The Adventures of Fric and Frac: Adventure 247: Wib and Arlene's/Newton, KS/Post B

Break this bread and drink this cup in remembrance of Me.

Nothing could be finer than waking to a breakfast of Abe K French Toast and Kielbasa for breakfast. Like all of her sisters, Arlene learned the method well. Since it is sister time, we played no game today, nor are we likely to play tomorrow, but we did have a nice day. Judy and Arlene did sister stuff, and I spent much of the day helping Wilbur get his computer working in a way that he can use it. He has been fully blind for thirty or forty years, but that doesn't stop him much. He's an avid gardener, a handyman who works power tools, and he's more than capable of getting himself around, but it's hard to be intuitive pushing buttons blindly. He has a Windows computer that has a voice recognition program attached to it. His problem was an unwanted program opened at startup. I know so little that the old cliche of "blind leading the blind" came into play, but I did manage to change the startup properties and close the unwanted program. We also figured a way for Wilbur to get to his journal. Mostly, I used my terrific skills of hunting and pecking until I finally figured a few things out. By that time, we had been in front of the box for most of the day. The afternoon was delightfully filled with Arlene's Easter tea. She served ham spread (A true Newton delicacy-we buy some every time we come) tea sandwiches, cookies, chocolate eggs, candied eggs, and sweet tea. Eight or so ladies came, most of whom are either part of Arlene's counseling group or long time friends. Wilbur wasn't feeling well, so while he rested, I represented the male gender ( Imagine, if you can, my dainty little fingers clutching a ham loaf tea sandwich, one little pinky sticking stylishly out). To top the day off, we attended a Maundy Thursday service at the First Mennonite Church of Newton. A light dinner was served that replicated the Last Supper. From there we adjourned to the Sanctuary to complete the service, which centered around the theme and old time hymn (One of my favorites) "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?". The service was excellent. There were oral readings interspersed with the verses of the hymn. John's voice spoke, and then Peter's. Then the hymn asked, "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" Then the voices of Caiaphus, Herod, Pilate, and Simon of Cyrene spoke. The hymn asked, "Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?" Then Mary's voice spoke as did a resident of Jerusalem. The hymn asked, "Were you there when they pierced him in the side?" Then Joseph of Arimathea spoke. And the hymn asked, "Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?" To finish the service, the choir (Arlene sings in the choir) sang a two song medley of Lamb of God with O Precious Lord. The church lights dimmed and the congregation was left to meditate on where we'll be when he rises from the tomb. It was quite silent. Afterward, as we moved to the parking lot, the nearly full moon was putting on a show as it peeked in and out of an amazing bank of clouds. It's hard to deny the power of God in times like these. It's also hard to deny that life is good, especially today.