Posts Categorized: Patience

Ah, Yes. The New Normal

| Patience, Peace, Self-Control

On a regular Sunday morning, David gets up early and leaves the house early. He’s the open-up guy at church. He gets there long before anyone else, turns on the lights, checks the climate controls (which are pretty much automatic), fills some coffee pots, and then waits in the foyer to let in early arrivers, like the musicians and singers. I don’t get to church really early, but, the older I get, the longer it takes to straighten up and put away things in my Preschool Sunday School room, and then put out supplies and equipment for that Sunday’s time. I might need to trade out puzzles, laminate something, use the large paper cutter in the Resource Room to cut and trim things, and fold up the previous weeks paintings, now dry, and put them in kid’s cubbies, to be sent home.

That’s a normal Sunday. I’m rather looking forward to a normal Sunday, and hope one comes along in my lifetime.

Last Sunday, we just didn’t quite know what to do. David got up and read the Sunday paper. I got up and checked e-mail and did an online crossword puzzle and waited until 9:00, when the pharmacy at Target opens up. I went over there and asked for a prescription to be renewed. Then, I wandered over to the toilet paper aisle, just to see what the situation was. There was a sign that said “One to a customer.” Many folks were hauling around large 12-roll packages in their carts. Even though I’d checked our supply and found it plentiful, I went ahead and got a 4-roll package, just because it seemed as though I should. Our local Target has a limited amount of fresh food, and things were looking rather sparse there, but, otherwise–pretty normal.

We’d gotten e-mails from church saying that the staff decided to not open the church on Sunday, wanting to be careful of the health of us all. But, we could worship together, at home, with Facebook Live. At 10:45, there would be a check-in time, and then, at 11:00, we’d have a brief worship time together. It worked. As a congregation, we watched and listened, together, a sermon, a prayer, a blessing. All from our preacher’s living room. And, as everyone signed on, we could see their names popping up, as we prepared to worship together. Not quite as good as being together, but almost.

We’ll be doing church that way again in a couple of days, and, possibly, probably, for a few more, or many more, Sundays.

Meanwhile, the HEB grocery store has shortened their store hours, to provide additional stocking time for all those shelves that are being emptied so quickly. The store now opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 8:00 p.m. I’d seen, in the newspaper, a photo of a long line of people, standing behind grocery carts, waiting for the store to open. They did seem to be quite patient; maybe they were just posing for the camera.

Wednesday, I drove to the post office to drop off several envelopes (feeling sorry for the mail carrier, and wanting to lighten his load a little bit). On my way back home, I drove by the HEB. It was about 8:30 a.m. I was quite flabbergasted. I had never, never, ever seen the like. The parking lot was entirely full. Every parking slot had a car in it. Astonishing.

I did make a foray into HEB on Thursday, late afternoon, hoping to find eggs. I was surprised to see lots and lots of fresh food; and I purchased some. There weren’t tons and tons of people; just the normal amount, and no one was pushing or shoving or fighting over anything. I did walk by the paper goods aisle, just to see, and it was empty. Few things seems completely gone (well, except for eggs; I guess I’m going to have to go earlier if I want them). There was ice cream and a variety of frozen foods, lots of meat, a good variety of crackers and cookies, milk, yogurt, and cream cheese. I’m pretty certain we’re not going to starve, unless you’re on an egg-only diet.

I did make a quick stop at Target, just in case not many Target customers were into eggs. No luck. But, I did purchase some blueberries.

 

I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.

Philippians 4:12-13 (Good News Translation)

 

I don’t think I’ve quite learned the secret of always being content. But, I’m trying to move towards that goal.

 

 

 

And I’m Just Finally Getting Rid of the Last of the Fall Leaves

| Faithfulness, Joy, Patience

Wow. It’s already spring. Sort of.

Officially, the last “average” freeze date for Waco is March 12. We’ve had freezes ‘way into April, but that’s unusual, and I’m impatient. Also, I don’t usually plant really tender things. (I did buy a bougainvillea last week, and it will need to come into the house if the temperature plummets in the next few weeks.)

