ZZZZzzzzzzz!

(Click here, for) Jessie, I feel embarrassed,
and honored at the same time. Receiving
this award means a lot to me. It tells of
Hope--in the face of heavily tilted odds..that
Hope which God gives through His children,
one to the other. And it is here we get Hope,
and we give Hope... through our blogs and comments.
Thank you, Blog-Friend and More!

WORD OF THE DAY: "ZZZZzzzzzzz!"

Man-o-war! The cars are still filling up the three-and-four-lane roadways at 5:30-6:30 AM, which are times I am biking to a meeting. So here I am, before many of you are awake--well, that would include me, even though I'm functioning! I'm surrounded by behemoths, riding through the fog of exhausts, and finally I do push my way through the mazes, to the front of the pack.

And I be the leader of all that behind me, and I'm happy as a Lark singing overhead. Yes, guys, happy! I'm on my way to an early morning dose of friendship, fun, laughs, sadness, reflection, serious moments: a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous.

During the AA meetings, when chairpersons suggest "turn off your cell phones", I usually do not bother. Nobody EVER calls me on my cell at 6 or 7 AM. Well, from now on, it will be programmed to "buzz, shimmy, and shake".

How embarrassing that was, to hear my cell loudly play Beethoven's great Ninth Symphony, while someone weakly and tearfully was sharing how she was raped as a child...by her father and two brothers. Well, I'm used to being a clod, but I felt a sorrowful sadness for the girl, who was spilling out her deepest, darkest, to a room full of eighty alkies.

The cell call was from a mother of a 31-yr-old 'child', a son who had just left jail, and was in need of his clothing--and his medications and cell phone, which she wished I would carry to him. She wanted to NOT SEE HIM. Mom was so tired of same-old, same-old stuff, time after time. So we made the pick-up, drop-off arrangements. I had not met either mother OR 'child'--a definite druggee (Whoopeee!), prior to this day.

Meeting lasted until 8 AM. I had a rehearsal at 9:30, then was contracted to play a funeral mass at 11 AM. All this was after 4.5 hours' sleep--it is catching up with me, peeps. Got home after noon, read a half dozen blogs, commenting in my sleep! Please forgive some of my stupid comments, if they do not make sense -grin!-delete!

After some phone calls, a nap (Ha! Now you got the secret!) and supper, here we are, 9 PM. And guess where? Blogging, of course!

Bess, the brain-tumor girl is home from the hospital, plans to attend a 7 AM meeting and I'll be there with a smile for her...well, that's what I DO! She thanks you for your prayers. She may have surgery at end of May, wants to finish school.

Tonight I have yet to file an extension for IRS taxes 2008, and set up two packets of music to play for weekend masses, plus another funeral...NEXT Wednesday. Since I'm the only violinist in our church of 8,000+ people, I'm just gonna figure out a way to play at my own funeral.

An AA musician (pianist/recording artist) here died not long ago. He had set up his own "Celebration of Life" music, which he had composed and performed (CD's) in a very large church. I thought it kinda weird. In fact, it made folks uneasy. I left, and became first in line for coffee, and goodies!

Peeps, I am SO fortunate. God has surrounded me these past years with many people who are supportive, giving, and loving. He has surrounded me also with many people who NEED support, giving, and love. And life has become one wonderful, giant, action-packed movie, in which I get to play a major part. You all are stars in my film of Life--that's what makes it "Wonderful"!

I promise...a more interesting blog Thursday. OK?

In LOVE and (yawwwn!) service.
Sincerely.
Steve E.