"I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to." - Elvis Presley

THE coolest nightlight ever.

In the continuing saga that is my struggle with this rental car I've discovered that the PANIC button is small, and right next to the equally small button for opening the trunk. DAMHIK.

When you rent a car they give you two keys, or rather keys a'la multifunctional electronic communication devices, each the size small spoon. They attach these two keys together with an inflexible ring made out of some kind of space age plastic that I'm sure contains a monitoring device that signals the FBI if you try to cut it and separate the keys. Oh, also on that ring is a 3/4" x 1.5" plastic ID tag holder that lists the make, model and year of the car. Why? And unless you carry a man purse, where do you put these keys when you're not driving? I can't keep this large handfull of hardware in my pants pocket, at least not out in public, and especially not at church!

I always enjoy seeing people at my home church. This time it was especially fun because I saw some of the High School kids who were at camp for the week last summer when I did the speaking. Great kids, those.

Right after church I headed down to Ballard for the reunion of the Class of '62 - the sixth grade class at Daniel Webster Elementary. The turnout was lower than I expected based on the number who attended the gathering two years ago (I wasn't at that one). There were probably around two dozen of us in the school cafeteria, plus a few spouses. It was interesting to find out who has done what in adulthood, and compare notes on our recollections of elementary school. The building is now the Nordic Heritage Museum and we weren't supposed to go through it without paying admission but a handfull of us figured we could probably get away with it... and we did. They've changed enough of the layout that I didn't find the walk-through bringing back vivid memories. But I don't have solid recollections anyway. Mostly I was clueless and oblivious until something around the age of 24. By then I was married and the father of our first son, so waking up seemed like the right thing to do.

In a bit I'll have dinner in the dining room with my dad. Mom's still struggling with pain and doesn't feel up to eating. After we're done we'll go down to her room in the rehab facility and spend some time with her. But in the few minutes before dad and I head down, some miscellaneous thoughts from my day:

• We all look pretty much the same age. I know - we are. But I wondered if some would look surprisingly old/young. I think we all look pretty much like we're in our early 60's. 
• Those who attended seemed like a generally cheerful group. Maybe the sourpusses stayed home. 
• Some of the guys are talking about retirement. A couple of them are already there. It's not on my radar screen.
• Some of them don't like their work. They do it for the paycheck, and at this point a career change isn't really an option. 
• Talking with guys about their jobs caused me to think about my work. I love my job. I'm not as good at it as I wish I was, but I feel fortunate to work at something that, IMO, is as important and weighty as it gets. Plus, it's fun.
• Being at my home church caused me to think about Pathway. I love our church. I look out every Sunday morning and see a young, alive, energetic and responsive group of adults, and a whole passle of little kids. Nobody takes themselves too seriously, we laugh easily, and have a common commitment to what's really important. There's always room for improvement, but it's a good church made up of good people whom I am privileged to shepherd. 
• I'm concerned about my folks, and my mom especially. I don't know how else to say it except that this current situation doesn't feel right. But I am so thankful that when this life ends - for either/both of them - the next one begins immediately, and that will be nothing but good. It's the stuff up until then that I wish I/we could fix. 

Dad has dozed off in his chair across the room. He does that pretty easily. But it's time for me to wake him so we can get down to the dining room in time for our 5:30 reservation. He doesn't move real quickly.