I’ve talked before about fall raking, and other yard stuff.  There were lots of leaves, and I raked all of them up. Most of them went into big black trash bags, because the green bins that hold yard waste are only emptied every other week on trash day, so there’s a limit to how many leaves can get carted away to be mulched. I put all those extra leaves in those trash bags. Every other week, in addition to whatever weeds and sticks and things that have been damaged by the few frosts we’ve had,  I emptied one or more of those black bags into the green bins. Every other week, through the fall and winter.

This Thursday, after a rather epic rainfall the day before, I thought  I could probably get the last of the bags of leaves emptied into the green bins.

And now, behind the shed, there are ten bags of dirt to spread around in the low places at the back of the yard. They’d been in the car’s trunk for a while. I’d gotten them at a local nursery and hadn’t taken the time to move them. Today, with that space behind the shed now empty, I thought I should transfer them. I’m not all that strong, so it was a one-at-a-time situation. I got the wheelbarrow out of the shed, pushed it up to the garage, opened up the car’s trunk, and pulled and tugged at one of the bags. I got it out of the trunk and into the wheelbarrow, and wheeled it across the back yard and around to the back of the shed, and dumped the 40-pound sack onto the ground. Then, I pushed the empty barrow back up to the garage, and so on. At this point, all ten bags are behind the shed, waiting for a warm day when things have dried up a bit after the several rainy days we’ve had.

 

 Ask the Lord for rain in the spring, for he makes the storm clouds.
And he will send showers of rain so every field becomes a lush pasture

Zechariah 10:1 (New Living Translation)

 

Just this week, several trees have begun leafing out. There are trees with the mistiness of new leaves around them, and a tree that produces purple flowers before the leaves pop out is shimmering with beauty. The trees in my yard are still bare, with leaves that appear later than some others. But it won’t be long.

I’m No Meteorologist,

| Love, Patience

therefore, I don’t know all of the intricate ins and outs of weather. For example, Thursday was pretty nice (rather chilly in the morning, but almost balmy in the afternoon). Whereas, on Wednesday, the wind was epic horrid! (I looked it up at Dictionary.com and this is the appropriate use of “epic.” “Epically,” which I wanted to use, is not an actual word.)

When I look out my kitchen window, I can see, through the back hedge, the red windsock in the yard of the neighbors behind me. When I’m thinking of working outside, I check to see what the wind sock’s doing. Wednesday, the sun was shining, but I knew that the temperature wasn’t all that high. I checked the windsock, which was straining, straight out from the pole, with its little streamers frantically fluttering.

I had a podiatrist appointment at 8:15. I was one of the first patients to arrive, but there aren’t any “right by the door” parking spaces. After rushing from car door to clinic door, I was shivering when I reached the entrance, and stayed shivering. I did have to remove my coat for a blood pressure check, but then I put it right back on. I was sorry I hadn’t brought a blanket. The visit was just a quick checkup, so, in no time, I had to walk back out the door and over to my car, and was back to shivering. I drove straight home, parked the car in the garage, went into the house, and stayed there.

From the National Weather Service National Headquarters information on Wednesday’s weather:

WEATHER CONDITIONS
THE FOLLOWING WEATHER WAS RECORDED YESTERDAY.
NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER WAS OBSERVED.

“No significant weather?” The largest limbs on the bare, bare trees were bending and blowing in the giant wind!

If we studied wind in some science unit in school, I didn’t get it. I don’t exactly know what makes wind. Or breezes. Or gusts. I did look up and read an article (which was designed for children), and here it is, so you, too can better understand why the largest limbs were swaying uncharacteristically on Wednesday.

What causes windy weather?

 

Praise the Lord from the earth, sea monsters and all ocean depths; lightning and hail, snow and clouds, strong winds that obey his command. Praise him, hills and mountains, fruit trees and forests; all animals, tame and wild, reptiles and birds. Praise him, kings and all peoples, princes and all other rulers; young women and young men, old people and children too. Let them all praise the name of the Lord! His name is greater than all others; his glory is above earth and heaven.

