Hi folks!! It has been forever since I've checked in, and I do apologize profusely for that. It seems as though I get unreasonably busy mid-week and then before I realize it, another weekend is here. So, I'm just gonna abide by the "or whenever" clause of this string and post on a Monday... just 'cause I can!! ...
This was the dear wife's and my first Thanksgiving without family around the table. Not only that it was truly a "comedy of errors" all day long. Thankfully, we both managed to laugh our way through it rather than grouching at one another. And now it's forward to the Advent season and then Christmas. This is indeed the busiest time of year for clergy families, as well as everyone else!
I'll be retiring after the liturgies on Sunday, December 31st, and am viewing that "milestone" with at least a modicum of trepidation. Please do understand that "retirement" for members of the clergy really equates to a "reduction in workload". I've already filled my Sunday calendar through the end of February, and am certain that I'll be asked to officiate most of the remaining Sundays in 2018. That will, of course, allow me to have the weekdays free.
My FVC is slowly declining, but I'm still managing with a CPAP rather than BiPAP... and I am still able to ambulate, albeit far more slowly and with deliberate, rather than reflexive, motions. My voice is about completely shot after two liturgies, so I'm filling in at parishes which have only one celebration each week. Gotta save that mellifluous voice for just as long as I can. Thank goodness I started voice banking far earlier than I needed to.
Well, all y'all, do have a grand and glorious week! Catch around in the very near future.
John