Visit with Ellen
So, Paul and I went over to Ellen's on Sunday, headed to a nearby quilt store. Afterward, we headed down to a store labeled as a antique and collectable store. It was actually more of a junk store, but it was fascinating and a bit overwhelming. Row after row of dishes, then row after row of a variety of tacky furniture - perhaps there's a gem in there, but its pretty hard to find. But we really enjoyed poking around, marveling at all the stuff. It was so fun when Ellen found not one, but two treadle sewing machines. I so remember my grandmother's sewing machine. It had been electrified, but the treadle still went up and down. I couldn't believe it when after she died, the kids just ditched the machine as too old fashioned. I always think of her when I see one of those machines, I wonder what my grandkids will see and think of me. Glass front book cases?

Had a most moving experience today. It was World Day of the Sick, and we went to St. Francis Hospital, the local Catholic hospital, with Bishop Smith as he went to visit with the doctors and nursing students, and bless the sick in the hospice. After a light intro to the Muslim and Hindu doctors, meeting in a special "interfaith" prayer room, we visited to the nursing students, but then we went on to the hospice, where I took what will become one of my favorite photos - Bishop Smith tenderly blessing a woman who was literally on death's door. It was very moving. After the Anointing of the Sick, during the Our Father, the other priest there and the chaplain, who I think was Baptist, joined in. It was hard not to cry, particularly when I thought of Liz.