Once again, the weekend has passed in a frenetic flurry! Our time at Arkalalah was everything we hoped it would be…and more! The hour and a half ride to Ark City, the five of us together, laughing, talking, remembering past Arkalalah’s…and laughing some more, set the mood for a day filled with laughter, good natured ribbing, and creation of new memories. We strolled through the people packed streets, soaking up the sights, sounds, and smells of this annual celebration…with the aura of the past surrounding us and filling those unoccupied corners of our minds. The aroma of funnel cake, cotton candy, roasted corn on the cob, and corn dogs…joined intermittently by the occasional wisp of cologne or perfume, mingled with faces of people whose names were long ago forgotten. Struggling to recall those names, we joined forces and managed to retrieve a few…a second grade teacher, a grade school friend, a former co-worker...but soon we realized that names didn’t matter…and we settled into the simple comfort of knowing that we were on familiar ground, in familiar territory, and we were one group…of hundreds…who had come home again. I would never want to live there again, but there is solace in knowing, that there exists a place…where familiarity greets us. A place where we can go when we choose…leave when we want…and still be welcomed as friends when we return. One small spot in the cosmos…that we can claim as our own.
God smiled on the day…giving us weather beyond all expectations…sunshine and warm breezes. The parade was predictable…floats, spectacular marching bands (as well as some spectacularly bad ones), color guard (who opted for sobriety this year), veterans of every age, beauty queens, un-beauty queens, Shriners of every description, The Patriot Guard, tiny ballerina’s, 5 foot fowl, military vehicles, antique cars, antique people, and…of course…lots of candy thrown from or by all of the above.
We ended the day with dinner at Green Door…a small, shabby, grungy, Mexican food establishment…with perhaps the best chips and salsa on the planet! In keeping with the theme of familiar things…the waitress reported to our table with our drinks already prepared (correctly)…without asking us what we wanted, though it had been months since we were last there! The only one that wasn’t on her tray…was Candy’s…and I would bet money that next time, hers will be there too!
The drive home was happy, tired, and contented…with just a tinge of sadness…to see Arkalalah behind us again.
Marvin preached at our old church on Sunday…filling the pulpit in anticipation of a new pastor coming next week! His sermon was good, interesting, and appropriate…calling the congregation to support the new man in his endeavors…and to hold him fast…to the authority by which he is called!
I missed our new church…which is a good thing.
That brings us to this morning…I went for my morning walk, greeted the ducks and geese, and am patiently awaiting a phone call to inform me that I have, or have not been chosen for the job which I interviewed for on Friday. I’m curiously calm about it…either way…life goes on.
Be Well!
1 comment:
Good luck for the job and glad to hear you had a cracking weekend
Post a Comment