June 22 – “Thwarted”

After a great breakfast of bacon and eggs and biscuits and fruit, and a little more rehashing of Alaska meetings and reminiscing of the good old days, we finally headed back towards Galveston.  The plan was to stop at Woody’s Smokehouse for lunch on the way.  Little did we know that plan would be thwarted.  I love that word.  Not so much what it means, but the word is exciting to say.  Thwarted. 

As we approached the exit we noticed that an inordinate number of vehicles were also taking that ramp.  It was a moment of frantic decision.  Do we join the thundering hordes who were potential customers in line ahead of us?  Do we continue on and take our chances at the Buc-ees up the road?  I finally voted for continuing on.  Bad choice.  Within minutes we discovered just why the mass exodus.  Traffic was stopped and go for miles ahead.  We inched along until finally we saw the sign designating construction ahead.  Wonderful.  Pretty soon the more specific “Land ends merge left” sign appeared.  And of course we were in the right lane … behind an 18-wheeler.  We used his assistance to make the move just as we reached the construction zone … at which they were just picking up the last cone and calling it a day.  Of course they were. 

It took us a while.  We sat through a total of four or five traffic slowdowns, but we made it to our destination.  See, we had to be at the rental place by three o’clock to pick up the vehicle we were renting to take the kids to camp.  We pulled into the parking lot with two minutes to spare.  The vehicle we would head out with was one of only two or three in the entire parking lot.  Chevy Suburban.  Seats eight.  Think that will be enough room for me and Chris and five little girls?  We’ll see.  We stopped on the way home to fill it up with gas.  That’s one big gas tank.  I’m anxious to see what kind of gas guzzler it is.

We dropped off the suburban and went over to Nathan’s to let his dogs out for a while.  He called to let us know the girls had won their first game.  Later we found out they lost the second in a nail-biter, 5-3.  Pretty good for a trip to the state tournament.  They play more games today and probably tomorrow.  Go Galveston Her-icanes!

Ephesians 4:26 says, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”

Father, please take care of all those little girls playing softball in the heat today.  Help them to have fun.  Amen.