Triple Bunk Bed: $100 Memories: Priceless

This morning, we had our pre-moving yard sale. We had a bunch of stuff and most of it sold, thankfully. One of the items for sale was the boys’ Triple Bunkbed. When we lived in a parsonage in Charleston and space was at a premium, we found a gentleman who made bunkbeds in nearby Goose Creek. It was made of solid wood and we spent most of a Saturday putting it together; I think I know where all the wood from Noah’s Ark went! That thing was sturdy. It was real fun watching the movers disassemble it and carry it up the stairs at the parsonage at Rock Hill and reassemble it.

When I saw it today, the memories of the boys using that bed came flooding back. They were much younger then, and we stacked them in that bunk like a cord of wood. They put their names on the bunk (in permanent ink--- which I saw again today) and we installed shelves on the end for each of them. I remember telling them nightly bedtime stories as they all three got in their places.

We sold the bunk to a young couple with three kids under seven years old. It felt good that someone who would get some use out of it was able to get it at a very good price. The memories of my family’s time with that bunk, however, are priceless.

I also got to experience a new memory that brought back very old memories for me. My youngest son, LPCoolJ, enjoyed the yard sale. He enjoyed talking with people, haggling with them, and trying to convince them that they really needed to buy “this special homemade bubblegum machine.” He finally sold it. I enjoyed watching him this morning working for a sale.

LPCoolJ and his Yard Sale adventures reminded me of my brother Eric. Eric could sell ice to Eskimos and he enjoyed it all the while. As I saw LPCoolJ work the yard, I remember Eric haggling over prices with the guy at the clothing shop when he was about my youngest son’s age.

It has been a year this month since Eric died, and I still think about him everyday. Today was another happy memory of Eric lived out in the next generation as LPCoolJ discovered the flexible price below the number on the sticker.

All sales are final.

Honey, I think I taped one of the kids in a box

We are in the middle of the packing process here. There are boxes scattered here and there. Barrels full of china stand next to a box full of Star Wars toys… I hope I put the “fragile” sticker on the right container. It is amazing how much stuff there is to pack. Our yard sale is this Saturday (come one, come all). What we have not used in five years (since the last move) as well as some furniture is going to the yard sale. Although I have a feeling that yard sale is a fancy term which means “junk rest area” in French----- the place it sits before you finally move it to the big green box with flies.

Seriously, we are doing well with the move. LPCoolJ is happy to get his own room; the Athlete is extremely happy to go to a place with such a great football legacy as Gaffney; Cadet Airman is probably happy that we are not moving too far away from his friends in Rock Hill. Mamma Deacon and I look are trying to figure out how it will all get done by June 17.

I will post more later…if I don’t pack the mouse.

OK, can you guess my next appointment?

A couple of updates

This past week, I talked with Scott Wachter, the chairperson of the Conference Board of Church and Society. Scott said the resolution concerning Wofford's advertising practices was being pulled. He has been informed that Wofford has opted not to renew its advertising contract with Advance America, therefore the resolution is moot. I have not discovered yet what Wofford's thinking is on advertising for the South Carolina Educational Lottery Corporation. Will that continue or is it "not renewed" as well?

Here is an update for me, since it has been a few weeks since I blogged. At one time, I thought Sciatica was a place in Asia Minor that Paul visited on one of his missionary journeys. Recently, I discovered Sciatica is located near one of the outer rings of Hell. Sciatica is the irritation of the nerve that runs down the leg from the base of the spine. Sciatica is a burning, stabbing pain down the entire leg that leaves one crying in misery. I had it. I am still recovering from it.

Additionally, we are moving this June and we are trying to pack.

Between these two things, the blog has taken a back seat. I will blog next week when I can officially say what most people already know---where in the world is Sacramental Dude going?

Hurray for the Board of Church and Society

As I listened to the General Conference streaming webcast tonight, I went over to the South Carolina Annual Conference website and looked at pre-conference reports for our conference gathering in June. After my post about Wofford and Honor a couple of weeks back, I was happy to see this resolution proposed by the South Carolina Conference Board of Church and Society concerning Wofford College and predatory lending. Maybe the Board will accept a friendly amendment to formally ask Wofford to not accept advertising for the South Carolina Educational Lottery either.

I thank the members of that Board for their leadership and work on this issue.