Psalm 148:7-13 (Good News Translation)

 

 

Meanwhile, Tuesday was a lovely day, and I was part of a group that visited the Hebrew Rest cemetery here. It’s a quiet and lovely place, with families who have been part of Waco’s past for generations. As I walked around, I found three separate burial sites for families who last name was “Cinnamon.” I’d never heard that as a last name before.

 

I found these side-by-side sentiments quite touching. Cemeteries aren’t what they used to be.

 

Sometimes, I Forget It’s Thursday

| Love, Patience

This hasn’t been a normal week. (Yeah, I know, lots of folks never have a normal week.)

Monday was a holiday, and a very nice day, and I worked outside all day.

Tuesday, I got a text from a friend that I’m helping with car pool. The message said to please pick the student up at 10:00 a.m. instead of 7:40 a.m. That worked, because, even though on Tuesdays, I have Reading Club responsibility at the elementary school close to my church, that gave me plenty of time. Then, as I was on my way for the 10:00 pickup, another text said that the kid was coughing and seemed sick, so they were on their way to Urgent Care. Later, my friend said that she had taken the student to school (after the Urgent Care visit), and could I pick her up at 4:15, because there was tutoring she needed to attend. And I was glad to hear that, because I’m taking a class (through Baylor, for senior adults) that ends at 3:00 and it’s rather a rush to get to school for car pool. Then, while I was in that class, I got another text that said another friend was picking up the student, because Urgent Care had called and said that she had Flu and Strep. So not only was she going home, but she would be at home all week.

Tuesday, David was gone until really late, working on the local Science Fair. Wednesday, he did that until noon, then raced around getting ready for the trip he was taking on Thursday. I took him to the car rental place Thursday morning. He’ll be back Friday.

It seemed like a good time to try to get better organized with all the photos, cards, and other ephemera I’ve been collecting. (While the definition of ephemera is “any transitory written or printed matters that are not meant to be retained or preserved,” that’s not exactly what happens. The word derives from the Greek ephemeros, meaning ‘lasting only one day, short-lived’.”  On the Google page where “ephemera” is defined, there is also a link to “How to organize ephemera.”) I put all the leaves in the dining table, piled up things by year, and put some things in an album. I used up all the pages and have had to order some more, so I can’t finish. (There is no way I am going to finish. Ever, it seems like.)

But I did divide up the rest of the ephemera by year and put them in Zip-Lock bags and labeled the bags with the year. So, I’ve got plenty of time tomorrow, well, maybe, to get the last things organized. (Not finished, but sort of organized.) Then, at some time in the future, after the ordered pages arrive, I’ll be able to get work done. Nothing like giving organized stuff that was supposed to last only one day a much longer lifespan.

Meanwhile, I lost track of what day it was. Any of the days. Without my normal routine, I was out of sync. More than usual. Several times during the day, I would think What’s today? Is it THURSDAY already? And, yes, it was Thursday already. Which is “write a blog” day.

So I’m folding you in to my out-of-sync week. I’ve been working or organizing photos and stuff for albums that I will enjoy looking at years from now. I would enjoy knowing what you’ve been working on this week.

 

 And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Colossians 3:14 (The Message)

There are certainly garments that are my favorites. A soft sweater, warm leggings, my flannel nightgown (There’s an entirely different list in August.) When I think of how they comfort me, I’m reminded to concentrate on that all-purpose garment of love.

 

Sigh . . .

| Patience, Peace

A couple of weeks ago, I went out early on a Saturday morning to run some errands. I had some coupons for drug store and grocery store items. I went to Wal-Mart and spent some time there. Next I went on to Walgreen’s. (Those two places open up really early, so I can get those checked off my list and then go on to places that don’t open until 9:00 or 10:00. At least that was my plan.)

I pulled into the Walgreen’s parking lot and drove around to the parking area. I pulled in to an empty slot (and, since I was an early customer, there were plenty of available spaces), going slowly as I pulled up to the concrete barrier in front of the curb. I had my foot on the brake as I neared that barrier, and then I pressed gently on the brake to stop the car.

