Thursday

  • Over the past few weeks, Brenda and I have morbidly joked about the parallels between the complexities of caring for her declining dog and caring for her declining mother. Earlier this week, we had to say goodbye to the dog. We were awakened by a phone call at 4:45am with the news that late last night, her mother also slipped away. Eery. Susanne Frantz Hansen was closing in on her 98th birthday, lived an incredibly rich life with lots of love, suffered enough to make her more like Jesus, and now rests in his peace.
  • After beginning to process this development, both practically and emotionally, we went ahead with the day. I arrived at the office/cathedral complex at the usual time, and read Morning Prayer in the cathedral.
  • Made an important call to the Vice-Chair of the Nashotah House board of trustees over an emergent matter.
  • Spent an inordinate amount of time on the AT&T and Verizon websites trying to get my mobile phone and Brenda's configured so that we can use them for data and texting and (very limited) voice use while in England. The companies do not make it easy, though I will say that AT&T won this particular context.
  • Carefully drafted an important letter (via email) to a cleric of the diocese summarizing a recent meeting we had with one another.
  • Lunch from McDonald's, eaten at home. Still no hot mustard. I'm told it's back in some areas, but not in Springfield.
  • Responded to a short stack of emails.
  • Attended to some chores pertaining to the ordination process and clergy deployment.
  • Took a significant Nashotah House-related phone call.
  • Evening Prayer in the cathedral.
  • Tomorrow morning we're set to catch a morning train to Chicago, rendezvous at various places with various Canterbury Pilgrims, both youth and chaperones, and end up on the 6:45pm departure from O'Hare to Heathrow. With any luck, I should be posting next on Saturday night from London.

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