Every day the same routine

A tall man, coughing, comes into the coffee shop, choking on years of phlegm, with an unlit cigarette between his fingers. He goes to the counter, orders coffee, then goes outside and sits in the cold, drinks coffee and smokes. Then he comes in, goes to the counter, asks the clerk what the time is. Sometimes he asks to use the phone. Then he goes back outside to sit, wait, and cough.

Monday's question

"Hillary or Obama?"

"I'm a McCain man myself."

"I haven't met many of those."

"We veterans need to stick together."

"Which war?"

"Vietnam."

Ash Wednesday

Easter is really early this year. Our Lytham location had 3 services--early a.m., noon, and 7:30. My husband and I served communion for the evening service. In the morning at Panera's almost everyone I saw had the gray cross on their foreheads. The ashes are from last year's Palm Sunday, I've been told. One family of five that I recognized sat near by and the father prayed over their bagels--and it was a long prayer--I think in his language, although the three children speak beautiful English. It was a beautiful way to start the Lenten season.

Cross posted at Church of the Acronym