August 2007

Parched
dry
leaves falling from droopy, thirsty trees
rock hard ground
dead grass
little mowing
hot
very hot, like an oven
sweaty
dry creek beds
breezes scarce
conserving electricity
walking/running before 7am
hot
hiding indoors beside air vents
eating ice cream, often:)
no energy
wearing lightweight clothes
parking the car as close to a tree as possible
escaping to the mountains
escaping to the beach
escaping!
covering the car's windshield with a sun shield
evening's warm as toast
oppressive summer
swimming
flip-flops
sandals
dry
hot
dogs panting
thunderstorms that pass around us
hoping for a tropical storm to brush by!
Hoping....

A learning experience!

This past week I haven't written a thing here, hardly answered emails, and basically have been treading water!

I've been "pretending" to be manager at "The Card Store":) Our real manager is on a well deserved vacation in the mts. of Wy., hiking and camping with her son & his wife, and her dear hubby:) It's far, far away from our sultry, parched, August summer here in Apex, and far, far removed from any responsibilities of her Store here in Apex:)

After walking in her shoes for a week, or at least trying, I've learned more than I ever thought I could learn:)) I've asked 100's of questions and everyone has been helpful & understanding, especially the girls I work with day in and day out:) Bless their hearts!

I have 3 & 1/2 days left to organize the paperwork/computer spread sheets/balance the deposits, 3 & 1/2 days to help The Store run smoothly and encourage my fellow workers, 3 & 1/2 days to help customers with special needs.

I can't appreciate my dear manager more! She's has a calling and does it seemingly without effort and with charm and grace. What a blessing she is to so many:) Thank you, Yvonne:) Here's hoping you are refreshed, renewed, and recharged when you return!

A trip of remembrance

This morning I stood in a sandy graveyard covered with spotty patches of grass, and the normal N.C. pine trees in the distance, seeing few familiar faces and wondering if I made the right decision to travel 2 hours away on my day off. My brother had met me at the Bojangles in Lillington at 9am and he brought the directions to the country cemetery outside of Bladenboro.

Our cousin Graham died Sunday of a heart attack. He was 56 years old. Mark and I have probably seen him less than ten times in his adult life, so our memories of him go back to our childhood. He was the youngest of four sons born to our daddy's youngest brother J.E. Uncle J.E. and Aunt Nona and the boys lived with our granddaddy in a big, unpainted, rambling house surrounded by moss-covered trees, a magical place to us.

Graham was a special kid. I'm not sure we children ever heard the words mentally handicapped, but he fell into that category. His brothers and mama watched over him, protected him (Uncle J.E. worked in construction and was away from home often), and we never thought of Graham as being different. He certainly didn't believe he was:)

Today we heard how, as an adult, Graham ministered to so many people. Graham loved everyone:) He was loved in return. He worked with a group in Elizabethtown comprised of special people and they came to honor their friend whom they loved. He was loved by his church family. He loved God. He rang the church bell every Sunday morning. He was an usher. He loved his church family and was concerned for every person.

He loved Power Rangers and Transformers as well:) And I believe Graham was a super hero to his mama, his brothers, and all those who cared for him.

I came away knowing it was worth hearing how well Graham lived; encouraging, comforting words, powerful words.

Loving others, loving God, and being loved, are the highest tributes to be said about a person's life, aren't they?