My Mr. Wonderful planned a little get away  for us around his work schedule before we make the official move back to Iowa from Ohio.  He has a business trip to California so we are doing a quick get away.  The problem was how I was going to get to the Detroit airport.  Yes, I could drive but we really did not want to leave my car there as we are going to be driving his car back from Iowa and did not want an added 4 hours to the already horrifically long drive.  So……I did some looking and found a man who would drive me to the airport.  Enter Ralph.

Ralph and I had a couple phone conversations before the actual pick up and I figured he was an older gent but he said he did this all the time for folks.  When Ralph arrived my suspicions were confirmed. I suspect he was on the other side of 80 or close to it.  He had a few less teeth than I have, longer hair pulled back in a pony tail and was a tall drink of water as they say as he folded himself into my TL.   I told him I would drive up and he could then just enjoy the ride and do the drive back.  He was agreeable and we had an enjoyable ride up talking and getting to know each other.  I know a lot about Ralph.  I won’t bore you.  He was fascinated by my GPS.  Fortunately I did not have the Billy Bob Thorton Karl from Sling Blade voice talking or else I think he would have freaked out.  The New Zealand dude was bad enough.  He commented “I just don’t understand how those things work—it isn’t like there is a little guy in there watching you drive, is it?”

As we got closer to the hotel that I was going to spend the night at since I had a really early morning flight we noticed this tent canopy thing constructed close to the entrance of the hotel and we both wondered why it was there as it was just odd.  It was in a place where you had to make a u turn to actually get the right way to go to the hotel and it was just weird.  But anyway–I pulled up to the hotel, pulled out my luggage and gave Ralph the car keys to take my car back to Lima.  Ever the gentleman he offered to help me with all that but I told him I was pretty independent and used to doing stuff on my own so I could handle it.

As I approached the hotel all of the doors had signs on them indicating that those doors were not working (or so I thought) and we were all being funneled into one small door.  The kind that you had to open on your own.  No automatic opening.  With suitcases.  And no one to help you.  The man in front of me had 2 massive suitcases and several smaller ones and I am afraid I was not much help to him.  As soon as we reached the lobby we were immediately in a security line.  I looked around to make sure that I was in a hotel.  It was just weird.  There were “officials” all over the place.   There was a metal detector.  There was a conveyer belt and an xray machine.  There were sniffing dogs.   It was WEIRD, I tell you.  And no one was smiling.   Not the usual “Welcome to our Hotel” greeting.  I waited my turn and watched as the woman crammed my bag through the xray machine–proceeded through the detector when told and stood obediently while they “wanded “me.  THEN a hotel employee welcomed me and said “thank you for your patience”.  I told her I was afraid I was in the wrong place as I had never had that done before in a hotel and she said they had an “event”.  Okay….  I checked in and the desk guy told me nothing—just an “event”.   Okay.  Since my husband is Mr. Wonderful he used his status to book me on the executive super special super secret floor where you have access to the club lounge.  I was starving and thirsty so I wandered down the hall for a bit of a bite and was the only one in there.  I tried to chat up the lounge lady and she wasn’t talking either—said it was an “event”.  Come on, people!

Later that night I ordered room service and Tim was much more forthcoming!  I had my Nancy Drew hat on by that time and had watched the news and had an idea what was going on.  Tim confirmed.  The President was flying in and was supposedly staying here.  I told him it was crazy checking in and he said “yea–usually things like that happen when the President is here”.   Every time I looked out the window there were tons of police cars blocking traffic and just being there so I guess that was the reason.   This morning as I got up early and left the hotel at 5 am there were guys on my floor by the elevator with cool looking things in their ears and cords coming down…….pretty sure they were not listening to their Ipods.   The lobby was like a convention hall for the state highway patrol and sheriff’s office.  Suffice it to say I felt safe. Probably the closest I will ever come to being close to someone famous.  Oh but there was that one brush with fame with John Glenn…..

Now for all of you uninformed out there in blogland –the whole process of highlighting and coloring hair is just that—a process.   It is not for the faint of heart.   You have to sit and endure having foils or papers put in your hair.  You have to sit and let it process.  You hope there is not a fire because if there is you will have to leave with those crazy looking foils on your head.  The salon in Mason City uses more of a paper product and so I always felt like I was one of those judges or something when I got my hair done.  

But I digress.  As I contemplated that this would most likely be the last time that Cirrus did my hair I got a little reflective.   Finding someone who does your hair right and who actually listens to what you want the end product to be is rare.  I have had that in Cirrus.  And she is sweet.  She is young enough to be my daughter but we have never run out of things to talk about.   Like our joint love of Pinterest.

I appreciate it when I find someone who actually listens and does what I want.  I remember one stylist I went to in Pennsylvania that my friend used.  I told her what I wanted and when I left I came out looking exactly like my friend—at least my hair.  Not the look I wanted.  So today I am grateful for professionals who take their job seriously and who really listen.  A great skill and makes me happy!    I realize that that is not as plentiful in this world as I would like.

What do you find when you go to a stylist?  Do they do what you want  or do they have their own agenda?

Sign in a coffee museum in Australia…..technically it is not a Wordless Wednesday today but you get the idea!

This little beauty is one that I am “inheriting” from the house here in Lima.  I remember one time when Chris’s folks came to see us in Mooresville they went to “Cotton” Ketchie’s gallery and bought 3 pieces for their family room to put on display on the fireplace wall where there are 3 little shelves that jut out.   They were very excited about them and this was one of them so I will always have sweet memories when I look at it!

