Exhausted

There were two hundred people at B's funeral this morning, and the luncheon afterwards. Just a few of us went to the cemetery for the committal service at about 2:30. We read Philippians 4:4-8 (her favorite Bible passage), Psalm 23, and Matthew 14:22-32. In between the funeral service and the committal I wrote about a page of my Sunday sermon (called "Everybody talks about the weather..."). After the committal, I wrote about another paragraph, typed some random notes, and hit the wall. I had a meeting in the late afternoon, wrote the Sunday prayers (so far) and went home.

Yesterday I promised my Husband that I would cook supper tonight. But as I left the church, I knew that wasn't going to happen. So when I walked in the door, I said, "I'm tired. Let's go out to eat" and he said "Ok." He also said his mother called and said that "It was the best funeral service she had ever been to" (or words to that effect.) (His parents are members of my church). "She really said that?" "Words to that effect."

I fixed Scout's supper -- really predictable: rice, egg and ground turkey. After sitting around for awhile longer, we headed out to a local eating establishment: the kind of non-trendy place that is not too busy on a Friday evening.

In the parking lot we saw two members of my church. They were just leaving. One of them called out "What about that Bible study you were going to have this summer?" I was going to lead another No Experience Necessary Bible Study, but the Senior Pastor and I collaborated on one we wrote together, and I didn't have time for both.

We went in and sat down, ordered a couple of burgers. I looked over at a table across the way, and recognized another member of the church -- or at least a regular visitor. She's Episcopalian. I'm not sure if she has actually joined or not.

The parking lot woman came back. She said, "I'm sorry if I sounded critical. I just really needed that kind of Bible study this summer. I know you are busy." I said I would be sure to have a new Bible study in the fall -- and that she could stop in to talk any time, if she wanted to.

I was really hungry when I came in, but I could barely finish my burger. I did anyway. The woman from the other table came up to me and said, "Thank you for recognizing my face." Suddenly I remembered her name, and introduced her to my husband. "That made my day," she said. Mine too.

"Where do you know her from?" Husband asked. "Church," I answered. "Does she know you well?" "No." I paused. "Well, maybe she does. After all, there are 1500 of them, and only one of me."

At home, Husband showed me something else Scout can understand. He said, "pretty soon," and she went to the front window and looked out. He explained: "that's because I tell her 'she'll be home pretty soon.'"

Smart dog.

I'll be going to bed -- pretty soon, I think.