Washington, D.C.!

Wow! I can't believe I am so far away from Edmonton so quickly! I've had 2 great flights today, with hopefully 2 more great flights to go.

Funny thing happened in Minneapolis.....this man, probably 45ish who is an airline employee walked up to the gate at which I was waiting, and he looked so familiar to me. He walked up to me and said, "You look so familiar to me." We exchanged names, but have never met, I don't think. His name was Hebert Henry, or Henry Hebert...can't remember which now. Anyway, kind of funny.

Flying from Minneapolis to Washington was very interesting. We flew over Lake Michigan - wow, I don't think I ever realized the breadth of that lake. It looked like an ocean for a while!

I was sort of prepared, but not totally, for the landing at Washington's Reagan National Airport. The final banking move made me gasp and jump in my seat, which made the guy sitting next to me laugh. For a while, I was used to the landings here, but it has been a while, and it is a shocker when it happens!

I bought the Washington Post and look forward to absorbing it on the way to Atlanta. One of the front page stories today has an interesting headline: Primary-Care Doctor Shortage May Undermine Reform Efforts. What? I thought this is where all the trained up doctors in Canada are going? If they are short here and short in Canada, we are in some deep trouble!

Next stop, Atlanta..... never even stopped there before, so I am looking forward to it.

In The Beginning

What a night! Last night, I saw the phenomenal Ruthie Foster in concert at the Jubilee....she was really phenomenal!! It is not a misnomer. The Blind Boys of Alabama were pretty awesome, too. All in all, it was a great night. As Randy, Arlene and I left the Jubilee, and stepped into the cool, fresh air of a beautiful Edmonton night, I felt the tug of this place afresh on my heart. Honestly, summer here is unbeatable. And it is finally summer!

Driving home with both windows rolled down, I marvelled in the moment and thanked God that He made such a beautiful night that I am already anticipating and longing for my return next week! Perhaps that has something to do with the 100 degree (37 - 38 C) weather I will no doubt be experiencing in Alabama in less than 16 hours. But perhaps it is just the way it is supposed to be.

Cliff and Harriett brought me to the airport today. We drove through quite a bit of scenic mist along the Anthony Henday along the way - beautiful. I learned that there is a lot (I mean a lot) of peat moss in the ground here - we could see where construction was taking place how far they have to go down here to get below the peat moss, and I caught myself thinking about the years spent with my foundation and geotechnical engineering friends in Washington, D.C. - one leg of this journey. Barbara - I hope you will be around next week - would love to get together and catch up.

After hugging C&H, I entered the airport with a sense of anticipation - what interesting things does God have arranged today? I checked in, getting through all the rigamarole that is designed to make us safe flying, but seems to take forever to get through. And then, as if on cue, I recognized two women as I went to sit down and wait for my flight.....the phenomenal Ruthie Foster and her bassist cousin!!! I had to tell her what a blessing she is to me - wish I had a camera!!! Honestly, could the day start in any better way???

Today, I am also thinking about NP's tennis tournament - looks like the weather will hold up -

Off to my next checkpoint - Minneapolis here I come!

Ciao for now, but not for long.