Days that make you...

Sunday morning I said Good-bye to Carpenter and Gem as they packed up the truck and headed off to shoot targets in the bush with a Bow and arrow for practice. I had a lazy Sunday morning planned; sipping my Cinnamon Dulche Latte, quietly looking at a magazine and cuddling with Jules as she watched Tree house TV.
The phone rang and it was my Gran who requested I take her freshly picked bucket of strawberries to my Brother and sister in law, Betty, who were at their church about to watch their eldest daughter be baptized. I realized that I was a complete tool in having forgotten what day it was. I phoned my Mother to confirm, and indeed today, was the day, and I was about to miss it. So I phoned my Gran and asked to borrow her car. I literally threw a skirt on and changed Jules out of her now jellied jammas, whipped back her hair and ran a comb through mine. When Gran arrived she began to tear a strip off me that there was a perfectly good vehicle sitting in my driveway and my "buggar" of a husband had once again left me vehicle less. (Dancer had carpooled and they were going to meet Dude there.) I apparently needed to smarten up and stand up for my self and If I didn't stand up to him and say something, she was going to give him what for the next time she saw him.
I wasn't about to explain that IF I had remembered to write the event on the calendar, and IF Carpenter had known, And IF I had actually remembered before he left, then indeed the truck, would have been mine, or better yet the bow shoot would have taken second priority, and we would have gone as a family. (Keeping in mind for those of you who know Carpenter, the latter part of that happening was pretty slim) Instead I told Gran, I didn't need her venting at that moment- Thanks, today wasn't about me, it was about my niece and I wanted to get there. So off I went, dropping Gran off at home.
I looked at the time, the sermon would be ending soon and as I pressed my lead foot to the gas pedal, I remembered that this pastor can be long winded and my Mom reminded me earlier that they never do anything until the end.
When I arrived the small Church parking lot filled with 18 minivans. The Church is a small one and 18 minivans equaled the 18 families that attended the church. There are far more Children that attend this church because the average is 5 kids. The vans were parked in such a way that there was not quite enough room to squeeze one more car in, but more then enough room so they would not ever-( even if they tried) hit the next person's car door. I sat in the middle of the lot and pondered my parking predicament for about 20 seconds. I looked at the time once more and then muttering under my breath, I put the car in park. I wasn't about to miss my niece's baptism because I couldn't find a parking spot. As I unlocked Jules from her seat, I surveyed the parking lot. Not one of the 18 vehicles so carefully parked would be able to back up, turn around or leave without hitting my Gran's car car. I ran up the church steps with Jules and burst through the door. Everyone turned and looked at me. Simultaneously. (How freaky is that?)A man in a suit stopped me and I asked If I had missed the baptism. "You're here for the baptism?" He repeated. "Yes," I said and almost added, who else would drive like a mad woman, park so none of you can leave, and burst through the door with 90% of the service over? As he informed me that indeed, it had not, he ushered me to the back where I would stand.
A young woman hanging on to a baby motioned me to come and sit with her. "You are Coyote's sister aren't you?" I smiles and said yes. "I thought I recognized you," she said.
I sat and listened to the preacher rant, yell, and pound his fist on the pulpit as he finished up his sermon on salvation. He always finished every sermon with talking about it. I don't think I have ever been to a service where he didn't end a sermon without it. Not that that's a bad thing. He is a passionate preacher I'll give him that. And every once in a while he really hammer's his message home by repeating himself quite forcefully. Once I almost yelled "I GOT IT!" while the rest of the congregation was saying "amen!"
As he brought the sermon to a close , he prayed, and his wife came to the piano and began playing softly. We sang "Amazing Grace" and suddenly I really missed church.
I watched my young niece and another young girl be baptized in very cold water, apparently the heaters were broken in the tub. But it was still a very cool moment and I was glad I made it.
Betty and Coyote had planned a small picnic with Betty's parents and I followed them to a near-by park.

After lunch Betty and her parents took off to visit friend in the hospital, and Coyote and I were left with the kids. It gave us some time to talk. And not just the "Hey, how's it going?" idle chit chat, but the "How are you?" kind and we delved into having a great conversation like we used to have many years ago, when we were really close. We talked about several things including Mom and Dad, and it felt like us and them again only not in a high school manner, but an adult view where we were open and honest to each other's feelings, and views.

When I returned home I was glad that I had gone, had an opportunity to talk to my brother and it had turned into a very nice day. Carpenter had a great day too, and then we decided to eat at out at a Chinese smorg place.
As we ate our dinner a rowdy group entered with one man in particular, saying" If you can barely fit in that seat Bob, I don't know how You expect me to fit in that seat- Bob"
Bob turned as he walked and laughed at his friend. I could hear the friend coming, His steps rumbling. Jules, who was sitting at the end of the table looked up in awe and her eyes grew big and round as saucers. The friend passed our table with slow steps reflective of the friendly Giant. Jules turned her head as he lumbered by. He was quite tall, with a mass of unruly curly hair tied down by a bandanna.He wore a black leather jacket with Harley Davidson stitched across the back did nothing to diminish his size,Jules, putting down her fork so she could point, and in her loudest child-like voice said "HEEE'S FAATT!"
Carpenter and I were both shocked and quickly scolded our honest and rather brazen child. We explained that it was inappropriate to say such things, in front of strangers. And the whole time we tried desperately to keep strait faces.
But in all honesty folks, we're still laughing ...