Music box

I retrieved a small package from my mailbox last Saturday, which was my birthday. No matter what I was about to find in that package, I was happy to see it, because it came from Noah in New Haven. The more stories I hear from parishioners about their family relationships (and their brokenness), the more I'm amazed at the blessings given to me through my family. Why should I be so fortunate, while others are not?

Inside the package was a golden music box, only 3 inches wide and 1 inch tall, that plays Simon & Garfunkel's "Sounds of Silence." The music box came from the Haus der Musik in Vienna, where Noah spent several days in August. This music puts me in touch with my formative years, prior to college, when I was overwhelmed by experiencing God through music. I say to this day that music put me most directly in my path toward priesthood, and I believe it will keep doing so. Receiving a gift from as far away as Vienna from a son I don't see nearly enough but am so grateful to have, I can only give thanks and praise to the God who puts up with me and with all of humans who try one another's (and God's) patience often -- yet, we surprise one another with wondrous gifts.

What do your plates say about you?

Nope, not dinnerware, but license plates. After nearly thirty years with Scott County plates, our new ones reveal that we live in Henry County. I've had a devil of a time finding my car in a parking lot a few times already. Rural Henry County -- us? The two that grew up in Chicago and Philly?

For years, J and I had plates with ERC (Episcopalians are Really Cool, or Episcopalians Read Compline) on them. I gave mine up in '08 after an accident on the interstate and got new plates with TJP (Tidings of Joy and Peace). My former rector's plates read HOA (Host of Angels), while a chronically annoying person had plates that suggested a nice cuss word.

Our new plates have WHB on them. J's is easy: William Horn's Boy. Mine could be Wife of Horn's Boy, but I need something more creative.

What do your plates say about you?

Hard to read

Since my last posting, we moved to Mt. Pleasant, a small community between our two church jobs. The town square reminds us so much of the college where we met in 1971 that we were charmed from the first visit.

The local newspapers, we've learned, might be an unending source of entertainment. I came home this evening after two intense work days and found that my sweetie had circled a paragraph in one of the local papers so that I wouldn't miss it. I actually snorted when I read the following, in an article entitled "Car chase ends by striking house":

According to Mt. Pleasant police chief ____ ______, Miller past an officer while illegibly driving over the speed limit. By the time the officer turned in pursuit, Miller had turned a corner and was out of sight.

I hope that this made you laugh, too. Good night.