Sunday, July 27, 2003

At 6:25 a.m., the alarm went off, awakening me to my final day in paradise. At least for the next dozen days.

I spend the early part of my morning at my parish, worshipping at the 8:00 and 9:30 services. As I distributed the sacrament at 8:00, I thought of just how much I love my Holy Cross family and how they and I have grown together so much over these past 15 years. At 9:30, watching the joy in those children’s faces reminded me again of just how thankful I am to be their rector!

I went home at 10 to finish up all the packing, and shortly after 11:00 - right on time – there was Les Allred, owner of Les’ airport shuttle, all ready to take me to the airport.

Not five minutes from home, I get a call from my wife. Syl informs me that the washing machine is making a horrible sound and smells like burning rubber. Mercy! I’m not even out of Mt. Pleasant yet!  I tell her to go machine shopping tomorrow.

As we near the airport, Les honors me with a beautiful prayer for safety – not just for my trip but for my whole time at Convention. What a true saint!

I haven’t flown in a year, and I must say I was pleased to find that the Charleston airport seems to have finally figured out this security thing. My bags were searched, but not completely unpacked like the last time I was out here. In the x-ray line, there was no patting and frisking as there had been. I didn’t even get "wanded" although they did use the wand on a few others.

As I boarded the plane, there was Bishop John Buchanan, Bishop-in Residence at St. Michael’s, Charleston. How great to see a familiar face! The Bishop and I spent a fine hour together in Cincinnati as we waited for the final leg of our flight. Bishop Buchanan will be serving as Parliamentarian for the House of Bishops.

 

This is my very first time ever in Minneapolis. I was struck by how flat the land is out here, and how there was absolutely nothing but farms and farmland for at least 300 miles before we landed.

Our shuttle in from the airport was packed with Convention delegates. I saw a women I knew I had seen before in the seat in front of me, so I asked here if she was going to the Episcopal convention. Indeed she was, as were the two men in the seat with her. They turned around with smiles, and said, we’re from northern Michigan. Where are you from? I said (proudly), South Carolina! Silence. They all three turned around, and didn’t say another word the whole trip. Amazing! If this is any indication of what lies ahead, I’m going to need a whole lot more of Les’ prayers. These guys mean business!

Minneapolis seems to be a fairly clean and mostly new town. There must have been a tone of urban renewal taking place here. All the skyscrapers appear to have been built in the last ten years.

Our SC delegation is staying at the Holiday Inn Express, less than one block from the Convention Center. My room will do just fine for my extended period of stay. Slow modem connection, and no high-speed access available, but hey – can’t have everything!

Bishop and Mrs. Skilton are right across the hall from us. Bishop Skilton arrived Saturday. He’s the Province IV chaplain for the Daughters of the King, who are also holding their national convention here at the same time as the General Convention.

9:00 p.m. – I went to transfer all the notes I had made from my travels today, and found that my one-pound handheld PC with full qwerty keyboard has finally given up the ghost. It’s been a faithful servant since 1997, and they don’t make them any more. Until I figure out what to use as a replacement, I’ll have to be lugging around my 5-pound laptop. Oh well.

Well, we’re here. Tomorrow I have a couple of preliminary AAC meetings, and I get to register as a delegate. I hope the folks from Michigan aren’t running the registration booth…

Lord, thank you for a safe beginning.

Goodnight from Minneapolis. See Ya tomorrow!