Then, I’m pretty sure, I pressed harder on the brake to stop the car, but my foot slipped off the edge of the brake pedal and thonked onto the gas pedal. I heard the sound of the engine revving, as it tried to press the car forward, seeming to be determined to get over that barrier. Which it ultimately did. You’ll be relieved to know that I did not slam into the wall of Walgreen’s. I slammed into a brick pillar, instead.

I was, as you might imagine, really rattled. REALLY RATTLED! I got out of the car to check on the pillar. Someone came out of Walgreen’s, looking somewhat alarmed.

She asked if I was all right and I said yes, even though I didn’t feel all right. I wasn’t injured; but I didn’t feel all right.

She looked at the car and the pillar and went back inside. I called David, who wasn’t home. And then I went into Walgreen’s. That Walgreen’s lady was back behind the cash register, checking out people and also talking on the phone. She saw me and said, “I didn’t know what to do. So I called Walgreen’s.” And I said, “Of course.”

After checking out the customers and finishing up her call, she said, “I’m the only one here.”

I said, “That doesn’t seem like a good idea.” Even though it was pretty early in the morning and there were few customers, I thought there should be at last two employees there.

She said, “Well, I’m the manager and I make out the schedules, and I just scheduled me for early this morning.”

Ah.

She said that Walgreen’s said they’ll need a police report. I said, “Of course.” So she called the police.

I called David again, and he was back home and he came on over. Then the police came. They were very nice.

I took pictures. The Walgreens manager took pictures. The police took pictures.

I was concerned about the pillar, which is brick. One of the officers eased my mind. He said that, under the brick, there’s a concrete reinforced steel core. “You don’t have to worry,” he said. “That pillar isn’t going anywhere. The roof isn’t going to cave in.” Whew!

Before too long, the manager was back at business, the police left, David took the car to the Buick dealership, and I, instead of running any more of those errands, went home. In David’s car. I was done for the day.

At the Buick dealership, the Collision place isn’t open on Saturdays. David took it back on Monday, which was a Monday holiday, so not open. On Tuesday, he was able to get a detailed estimate. I took that to the insurance place on Wednesday, along with the police report w/case number. An agent looked at everything and then called the main State Farm folks and gave them my name, and then handed the phone over to me. They knew my policy number and information. They asked, “Did the police come?” “Yes, and here’s the case number.” “You’ll need an estimate.” “I have that.” (A bit of silence.) “We’ll need to see if that dealership is on our list.” I gave him the name. “Yes, we work with that dealership. Your deductible is $1000.00.” “Ah.” I sort of got the idea that these conversations sometimes take much longer. Well, it’s not our first time. Okay. It is the first time I’ve run into a building.

David’s still mulling over whether we should pay the whole cost of the car repair, in case out premiums would rise substantially. And, the insurance company deals with Walgreen’s. I look when I drive by, but I haven’t noticed any work going on.

 

 

God is our mighty fortress, always ready to help in times of trouble. Our God says, “Calm down, and learn that I am God! All nations on earth will honor me.” The Lord All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46:1, 10,11 (Contemporary English Version)

 

Calm down. Calm down. Calm down.

The Rest of the Story

| Joy, Patience, Peace

Getting those rings snipped off

What they looked like when we were done.

About a year ago, I wrote about having to get my wedding rings cut from my finger. A few weeks ago, I took the ring pieces back to the jewelers where I had that ring-removal-from-finger production. When they removed the rings, they had thought that the knuckle’s swelling would abate and they could patch up the rings. But, the knuckle hasn’t gone down because the knuckle bones have enlarged themselves permanently.

I asked the jewelers what did they think would be a solution. They described a process of putting a hinge into each ring, with an accompanying latch, which opens up. The ring can then be removed from the finger, and replaced again. That seemed like the only solution, so we started that process. They measured the giant knuckle for a ring size, and then measured for the ring size of the base of my finger.

