July 7 – “Scary stuff”

Once again we braved the journey and headed into Texas on a Saturday. A Summer Saturday.  A Fourth of July Weekend Saturday.  Getting out of town was really easy.  The return trip, however, had its challenges.

And why in the world would we knowingly leave our house, much less the Island, on such a holiday weekend?  We went up to the rehab hospital in League City to see Miss Betty.  She seemed to be doing pretty well this time.  We got there in time to watch a little of her occupational therapy.  We were able to chat while we waited for her physical therapist to arrive.  She is doing some hard work in there, and doing it with a smile, I might add.  Pretty impressive for a 90 year old. 

While on the Mainland we stopped in a Kohl’s so Chris could see if she could find a particular kind of shirt.  Didn’t know she was looking for one.  She tried on a few and settled for one.  I think it’s the one she will wear on the airplane.  I was thinking I would wear shorts and a t-shirt.  I hear there’s a heat wave going on in Alaska.  90 degrees.  No air conditioners. 

So back to the homebound trip.  Yep.  Traffic was beyond awful.  People were exiting early, thinking they would beat some traffic.  Little did they know that the exit they were so hopefully taking would simply lead them into the same pile of traffic they sought so desperately to avoid.  The only difference?  They would have the privilege of stopping at an extra stop sign on the way.  Chris decided to take the resident superhighway short cut.  We bypassed 61^st street altogether and took some back roads.  Saved us a lot of grief.

Last night we had dinner at the Jamaica Beach Volunteer Fire Department fund raiser.  There seemed to be a steady flow of people in and out, so I hope they raise some good money.  The highlight of the evening – other than the barbeque – came when young Trystan was convinced by the other volunteers that the youngest fire fighter had to climb to the top of the ladder on the ladder truck and take pictures.  To his credit, he strapped himself in and climbed on up.  Can’t wait to see the pictures.  Oh, did I mention that the ladder is the tallest operational ladder truck ladder in the United States?  Something like 135 feet.  Kudos to you, young Trystan.  You are my hero.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Father, thank you for walking up that ladder with our young fire fighter.  Scary stuff.  Ranks right up there with braving the holiday traffic.  Amen.