At Jason's house in Uganda and other topics

In a land far away, in a time before my reckoning, lived a happy couple with their cats. You may know them so we'll call them Rob and Ginny. Ginny cared for people's bodies. Rob tended to their souls, a man of the cloth, with a conservative if not thinning hair cut, in a wild and crazy place, in a wild and crazy time. In those days it seemed the world as we knew it was coming undone by new and diabolical thinking. The truth was, ever thus goes the world, but now maybe just a little more so. Rob kept the faith, faithfully ministering to his small flock amongst a town of six thousand earnest sinners.

Now it so happened that one Sunday a missionary sojourned in the land ministering to Rob and his small congregation. Afterwards Rob invited the missionary home to lunch. As is often the case, those with the least give their best. So out of the freezer came a large trout-so generously given by a member of the congregation. A wonderful big trout, this was the perfect occasion. A missionary in the house!

Alas, all was not well for the next morning Ginny was ill. How long had the retched fish been stored? Surely freezing it would keep it right. Well rest dear. But no, again a second day Ginny was ill. Finally the third day medical attention was in order. Test were run, cold hospital rooms, all that, you know the drill. Finally on that cold December day a doctor with a word. Good news the fish was fine. So not the fish....what you have are symptoms of the Notorious Egyptian Syndrome. Anyone familiar knows, there is nothing to be done. It will eventually develop into a full blown case, or sometimes not. Nothing to be done really but go home and prepare.

In due course the doctor was proved right. There were of course occasional doctors visits. Unplanned expenses and sleepless nights. From time to time tears and occasional worry. Three more times Ginny developed full blown recurrences of the syndrome. Afternoon naps were not unheard of, this was a tiring way to live. With each recurrence our happy couple had to readjust their life. There were new expenses, financial belts were tightened even as real belts, over time, were loosened. It was not all bleak days there was a good deal of joy through it all.

So today marks the 40th anniversary of Ginny, or as you may know her, Virginia becoming a MUMMY. Thanks mom and dad. I wish you the best in this, your 40th year of parenting. Take it from me, you've done well.

And just because they're doting grandparents, some gratuitous pictures of me with the grand kids. This is how I've been spending my days. Like I've said...good times.