One day I met Harry.  Harry and I had a relationship over the span of several months and I came to look forward to his visits.  Often folks who come seeking help at a church have an interesting story and Harry was no different.  When I first met him his neck was bandaged and he could only whisper.  Seems he was in an altercation where he was robbed and ended up getting shot in the throat.  When he first showed up he still had his hospital bracelet on—evidence that he found us because of our close proximity to the hospital and our beautiful carillon which drew folks in.

Harry was well versed in the Bible.  He put me to shame.  Here I was the “church lady” and he knew way more than me.  Harry and I had many adventures and even though I imagine some of my church friends worried about me when I was helping him I never felt in harm’s way.  I helped him get stuff out of his car and store it safely since he was homeless, I provided cleaning items for him to clean the still blood stained steering wheel and dashboard and yes—I even gave him a few meals.

One of the more memorable experiences was when he let me in on the secret that he was a police informant.  He was staying at a home in the area helping the owner do some renovations in exchange for a place to stay.  He told me he needed a ride to the police station as they were going to pay him for information.  Having no clue how this stuff usually works I went along with that story–after all—I felt he hadn’t lied to me yet.  So I drove and on the way he asked me to stop at the home he was staying at to get something.  I obliged and he returned with a sweatshirt.  We were driving along –destination police station.  I stopped at a stoplight and Harry hopped out of the car and I was perplexed until he hopped back in completely clad in sweatshirt with hoodie up and drawn tight.  It was hot out and I wondered what the heck that was all about and asked him and he told me he had to hide his identity when he went to the station in case someone saw him and recognized him.  Okay…….I admit now that maybe I had not used the best judgment but hey—-we were going to a police station, right?

When we got to the police station he went in the back door and I waited in the car.  I called the secretary at the church and told her if I didn’t come back to come find me in the police parking lot and we had a good laugh about that but she made me promise to call her if anything went weird!!   Harry came back out shortly with no money and I dropped him back off at his place.   He was not forthcoming with what had happened but I guess it wasn’t anything worth paying for.

Harry disappeared after some time and I wondered what had happened.  Every once in a while he would call the church and update us on where he was and how he was doing.  Life was not always easy for Harry but I still think of him today and wonder if he remembers me at all.  He made a difference in my life and I hope and pray that life has gotten easier for him.  Did you ever meet someone like Harry that you couldn’t forget???

Boy, do I love a great cup of coffee!  There is nothing like having a steaming cup of my favorite brew placed in front of me especially on a chilly day.   My current favorite at my local hangout is a venti mocha, 2 percent, with raspberry and whipped cream.  While it probably isn’t the most healthy choice I do relish that first taste!   Funny that this has become my obsession in my “later” years when in my younger days I could hardly even stand the smell of coffee.  Guess I have grown up or something.

The whole coffee experience is just that –an experience.  Coffee houses have sprung up all over the place.  You can hardly go a mile without seeing some sort of national chain or local coffee shop in my area.  What I have experienced is that it is not just about that cup of coffee no matter how wonderful it is—it is about all that surrounds that cup of coffee.  If you choose to go into the establishment rather than through the drive thru you enter into a world of cozy couches, music that feeds your soul and artwork that is pleasing to the eye.  It is here that you can choose to either be alone or join friends.

What would it be like if I embraced God with the same enthusiasm that I embrace that cup of special mocha curled up in my favorite corner couch?   What if each day I woke up and actually looked forward to spending time with my best friend who knows all and is always there for me?  Would my day be different?  Would there be more positive things happening?  Or would I just notice them more?   The experience of living with God daily is something that I crave.   How do I get there???   I think I need to seek it out and personally make the time to enjoy the experience.  I need to start the day opening my eyes to the beauties of the day and the experiences that God has in store for me and those around me.

So why don’t you join me—have a cup of your favorite “joe” and take time to appreciate the experience of being one of God’s children.   Nestle in and curl up with God’s presence.  Let Him fill your every sense and envelop you in love.  You won’t be disappointed.

I most likely posted this before but was in a reflective mood this Sunday morning and thought I would give it another post.  Let me know what you think!

Reblogged from It's Just Life:

Help! I am stuck in the toilet and I can’t get out and these people keep flushing me…..

Just to make your Saturday—a quick blog post from our Australia days……

This week’s statements:

1. I used to enjoy ______ but now I don’t really anymore except for when I____

2. My first job was ______

3. I am a bit obsessed with ________ at the moment

4. If I don’t have my ___________ at night, I don’t sleep well

My answers:

This week’s statements:

1. I used to enjoy walking on the beach everyday  but now I don’t really anymore except for when I go on vacation since I don’t live on a beach anymore.  :-(   I wish I did.  

Looking out on our backyard (the Coral Sea) in Australia

2. My first job was babysitting for families in the neighborhood when I was twelve.  I used to babysit a lot and made quite a little bit of money doing it—and promptly spent it all on clothes and make up! 

3. I am a bit obsessed with my cat, Buddy at the moment since he has been so sick.  See post here.  

4. If I don’t have my husband with me at night, I don’t sleep well.

Buddy goes to the vet today for xrays so we will know more. He is acting much better so I hope that is a good sign.  Thanks for all of the sweet comments and prayers!! Appreciated much more than you can possibly know!