lois and I got back to Bristol safely (no thanks to my tire dealer) the next day. I went to have the front wheels balanced in Nashville (actually nearby Dickson) and found that something had been rolling around in my new tire, chewing up the inside wall. It was one of those infernal tire pressure monitoring system devices. I truly dislike them; they have caused several leaky and flat tires since we have owned the car. And to make matters worse, the idiot who worked on my tires last had duct-taped the device to the wheel! So, on Monday I'm off to the dealer to try to get him to make good on his inefficient staff error.

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Father, a big thank You for traveling mercies, and for somehow working it so that we didn't take my car to Florida, because we could easily have been in serious danger. I pray for those who were injured in the icy road crash in Atlanta. And I pray for those who will be helping my mother-in-law in this time of loss. Finally, I pray for any who might think that Lois and I have lost our salvation. Salvation is from the Lord. And since I'm praying to You now, obviously I couldn't have lost it.

Amen