August 9 – “Meeting New Jersey”

Yesterday we did some running around in Freehold.  Very interesting place.  Quaint little town with a lot of very old buildings.  Lots of character.  And characters, too, I suppose. We went over to Lindsey’s house to meet her two little children and her dog.  The house, by the way is across the street from the high school that Bruce Springsteen went to.  Rock music trivia.  Her son Parker was the star of that show by far.  He took us on a grand tour of the house that even included an explanation of such intricacies of décor as names of the types of balls printed on the rug in his bedroom.  I was most impressed with the toy garbage truck he had.  It brought back memories of the Galveston Beach garbage truck I worked on for a summer or two back in the day.  That was when we would station someone in the bed of each truck (after picking up about half of our load).  Since it was extremely early in the morning, there was no one on the beach, so we would then line up facing each other.  On no particular signal we would drive toward each other and at the last moment veer off.  That’s when the fun started.  The guys in the back would pelt each other with random items of garbage – rotten tomatoes and the like.  It was moments like those that made me particularly glad I was a driver.  Ah, memories.  I hope young Parker grows to experience something … not at all similar. 

Chris and I were separated for a time when she went with Melissa to babysit and I went with Mark to run some of his pre-wedding errands.  He has arranged for some surprises for everybody.  I have at least one up my sleeve, too, that Allen helped me with, so this wedding holds great promise.  While we were out and about he drove over to the New Jersey shore so I could do some beach comparison studies.  Strictly business, you know.  We didn’t go down on the sand or into the water, though.  Just stayed on the Boardwalk and took a few pictures so I could text them to Chris.  I wanted her to share in the experience.  For some reason she didn’t seem at all thrilled to be included in my good fortune.  We drove through Asbury Park.  That seemed to ring a bell somewhere in my vast, unclaimed memory.  The homes there were amazing.  Massive structures valued by how many steps away from the beach they were.  Even the “small” ones put some of the high dollar bayfront homes in Galveston to shame.  Literally millions of dollars, all owned by people who work in New York City, but don’t want to live there.  We drove by a place called The Stone Pony and Mark almost stopped the car so he could get out and genuflect.  Seems that place is where Bruce Springsteen and several other rock music superstars got their start.  He didn’t mention the Beatles, though.  Or the Beach Boys. 

We finally made our way back to Freehold.  Now that was easier said than done.  The streets here are arranged … well, they are not arranged.  You can’t turn left for one thing.  I don’t know why.  There are signs everywhere saying no left turn.  You just have to know which street to take to the right so you can circle through some neighborhoods to get to where you are going.  Couple that with the traffic caused by people returning home from their commute to “The City,” and even a simple trip to Sam’s seemed like an ordeal.  I did get to see the city’s preparation for a special outdoor band concert.  It was going to take place right across the street from our hotel.  Of course.  (Un) fortunately, we wouldn’t be at the hotel during the concert, so we would have to miss that one. 

I did finally get a chance to spend an hour or so with the bride and groom to get in their counseling.  I feel really good about their commitment to each other and especially to the Lord.  I think they will do fine. 

In spite of the face that we missed the city concert, our very own, personal hotel band was back last night in all their glory.  I finally managed to fall asleep while the band still played on and on and on …

Psalms 104:10-12 says, “He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.  The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.”

Father, would you hold back those waters just a bit so we can get this outdoor wedding done this weekend?  Amen.