Becoming 66 ain't half bad. Not, at least, when you have DB orchestrating the event. That man is full of surprises.
We had a quick breakfast at the Village Inn before we took off for the momentous interview. Strangely, my nervousness seemed to abate during the night. I truly believe all those prayers and good thoughts wafted heavenward in my behalf figured into the almost calm.
A peculiar thing had happened in those cloudy moments just before one awakes. I had been dreaming, and for once I couldn't remember ANY of the dream, then I stirred and began to wake up. Just before I reached total consciousness, I suddenly knew exactly what I want to do in the workshop I have to teach this coming Friday! I had been concerned that there didn't seem to be any down time at work this week to plan the workshop, but I have had so much on my mind that I couldn't even worry very much.
I lay there for a couple minutes, trying to see if I was dreaming, or if I was really awake and planning the workshop. I got up, came to the computer, and my fingers flew over the keyboard as I designed the workshop. Amazing! I guess my subconscious had taken over when my conscious was too muddled to cope with yet another thing.
The ride to the outskirts of Big City was uneventful, except for the snow "showers" we kept riding in and out of. "Showers" is an euphemistic weather forecaster's term for mini-blizzards. In between these near whiteouts, we would be treated to blue and sunny skies for five or six minutes, then another whiteout.
We arrived at the appointed place (a lovely little church) and were graciously led to a sunny, cheerful office on the third floor to wait for the interviewing team to show up and plan what they would ask me. I sat calmly on a window bench, working on a crossword puzzle. DB sat across from me reading the paper. One would never have known my future was going to be decided by this meeting.
Finally, one of the members of the team came for me, and we got down to business. The questions were thoughtful, but easy for me because I have been thinking about this for many years. The lay person is a psychologist, and his questions, especially, afforded me the opportunity to talk about the deep feelings I have about this call. The woman priest seemed to be encouraging me, rather than questioning me. I was very comfortable.
I tried to be as frank as I could. I didn't gloss over my faults, or try to sugarcoat my journey. They heard about the warts as well as the joyful moments. And at the end, they said they would recommend that the full committee (15 people) interview me at their March meeting, and that I be allowed to begin in seminary in the fall, even without completing the full six-month internship. So, I guess I passed!
DB took me to a lovely little restaurant I had heard about for a "congratulatory, happy birthday lunch". I went over the whole meeting with him, and couldn't find any problems. It was almost an anticlimactic moment. Now, I still have to wait until March for the officially official word that I can begin my internship, and there are other hoops to jump, but Mr. Priest says that usually the big committee takes seriously the recommendations of the smaller one. I hope so!
We drove home, and DB told me to pack an overnight bag, including my swimsuit. This was a surprise to me; I thought we were just going to get my new, birthday, vacuum cleaner. We did that, too, (it had to be ordered, so I won't actually get it until Wednesday )then stopped at an old stomping-ground for a drink. We ended up at the hotel in the nearby City, where we spent the night.
We had a great room, 8 floors up, looking out over the city. We had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, then went back to the hotel, too tired to swim. It was a restful evening, and I slept hard.
But the birthday celebration didn't end there. This morning, we arrived at church (we were only 3 minutes from the church, usually it is a 20 minute drive) at 7:20 so that DB could be coached in acolyting. He has decided to learn how to do this so that he can serve on the early mornings I am reading. This was his own idea, and it pleases me greatly. He was an acolyte when I met him. And he looks just as good vested as he did then, maybe even better!
I took communion to an elderly gentleman in the hospital after the 10 o'clock service, and then DB and I returned to the hotel and finished up my birthday celebration with the breakfast buffet. I ate too much, and had heartburn all afternoon, but WHO CARES? I had a wonderful birthday, full of surprises and thoughtful gestures. Our friends, who were to meet us for dinner (this would have been a BIG surprise), didn't come from Ohio this weekend because of the weather. Lyra planned to join us (I didn't know that, either), but she got very sick. So it was just DB and me. That's where my REAL life started ,just DB and me, almost 49 years ago, so I didn't mind being alone with him.
Life is good. Thanks be to God. Amen
8:01 PM
I shouldn't have spent so much time reading before I decided to write about my special and eventful weekend. Now I'm very sleepy!
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