Days 61 & 62, March 27 & 28, Cape Charles, VA

 Ever have those days when you leave home with a long list of errands to run and nothing seems to go right for you?  It can be a day of frustration with little accomplished.  Then there are days completely opposite, where all the stars align and you sail through your to-do list with ease.  Well, today was one of those lovely days when the gods favored us and everything fell into place wonderfully.  We had our transmission serviced directly across the street from where I did two weeks worth of laundry.  We then had our rear brakes worked on across the street from Walmart, Natural Grocers, and REI where I did my grocery shopping and picked up supplies for the cold bike ride which awaits us this week.  Just down the street a couple of blocks was the Valvoline facility for an oil change, and close by was Costco for the final groceries I needed.  The truck was tied up from 9am to 5pm, so we were on foot all that time but yet were able to walk where we needed to be and accomplished everything we've been too busy playing to attend to.  I love successful days like this!

Good deed:  Some days it's a real stretch to find an opportunity to bless a life.  Other days it just all comes together.  The toothless chain-smoking woman running the laundromat was actually a sweet, helpful and pleasant woman.  With her small income, her lunch consisted of a Big Gulp and nasty sugar-laden junk cakes from Dollar General.  So before we left, I secretly slipped her a couple of high-quality protein bars from my lunch along with $20.  It's most enjoyable to do these things without the recipient being aware; makes it fun to tee-hee away stealthily, and it alleviates any awkwardness.  Then in Walmart, we were approached by a homeless guy who gently and respectfully made his case for why we should give him some cash.  Aaron and I hesitate to give cash to folks we suspect may use the money for drugs or alcohol, preferring instead to provide food or gas.  But this guy moved us, and we gave him some money.  It choked Aaron up as we contemplated that, regardless of the life choices this man has made which brought him to this low place, still he needs to beg strangers for money, and nobody wants to be in that place.  My rough-and-tough cowboy husband has the kindest and softest soul.  

Yesterday being the Sabbath, we choose to attend church north up the cape at a tiny branch of saints who numbered about twenty.  The assigned speakers failed to materialize, so the Branch President improvised well, and we had a lovely albeit short Sacrament Meeting followed by a long delightful Relief Society meeting attended by all 4 of us women.  We shared stories and testimonies and counsel with each other, and it was one of the sweetest experiences I've had in some time with fellow sisters.  Afterwards, everybody hung around for another 30 minutes chatting and catching up and including us in their friendly discussion.

The Branch President shared a humorous story.  He and his wife retired from the city about 18 months ago, moving to this small rural area to build their retirement home.  Since covid prevented church attendance at that time, he phoned the current Branch President to inform him of their arrival in the area.  Well, two days later, he received a calling to serve as the new Branch President.  Seems the old one was moving and vacating this unpaid position, and the new arrival seemed like just the guy to take over the responsibilities of the little flock.  He knew nobody in the area and had not served in such a high level of leadership before so was quite overwhelmed.  When Aaron told this new president that he, Aaron, had served for 9 years as Branch President, the man became quite pale and declared his earnest desire that such will not be his fate for so long a commitment.  Ha!  I'm sure he will become more confident in his role as time and experience help him develop into a fine leader.

Sorry for the lack of pictures; how boring for you, dear reader!  But we are off tomorrow to Harper's Ferry, WV, to embark on a week-long bike adventure along the Chesapeake-Ohio towpath complete with a visit to Washington DC in time for the cherry blossom festival followed by a quick run to New York City and Carnegie Hall where my grandchildren will perform.  So buckle up, partner!