I usually rise at 7 with time to write this blog, but Sunday I woke at 4 and then 5, knew sleep was not returning, and rose to enjoy my day. I turned on the coffee I had assembled the night before and soon had toast with peanut butter and a banana with coffee to start my day. I wrote the blog, but as it was Sunday morning, Deborah called, and we chatted away much of the morning. I completed the blog and got to church at the last minute.
It was a cool, overcast morning, and nobody really wanted to get started. Dondrea mentioned at the start of church that the skies felt like a blanket and a reason to stay in bed and pull up your own covers. It was the Sunday after Easter, always poorly attended, and the choir and staff nearly outnumbered the rest of us!
The music was good, and I did the usher duty for the collection. I did not stand in the back as I was distracted and not focusing much on the church. Again, waking so early damaged my attention span. Pastor Ken gave the sermon and seemed to struggle with the lectionary text. These texts are Bible verses that are supplied for pastors every week. Today was hinting towards the rise of the Holy Spirit and the arrest of the apostles as recorded in The Acts. Ken said the officials, like many we see, took the expedient solution, repression, rather than the more risky choice of tolerance. But the officials are under the thumb of the very scary Roman Empire, which wants only order, trade, and most importantly, extracting cash. While often called taxes, I would characterize these payments more like protection money from an intolerant, violent group, Roman officials far from any oversight or appeal: Pay or face annihilation. Ken’s love of history came through, and he covered his realization that we, as the dominant authority (well off and Christian), must not repeat this mistake. It would be easy to let fear, expedience, and not love (or Justice or Compassion), drive our decisions.
I received a call from Mom Wild just before church (which is why I was almost late). She was lonely and needed someone to talk to. She wanted me to visit, but I won’t be there until July and only for a few days. She called again later and repeated the same request. Mom Wild is struggling in her new facility and also with memory issues.
Corwin met me in the street; he was walking over. We took the Air VW the Gray to Portland in slow-moving traffic. This is not usual on a Sunday. The usual forty minutes were an hour with Beaverton and Portland roads and highways stuffed with cars. I may start using the MAX and meeting near MAX locations for lunch.
We did find some parking off Hawthorn and soon met Mariah at Grassa on Hawthorn for a late lunch or early dinner. I have wanted to try their food for years. I had the baked pork ‘Sunday Ragu’ with freshly made rigatoni. They use more salt than I do, but it was excellent. We had some garlic bread with it (a separate charge) and resisted another $10 for a salad. The wine was good. Mariah and Corwin thought theirs were good (Corwin picked sausage and vodka sauce).
We chatted during lunch, and then we headed back. Traffic outbound was light. Corwin was soon on his way, and I took a nap. The lack of sleep, wine, food, and driving prepared me to sleep. A few hours later, I woke up more refreshed. Deborah and I texted and chatted a few more times now that I was awake. I wished Deborah a good night as she started to fall asleep. We often begin and end our days together by text or a call.
A new Doctor Who episode dropped, and I watched it with reheated pork roast and potatoes. I added baked beans to add some more flavor. I roasted the pork in the oven to get it warm. Using faster methods would have dried it out. The food was great, and the Doctor Who episode returned to a scary one full of jump scares. No spoilers. It was frightening, and I thought it was well done. It has been a while since they did one like this.
I debated and decided at the last minute for a late movie on a Sunday night. It was nearly empty when I was in the theater, as the previews were still showing. There is no reason to be early for the movies now with assigned seats and twenty minutes or more of ads and previews. Another woman was there a few rows back, and I apologized for invading her private viewing. She was gracious, and we laughed.
The Account 2 was an excellent assassin movie, and I have noticed that this theme is appearing often in action movies now. This film did not include Anna Kendrick, but many others did return and the movie picks up years later. The movie, like the first focus on The Accountant and now includes his brother and builds slow. The computer hacker scenes I loved. I enjoyed it and, with the warning this is a voilent movie with assassins, recommend it. Kathleen had told me on Saturday she liked it.
I was not home until about 11. I went to bed, read, and was hit by my Kindle when I fell asleep. I turned off the light, asked Alexa to put on music to sleep by and was soon deeply asleep.
I dreamed that my uncle visiting me here in Oregon. I have never dreamed of him before. He was his usual condisending self. I woke once to prove hydration and went back to sleep.
Thanks for reading.
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Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 