(Mostly for Animaterra)

On short sleep, short Sunday-gig-prep time, and short post-gig rest time, I stopped briefly at home for doggie tending on the way to the next commitment, to find Faulkner has begun leaving those "aging dog" gifts none of us likes to find.... sigh.... and we just got that new rug laid yesterday, but it's already time to start prepping Hardi to say goodbye to his dog. Not tomorrow, but it's Hardi's first dog and for this deep-channel man, the prep time will need to go very, very slow. Oh dear. OUR dog. I do not know if I am up to THAT.

At church we learned that not only will we be going to see Mudcatter Michelle, tomorrow, but two MORE equally-dear ones (members of our parish). The 2 hospitals for these 3 people are all hours apart.... I'll have to choose betwen time with my man and time in the pool.... I do not know if I am up to THAT, either...... he does need a driver....

But! A triumph of sorts! I see that my super-closet evinces NOT hoarding as I sometimes fear, but "just enough" stuff to keep up with all this. I actually found something clean and almost-appropriate to throw on that's all-cotton, and comfy!

I had a good laugh ydy with another fellow clergy-spouse I sat with at that funeral-- we swapped closet and homecare horror stories. She's only been part of this ordained lifestyle a few years..... we were about neck-and-neck on tips to share, though. We also had in common other past, professional roles heading large orgs., and we laughed and laughed about how our former colleagues could not at all relate to our present inability to "host" folks in our homes, the way they are now mere launching pads of disorder more than "destination" spots. If only we could find tourists who would love to tour the clergy lifestyle in their spare time (and pay to see the real thing), now, we'd have it made. Or maid-- some of the better-paid clergy actually can afford weekly "cleaning ladies," while the rest of us ARE someone else's weekly cleaning lady, LOL.

~Susan