The Odyssey - Van that is Part 1

At 6:10 AM on Friday morning, Adam, Phil & I headed towards Groveland, IL, to see the fellow Band of Brother, Eric. Little did I know the journey we would have under our belts before the weekend ended. For you see, we left with the knowledge that in 48 hours we would be travelling back to Auburn because of meetings and such, Adam and Phil had to be a part of on Monday.

So we headed up north to where the ground is flatter and the corn stalks were being harvested. In a near town, preparations had been made for the Morton Pumpkin Festival. A parade was planned as was a 10K/2M race. Pumkin Ice Cream, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Blizzard from DQ, Pumpkin cake, Pumpkin donuts even pumpkin chili had all been prepared for a festival of unseen porportions of this southern man's eyes. The closest thing I could think of was a cross between the lee county fair and the Loachapolka Syrup Soppin'. But even that pales in comparsion.

But alas I am ahead of myself, for the time had not yet arrived to enjoy those pumkin delights for we three brothers had to experience bonding and growth. I drove till we stopped for lunch just outside of Nashville. Then Adam took over. Now we all know that it is slightly wierd at first to ride in the passenger seat of your own car but I eventually dozed off. I awoke a couple of times and things were going well. Then the last time I woke up, it was because the car had just stopped. The engine quit. Nothing. So Adam so expertly eased over on to the side of the road and then I panicked. I felt responsible that my Camry in which I had trusted so many times had quit. I felt embarrassed for I knew that compared to my fellow journeymen, I knew nothing about how to diagnose much less fix. I tried to compose myself multiple times but the stress and panic was crashing waves of thoughts upon me. "We are not going to see Eric, What the crap am I suppose to do?, why did this always happen to me?" I am 29 years old after all, I should know how to handle this in a calm, experienced way. So I did the only thing I knew to do. I called my Dad. Now my father is not a mechanic and he always seems to handle things so calmly and nonchantly that it is annoying to those who are panicked. But I called him and since he works at a toyota dealership, he transfered me to service. They inturned gave me the phone number to the service department in Paducah. I then spoke to man named Scottie. Scottie told me that he would call a tow truck and we would go from there.

When Ray's Wrecker Service called, the receptionist giggled when I told that there are 3 grown men in this car. She said, "it will be tight." While we were waiting for the wrecker, my stress level had leveled off and my proximity to a tearful breakdown had subsided till my brother Phil decides we should pray. Tears flowed all during the prayer. But I was able to dry them up before he finished, I mean after all, 3 grown men stranded on the side of the road and one of the crying is not cool. Eventually the wrecker arrived and this guy got out of the truck and without saying one word began loading my Camry onto the truck. Eventually Adam saw that his name was Chester. Chester was a man of few words. We eventually squeezed into the cab and headed into Paducah.

We arrived at the Toyota dealership at around 3:30. The person in front of me at the counter was being told that the mechanics get off at 4:00. The waves of panick were flooding once again. The ideas of a quick fix were thrown out the window. So I tried to call Entreprise, you know the people who will pick you up. They were out of cars. I could not believe it. The flood waters had once again reached the level in which I wanted to shut down. But I could not. Thankfully while I was dealing with Scottie finding out about my car, Adam found a place that would pick us up and give us a good deal. So pretty soon, Buddy drove up and took us to Rent-A-Wreck. Not necessarily an confidence inspiring name for a rental place but they were extremely nice. and gave us a great deal on a Honda Odyssey.

So around 4 o'clock we were heading once again toward Groveland. Thought of eating Momma Rosy's dinner were out the window, sitting next to that quick fix idea. So we stopped in Marion, IL at Fazoli's. It was great comfort food for me.

We arrived at Groveland around 10:30 that evening and I was drained. I just wanted to go to bed. But first I had to hug Eric. Once he put his arms around me, all the stress of the day just vanished. For I had arrived "home" I was at a place where I could relax and sleep.

The next morning, Eric, Adam & Phil were running in the 10k and I was running the 2 mile. (hey, I know my limits) So we spent that morning getting to race and by 8:30 all of us had run across the finish line. My deepest thanks to the lady orginially from Lagrange, GA who allowed me to stick with her for the first mile or so. Eric's dad, Steve, brought his bike and rode with the others. He also made sure I did not miss my turn.

Next post: The Pumpkin Festival Parade & more

Hot Chocolate

I could drink hot chocolate any season. I don't know why but it is my favorite "hot" drink. Over the past year or so, I have gone to each coffee shop that is in the Auburn/Opelika area and tried their hot chocolate. I must say none compare to the hot chocolate I can get from a home. Whether the home is my best friends apartment, Rosy's kitchen in Illinois, or my own kitchen with my grandmother's hot chocolate reciepe. There is something about a steaming mug in your hands sitting on a couch that has been worn in, being in a room that is lived in. There is some so comforting about it.

I have prayed to God about a lot things and recently I have noticed that I tend to ignore him if he is answering in a way I don't like. Kinda out of sight, out of mind. If I don't acknowledge it then I don't have to follow it. Yeah, it doesn't last very long before you are miserable because you know what you should do but you don't do it.

With the departure of two of my closest friends, I have been extremely lonely. The remaining close friends in Auburn mean a lot to me but they can't fill the void and I don't really want them to, I don't think. So I prayed to God for peace and a sense of purpose for this loneliness. Do you know how he answers me? Get this. "Let's spend time just you and me." That is not the answer I wanted. I want to reach out to people. I want to help change peoples lives. But no God wants me to spend time with him. It is slightly frustrating because I know that is what I should do, but the process of spending time with just God, requires faith that he is here with me. Requires trust that being alone is part of the plan of God. It also requires confession and repentence of which I do not like the latter. The former is easy but to change completely take work.

So now I feel like I am at the batter's box. I can listen to the coach and follow his signs or swing at the first pitch that "looks" good and end up striking out.

Patience is not my strong suit but that is obviously what I am being asked to work on.

"God's way is the best way"