Sensitive

My entire life has been filled with people trying to toughen me up. When kids on the school bus threatened to hit me and I told my mother about it, she told me to hit them back HARD or she would hit me. For the record, she didn't hit me but her point was well taken.

I'm tougher than I used to be -- it's only taken 45 years. But, I'm still a weenie. Music makes me cry. Commercials can make me weepy. I can burst into tears with an old note or photo.

Yesterday, my goddaughter had her wisdom teeth removed. When I talked to her, the conversation ended with her saying, "I wuv ooh." I remember when the baby had his wisdom teeth removed. I kept talking to him (as he came out of the anesthesia) and I was mean. I was doing little impressions of him. He kept saying, "Op it, Op it."

I have also been through this surgery. My dad and my fiance took me. When I woke up in the recovery room, they would only allow one person to come back and they asked me who to send back.

"I want my Dad!"

I may be a weenie but I'm not stupid.

He Got Me

We have a new minister in our church. I had never met him but I have the best reporter (my mother) on the case. Some people, like the husband, have serious issues with organized religion. Others, like me, tend to float in and out. I am comfortable in many churches.

I love The Garden. It's a service that is so casual you will get nervous. People are eating donuts and drinking coffee during the message. Video clips involve movies and music videos. They bring in speakers. It may not be your cup of tea but it makes me think.

On Good Friday and other days that I feel the need to go to church, I often go to the BIG Methodist church near my home. I know many people in the congregation and I feel comfortable there.

Sometimes I just stop in a random church. I need to be in a sanctuary and say a prayer. I did this a lot while the oldies were with us.

Thanks to the Pasadena gang of my childhood and then my college experiences, I am quite comfortable in the Catholic church. Good thing since my goddaughters and their parents are Catholic.

I am Methodist but I do love the rituals of Catholicism.

My on-the-scene reporter informed me that our new minister has instructed the congregation to say, "Thanks Be To God" after the bible reading portion of the service. That's something most Methodist congregations don't do.

He got me. I went to church this morning to meet my new minister. I'm pretty excited because I found him to be charming, funny, smart and someone I could talk to. Expectations run high with a new minister and I understand this is a tricky position. I've had the blessing of some really great ministers (& priests.)

Dr. Ken Crossman who answered my endless and annoying questions, kept me on his prayer list and performed a blessing of marriage ceremony when the husband and I married. He was also my uncle so he couldn't escape me.

Dr. Charles Ballard who baptized me, helped me through confirmation, counseled me, and performed the service at my first wedding. My mother still makes divinity (Ironic!) for them.

Rev. Gwen Roberts who could simultaneously laugh, cry and inspire. There's a fire in her that lit me up. I'm very grateful the Baby went through confirmation classes with her.

I have a good feeling about Pastor Cameron.