 

They called back a few days later. They had contacted the company that make these latches and learned that they have a set of “rings” with latches in lots of sizes. They ordered a set and I went back when those ring sizer things arrived. I was able to see how the latch apparatus worked; I tried on three or four of them and chose the size that felt most comfortable. And, as we talked about those two rings and their latches, I said, “What if we just made one ring?” And the guy who actually makes the jewelry (and would have been putting in two hinges and two latches), said, “Yes. We could do that” (one hinge and one latch).

He used the gold from my engagement and wedding bands to make one new band, and put the solitaire on it.

Here’s how it works.

I do often complain about modern life. How fast things change and how I have to relearn or learn anew all the different apps/processes/organizational stuff that a new computer and/or a new phone has. I sometimes need to get out the fridge/microwave/dishwasher/etc. user manuals to figure out or remind me how to operate some aspect of the appliance. I should stop complaining, shouldn’t I, since I have a computer and phone and fridge and microwave and dishwasher and central heat and air and a sprinkler system and running water and a car. And a ring that can go on and off my finger. Easily.

 

God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful,  gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.

Galatians 5:22-23 (Contemporary English Version)

 

And, I should stop dwelling on how I’m sometimes grumpy and unhappy and frustrated, etc., and work harder on being more positive and thrilled and expectant and satisfied.

 

 

Old Man Winter’s Not Quite Done Yet, But It Feels Like It

| Patience

I really do know better than to put out tender new plants right now. However, this past Tuesday, after I put on my long overalls and two shirts and a big, heavy sweatshirt, I did go out and do some raking and some cleaning up in the yard. I went inside for some lunch, and before I went back out, I changed into my short overalls and a lighter weight top. No heavy sweatshirt. It was 72°. On Wednesday, the high temperature was 79°, and I planted some bright yellow pansies in the front bed and hung planters with yellow violas on the porch rail. Those plants are quite winter hardy and will bloom (if I make sure to water them when it doesn’t rain) all the rest of the winter and into early spring.

Thursday’s high was 68°, and that was at midnight. It quickly fell to the mid 50’s and stayed there, all day. And that’s the forecast for Friday. Saturday through Monday could see light freezes.

I have, of course, learned the hard way, not to be tricked by this fake springtime weather. After all, it is winter. A few years ago, snow fell in April. It was early April, but April, all the same. April in Central Texas.

We have had some light freezes.

The forecasts seem to indicate that we’ve had the last of the really cold weather. But I’m not going to be fooled by that. I’ll wait until it’s sensible and reasonable to plant anything new and to get those tender plants out of the FlowerHouse, where most of them are looking pretty healthy.

 

As the snow and rain that fall from heaven do not return until they have accomplished their purpose, soaking the earth and causing it to sprout with new life, providing seed to sow and bread to eat, so also will be the word that I speak; it does not return to me unfulfilled. My word performs my purpose and fulfills the mission I sent it out to accomplish.

Isaiah 55:10-11 (The Passion Translation)

  I love these words. I love the analogy that helps me recall, when I’m digging and planting and weeding and tending, that, just as the lovely results in my yard comes from the work I do there, the work I do for God also brings lovely results.

Breath of Heaven

| Faithfulness, Gentleness, Goodness, Joy, Kindness, Love, Patience, Peace

Two or three times a year, my church publishes a devotional book, for Advent, for Lent/Easter, for support for teams of church members on mission trips, and other occasions. Church members are asked to write devotionals for the booklets, and sometimes I’m asked to write one. This year, for Advent, our assignment was to choose a favorite Christmas carol and a scripture passage, and to write a devotional based on our experience with those things. This is the one I wrote, inspired by the song Breath of Heaven. The song’s title has the link to  Amy Grant’s singing the song.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

I trust you to save me, Lord God, and I won’t be afraid. My power and my strength come from you, and you have saved me. Isaiah 12:2 (Contemporary English Version)

Breath of Heaven

We have a niece who had a baby about a year and a half ago. While her husband rushed into the hospital’s emergency room to get a wheelchair for her, she gave birth to their third child, a baby boy, in the front seat of their vehicle. Now there’s a birth story.

The birth story Mary has to tell is pretty impressive, too. Well, more impressive, I guess. After all, it is Jesus.

