eye candy

I almost drove off the road several times on my way home gawking at everything in bloom that includes but is not limited to the purple of redbud trees blended with the pinks and whites of dogwoods and the hanging masses of wisteria blooms. We used to have an annual race called the Dogwood Dash co-sponsored by the sawmill and various other businesses. I was a volunteer at the finish line where there were three of us...a spotter, timer and a caller. I always ended up with the timer which was unfortunate because half the time they didn't work right. There was no dress rehearsal! The mayor climbed up on a big flatbed trailer and fired a gun to signal the start of the race. It was originally planned and implemented by a group of hard core local runners and turned into a huge community social event the likes of which we haven't seen since. A lot of times the dogwoods were already past peak by race time due to our warm winters. Too bad there is no dash any more because the view is to die for. The flowering cross at the corner of Main and McGaughey will no doubt be gorgeous what with all the varieties still available. There have been years when there wasn't much but some azalea branches.

Being a participant in that church's Living Last Supper was an experience that I will never forget. It was during those years that I came to realize what sacrifices were made for little old me by God and Jesus and Big Ernie and all of 'em. It came out of my "head" and became a part of my reality, no longer something that I merely paid lip service to on Sundays. After my daughter declined to be an active member I continued as a SS teacher to the class from hell, literally. There were a shitload of them and many were rich and not very well behaved. There was a core of friends like Allison and Julia who have stuck with me over the years. Also Laura Jane was in there somewhere. The longest running SS class there is led by Tony Deere who also hauls mama'n'them for eggs and doughnuts when I work. He's been teaching the fifth grade "angels" since BG was that age.

I'm feeling pretty old today all things considered. Never in my wildest dreams would I have dreamed that life as I know it was in the cards. I always expected that as I grew older I would find someone to share time with that was worth being around, and I have. Friends of all shapes and sizes and nationalities and states of mind have reached out to me over my years as a blogger and gave me the affirmation to keep writing even when it's a chore and "i got nothing." Being heard is what it's all about if there is to be peace in the valley or on the hill. If I were a betting gal I'd say that avalanche was a message from above saying "enough already, ya'll." Take care of what's going on with your people and leave the rest to me. We just never learn.

I don't know about ya'll but I'm ready for some Hallelujah!