HODGEPODGE

Been a little behind in blogging but besides the few hours working at the job that made life suck, have been spending my free time practicing. Now since there’s a little reprieve there are a few thoughts I wanted to say over the past week and will encompass them all into one. (Yeah, it would probably be easier, and shorter, making separate blogs for each, but then I would have to come up with more than one title, or do it in parts.)

Well, it became official Sunday, April 22, 2007, around 11:45 a.m. The announcement, which I knew, was coming for quite some time. It’s just more real when stated from the pulpit in front of a 100+ people. Worked in with a sermon about the neglected parable from Mark 4:26-29, or in other words, the parable of the growing seed. Done in quite an articulate fashion with the background of Josh, the acquisition of the soon to be England Family Mortuary, and father and son who will be getting an opportunity of a lifetime--working side by side in a family-owned business.

Greg and Janice are two of the nicest and most caring people I have had the privilege of knowing. Who you don’t want to see leave but are happy for them and who will be sorely missed. A man who speaks and writes with such adoration about his lovely wife of 32 years and who would never tell any of those “take my wife please” jokes. (I was fortunate to have had such a man in my life and hope to have again some day.) Have only known this couple for 1-½ years, but think I’ll miss them just as much as those who’ve been at LBCC the entire 14 years. Although not the only reason, they are a big part of why I’m here.

Although raised in the Church of Christ and attending the same most of married life, we became disgruntled after some Christian school experiences regarding Jonathan while living in Texas and never planned to step foot in a Church of Christ again. After moving to California tried different denominations but they all seem to have the same fundamental thought--we’re right and everybody else is wrong. We went to a Baptist congregation and the minister was raised in the Church of Christ and started knocking…… Thanks, but no thanks! We became fed up with the whole concept of denominations and started attending nondenominational assemblies.

After Carl passed away, Jonathan and I moved in with my parents until he graduated from high school. Mom and Dad sold their house in Oceanside and moved into an apartment complex in downtown Long Beach. They had visited LBCC once and decided to attend on a regular basis. Mode of transportation--the Metro bus. I moved up to Long Beach a couple of months later and stayed with my parents on a short-term basis. I was a less than stellar churchgoer. My parents went to church and I was on the Internet and watching the Food Network channel. I offered to drop my parents off at church and they could take the bus home, but they refused. This continued for several weeks and Debbie started to get a guilty conscience. Something is wrong with this picture. Who lets their parents take a bus to church? Decided to take my parents. It wouldn’t hurt to sit in a pew for 1-½ hours. Would just sit. Had no interest in becoming involved, getting to know anyone, or placing membership. This would be a short-term basis only.

Know Mom and Dad had talked about “their daughter” and several people came and introduced themselves. (I have always appreciated those who are nice to and take an interest in my parents.) Every week a lovely, sweet, and pleasant Southern belle always asked me how things were going in my job search. Her name was Janice, the preacher’s wife. Ed and I related about job search struggles. Steve and Laura talked about a fellow acquaintance, the same person who was the best man at Ed and Sylvia’s wedding. Barbara and Pam who had taken my parents up to the Pepperdine Lectureship. Arlene who had grown up in the same town and whose father I had heard preach. Bruce and Chuck who always acknowledged my presence. Sharon who invited me to the singles’ Christmas party. Was somewhat skeptical at first because I’ve attended congregations where the people are overly attentive to you until you place membership, then drop you like a hot potato. Reminds me of a membership sales department in a club-type atmosphere. It soon became apparent that people at LBCC do indeed care about others.

The minister preached sermons that were innovative and thought provoking. Sermons that were out of the C of C philosophy, at least the ones I attended. Issues I actually agreed with and wondered why others hadn’t preached about a long time ago. Praise team, hands raised in the air, clapping. Who cares? A preacher who admitted his infirmities--in public! An elder who admitted past addictions and struggles! People who celebrated other individuals’ sobrieties! Made you want to go outside and look at the sign. Yep, it says Church of Christ.

Suffice it to say, I was hooked and placed membership. I’m continually amazed how this group of people love and support each other and feel so lucky to be included. Greg is a special person (you don’t write a poem for just anyone) who has been such an encourager and supporter to me. They say every person is replaceable. All I know is Greg will be a hard act to follow and there is no one I’d rather have perform my wedding or funeral (whichever comes first). Greg and Janice, I’m going to miss you. (Oh, and Chipper too.)

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Medicine. Doctors. Lab tests. No wonder people get frustrated and fed up. Dad was scheduled to have his angiogram on Monday of last week and the bypass on Tuesday. Drove Mom and Dad to the hospital and dropped them off two hours before the procedure. I would come back at noon.

