The Lunch Treat/Trip

I told myself that if I made significant progress on my sermon by noon then I would go somewhere for lunch today. I went anyway. First I had to make a stop at the Jefferson Pointe Walmart (sorry Lily/Erin). As I pulled up I noticed the "Hazardous Devices Vehicle" entering with their lights flashing. I thought maybe someone had called in a bomb threat or something, so I hurried inside, thinking it might be more exciting to be trapped in a Walmart than in my office. But... instead I picked up my AA batteries and coffee thermos, and checked out. Once outside though... they had half the parking lot marked off with police tape; there were marked and unmarked police cars out the wazoo; TV news people were set up and shooting. I think I might have even seen Jack Bauer (maybe not). So, being the brave soul that I am, I walked through the police tape, went up to the gathered crowd and said, "Excuse me, but I am a pastor, can I be of some assistance... Perhaps help you diffuse the situation?"

... Well, okay, that last part didn't happen. Instead I drove across the street and got Chinese food for lunch. Steamed rice with orange chicken and black pepper chicken. Got it to go and started on my way home. Never did find out what was going on in the Walmart parking lot. And probably won't since I don't watch the news, and I usually just unwrap the newspaper so I can put it in the recycling bag.

But... on my way home I got another treat: An REM song. I have always liked REM but for some strange reason I have never owned any of their music. In fact, I was once told that I have a "unique voice - kind of like Michael Stipe's." I wasn't real sure how to take that. Besides... it was... wow, like 28 years ago. I still remember Jerry telling me that as we sat and played guitars and sang at this old gas station we worked at. Jerry's brother's band used to play with REM. Actually, REM used to open shows for THEM. Anyway, I still like to listen to REM, and I still think about sounding like Michael sometimes, even though I didn't really ever think I did. He was probably just trying to say something nice and that was all he could think of.

Well, now I'm home, eating my lunch treat. Wow what a day already. It'll be hard to top this . On a sad note, seeing all the police cars kind of reminded me of the day my neighbor had the SWAT team invade his place. Every time I'm reminded of that it shakes me up still. Hmm.

Peace, folks. Carry on.

UPDATE ON BOMB THREAT: Actually, I did watch the late news. Apparently someone thought they saw a man putting a bomb under a vehicle in the Walmart parking lot. It turned out he was a private investigator hired to tail someone and he was putting a GPS device under their vehicle. Not only was he embarrassed about all the attention it garnered him, but he attached it to the wrong person's vehicle. I'm guessing he didn't have a good day.