There’s not much detail about Mary, herself, in the Bible. If you go online, there’s lots of information about her, but it’s all pretty much speculation.

I do wonder, though, if Jesus ever said to her, “Please tell me about the night I was born.” It’s not a matter of his not knowing all the facts, but I like to think that he would appreciate hearing her tell the story.

(He listens and responds. As she narrates the tale, she’s also pondering about her own feelings and struggles.)

 

“Oh, Mother! An angel? Were you surprised? Were you scared?”

         Holy father you have come
         And chosen me now to carry your son

“And Aunt Elizabeth, too? Cousin John? Really?”

         Must I walk this path alone?
         Be with me now

“I remember hearing about that census. All the way to Bethlehem. Quite a trip.”

         Lighten my darkness
         Pour over me your holiness

“No place to stay? Then what happened?

         Do you wonder as you watch my face
         If a wiser one should have had my place

“Shepherds came all the way into town? That was a hike!”

         Help me be strong
         Help me be
         Help me

“What was the hardest part for you, Mother?”

         Breath of heaven
         Lighten my darkness
         Pour over me your holiness
         For you are holy
         Breath of heaven

“You are the bravest woman I know, Mother. I am grateful that you were willing to do what you were asked to do.”

 

 

Reflection
You may have heard two people tell the “same” story, but from really different points of view. This holiday season, think about spending time with friends and relatives that you think you know pretty well. Listen to their stories and appreciate how the details may be different from the way you might remember those occasions.

 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(We writers are asked to include some bio information. This is what I wrote: My sister was born the October that I was 4 1/2 years old. My mother says that, that December, I would drape small baby blankets over my head and shoulders and wander around the house, stopping at each room, and shaking my head and muttering “No room. No room. No room.” Then, I would erect my toy ironing board, drape IT with blankets, and sit under it, holding a doll. Apparently I would do that for hours, leaving her free to take care of the new baby in the house.

 

The Falling Leaves

| Patience, Peace

Living in Central Texas means, usually, pretty mild winters, which seems like our prize after enduring the blisteringly hot summers. There will be a freeze or two, or more, and maybe even a little bit of snow. Very little. I have one wool coat, which I may wear once or twice during the winter. Or maybe it will spend the entire winter season, untouched, in the hall closet. I don’t own one other woolen article of clothing.

I guess folks get used to their own area’s weather, and do the appropriate winterizing of cars and homes and yards, or, in our place, not doing anything much different.

I did pull up some tender plants that froze a couple of weeks ago, but most things are still green and alive. My primary fall-and-on-to-winter outdoor activity is raking. I like to rake. I’ve mentioned before that the yard crew that comes each week in the spring and summer (and a little bit into the fall), find it odd that I prefer to rake up the fallen leaves instead of having them mow the leaves into tiny, mulchable pieces. I think it’s good for me to do, and it’s part of the sort of fall weather we have.

I went to Fort Worth mid-week to see Peter in his church’s Christmas pageant. The weather’s been a little nippy, but, when I got back to Waco Thursday afternoon, the weather was perfect for raking. I’d already raked up a whole bunch of leaves, and sent them off in the every-other-week yard waste recycle truck. As soon as last week’s truck left, I refilled those bins with leaves for this coming week. There’s a nice pile of leaves that will hold me though the winter all the way to fall, as I add peels and cores and lettuce that’s spent too much time in the fridge into the compost bins. There are still some leaf bags and piles that will go into the green bins for several more weeks. But, there were still some unraked places in the front yard.

When I pulled into the garage Thursday, I went right inside, put on my long overalls and a shirt and sweatshirt, and went out to rake the rest of the leaves. There’s still a small pile of them, waiting to get recycled, but I think I’m pretty much done for this year. I’m counting on the cold north wind to take care of the remaining few, because, it may not freeze hard this winter, but there will be wind.

There’s always stuff do to in the yard, and on sunny days, I go out and pull some weeds and clean up and make sure plants that seem dry get some water. And make sure those acorns aren’t trying to sprout.

 

Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work.

Be patient like that.