When I returned, Mom, B and D were surrounding Dad while he lay on a bed in the Heart Institute. No angiogram or bypass would be done. The doctors determined that Dad’s red blood cell count (RBC) was low, he was anemic, and needed a blood transfusion. Excuse me? I knew his RBC count was low after the lab tests came back when Dad was taken to the ER three weeks earlier. One of the doctors explained how minute differences in RBCs from month to month are not vital but when compared with lab results from nine months ago, there was a significant drop. Hm, I would have checked that before ever scheduling Dad for surgery and wouldn’t have waited until he was already in the hospital before figuring it out; but they don’t pay me the big bucks for my medical opinions. At least I should be grateful that it was discovered before the procedure had started. Dad will have to see his primary doc in two weeks and his heart doc in one month. We’ll then be back to square one and start this whole process all over again.

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I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be at work but am getting used to Master Quinn (the dog). The first thing I wanted to be growing up was a veterinarian until finding out how much schooling was involved. Unfortunately, I let that keep me from what could have been a satisfying and lucrative career. Who knows, I might have turned into a great animal activist.

Still hating the commute but bought a digital voice recorder to use for blogging so commuting won’t feel as much of a waste of time and money. (However, I should be looking for a new job instead of writing blogs.)

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Well, the day finally arrived. Sunday, the day of my debut. Had helped set up Saturday morning and got to meet Randy and see Keith again. They came out for the annual Pepperdine Lectureship and would be playing in the band. We had a great rehearsal that night and the nerves were already off the charts. High anxiety. Adrenaline pumping. Very antsy. All four emotions were to remain until the conclusion of the gig. Decided during our first practice session that the pinky ring was too much of a hindrance so there would be no good luck charm this night (Still can’t figure out how Liberace played with all those huge rocks, but his response: “Very well, thank you.”)

Morning worship service was not only very inspirational but also very emotional. Cecil, an elder at a church of Christ in Florida, who was also here for the lectureship, gave the communion talk. He spoke from the heart about his church combining membership with a non C of C entity and
being ostracized from a place he had been a key force in for many years.

Keith was prepared to give a sermon on “HOPE” (I know, because I had asked him Saturday), but Cecil’s testimony moved him to speak of his own Christian life battles. You know, I just don’t get it. Christians are commanded to love each other. Traditions, philosophies, disagreements should not matter--a common belief in Christ and the Bible, trying to live a Christ-like life, helping others…these basic things should be our focus. No wonder people take the nondenominational route--they don’t get bogged down with the inane things like instrumental music, raising hands, clapping….

Before our performance that night I had a good talk with Keith. Appreciated what he and Cecil had said. What a neat guy with a great sense of humor! Told Keith if I ever were to move to Northern Alabama, Creekside would gain one new member. Unfortunately, I didn’t get that same chance to talk to Cecil.
The Praise Band was on stage ready to start. Have always enjoyed their performances. Now I was part of this group and standing in front of the Yamaha keyboard. Camille, one of our teens, was to sing the first song. During practice, Camille had trouble projecting. Before she was to perform, told her to think American Idol audition with Simon sitting there (actually I wanted to tell her to picture Greg as Simon--that would make anyone belt out in song). Camille has a sweet voice and didn’t disappoint. Other guests performers: Randy who sang and played guitar and Keith who played the drums. Very talented. The regulars: 1) Steve who looks the part with beard and longer hair, a diverse player of several instruments with an exceptional voice; 2) Ross who plays bass and as Keith noted “fast as greased lightin’”; to me the knowledgeable professional; 3) Greg who is musically gifted but not sure he actually believes it, and now with facial hair looks quite bandish, meaning belongs in a band (okay, so I made up that word). Seem to remember the growth as a Pepperdine tradition, but maybe I’m mistaken. However, it looks good and he should keep it. Miss hearing Joanna sing with the band since she’s been away to college. Think she has a “voice of an angel” and should be the next American Idol.

Greg gave me a nice introduction and said I “blew him away.” Not sure of his meaning, but that would be the last thing to describe my playing. Although having dabbled on a keyboard for 40 years, if you were to calculate actual playing time, I doubt it would total five years. The one who would blow somebody away would be the regular keyboard player, Daniel, a junior in high school. He’s a member of his school’s jazz band and has played some solo performances at church. Greg asked me to fill in for Daniel as he would be out of town at a jazz festival. (His mom told me the band placed first in their division, so kudos.) Talked to Daniel once and have tried to on several other occasions. He seems reserved and has his head down when passing by. Maybe it’s just me, but seems like most teens put their head down when approaching an adult; however, at times I catch myself doing the same thing. Thought Jonathan was shy and reserved, but he told me otherwise. Having a 21-year-old son, you’d think I could have a repartee with a teen without appearing to be a total dweeb (Mom asked if I made up that word too). Anyway, I’ve been invited to become a regular member of the band and think Daniel will be able to teach me a thing or two.

Still hard to believe I was on a stage playing music with a band (only in my wildest dreams). My parents had listened to me for an entire week practicing the songs along with a CD. Received many compliments and Mom said we sounded better than the artists on the CD. After the performance, we all enjoyed a meal and fellowship together.

Will just say this--Practicing, performing Sunday night, and being a part of a band is the biggest thrill this 50-year-old broad has seen in a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NG time!!!!!

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Just a side note--Again, want to thank you all for taking the time to read my blogs, whether you comment or not. It means the world to me and has been great therapy. I love each and every one of you.