James 5:7 (The Message Translation)

 

There are all kinds of ways that I need to be patient. I’m trying to work on them. And!! We have some pecans. We haven’t had any good pecans in a few years. I’ve picked up a few almost every time I’ve been out working in the yard, or just walking around. There aren’t lots and lots, and maybe not even enough for a whole pie, but I think there are enough for a few pecan tarts for Christmas!

 

 

 

Over the River and Through the Rain

| Patience

Last week, we had Thanksgiving Dinner with the Fort Worth family. David drove back to Waco on Thursday evening, but I planned to visit a friend on my way home Friday morning, so spent Thursday night in Fort Worth. My friend used to live in Waco, but now lives in an RV/Trailer Park about 50 or so miles away, between Waco and Fort Worth. I’d been to visit a few months ago, and thought that I could get in another visit this trip, as I didn’t have any time constraints, this day-after-Thanksgiving Friday.

Thursday evening, I was checking with Kevin about the maps app on my phone. I’d misplaced the address, but she’d sent the information to me (address, gate code, and lot number), and I was aiming to get everything in place for a smooth trip in the morning. Kevin said, use the “copy” and “paste” feature to move the address from e-mail and into the maps app, which I did, and saw with delight that there, on her contact page, there was the address (let’s call it “123 Winnebago Lane”). Perfect!

Friday morning, after a trip to Trader Joe’s, and another trip back to Kevin’s because I’d had a text from him that said I’d left my iPad there, I set out, tapping the address and leaving town. I was surprised to see that the place was only 22 miles away, which really wasn’t too surprising, as, last time, I’d driven quite a while from Waco to her, and assumed that it was sensible to think that the distance from Fort Worth would, of course, be shorter.

Hah.

As I left Fort Worth, the weather changed from cloudy to misty and drizzly, and I was driving along parts of highways that I’d not been on before. I drove and drove and drove. Finally I reached “123 Winnebago Lane.” I saw a gate, but it didn’t look like the gate I’d been through before. I thought that maybe this was the back door of the place. I pulled up to the number pad, punched in the number I had, and nothing happened. I tried again. I scrolled down the list of names and didn’t see my friend’s. Then, another car pulled up behind me, and that driver apparently had a remote, because the gate opened, so I drove on through. I drove down a couple of roadways and saw only large houses in big yards, but no trailers or RV’s. This just didn’t seem right, so I tried to drive out, but the place was quite spread out and I was a little bit lost. Fortunately, a FedEx truck had made a delivery and I followed it out. I stopped at the entrance and checked all my info again. And there it said, quite clearly “123 Winnebago Lane.” And it also said “Cresson, Texas.” My friend does not live in Cresson, Texas. I’d never heard of “Cresson, Texas.” Maybe it’s just the name of this very large housing tract.

And then I thought how stupid am I! I can’t just put in “123 Winnebago” and expect the phone to know that I mean my friend’s town, not just any old town with a 123 Winnebago Lane. So, I re-entered “123 Winnebago Lane” and carefully included the name of the town where my friend actually lives! After driving for half an hour,  to the wrong place, I still had an hour to go to get to the right place.

It wasn’t a difficult drive, and there weren’t all that many people on the road, their having more sense than to be out in the cloudy, drizzly weather. The phone took me down all the roads I should have been on, and, yes, in just about an hour, I reached “123 Winnebago” in the town where my friend does live, and the gate that I did recognize, and where I punched in the appropriate code and watched with great relief when the gate opened and allowed my entrance.

We had a nice visit. I’ll go again. The trip should go more easily, as I now have her complete address in my Contacts app.

 

My child, use common sense and sound judgment!
Always keep them in mind.
They will help you to live a long and beautiful life.
 You will walk safely and never stumble;

Proverbs 3:21-23 (Contemporary English Version)

 

When I bemoan modern life and how we’re ceding our brain power to our phones and computers, Kevin reminds me that using modern technology can require some complicated thinking skills. And he feels that our brains are up to it. Even mine.

And there actually is a “Cresson, Texas.” I wasn’t just making up that part.