Today I am thankful that we attend a UU church. Our congregation met in our newly-refurbished sanctuary for the first time in 12 weeks and said a collective "NO!" to the evil that visited our sister congregation last week - an evil that is present anytime people choose to hate each other because they differ in opinion and act on that hatred. Our covenants were renewed, our building rededicated. We had a beautiful service today, filled with spirit and love and sorrow and hope, all at once.
On a much lighter note, going to church this morning also made me happy because I was reminded that one perk of our church's location is that it's around the corner from Einstein Bros. There is not one closer to my home than this, and it's a rare treat that we get fresh bagels. Today, though, was such a day for rare treats.
__________________________________________________
This is for my friend, Mrs. The King:
The Three Southern Belles (a quickly-typed version I posted five years ago)
Once upon a time there were three Southern women sitting on the front porch of an old plantation home, sippin jueleps and sloppin sugar and swappin darling husband stories.
The first lady said to her *friends*, "Ma deahs, for our fuhst anniversary my husband got me this gorgeous 5 carat diamond ring. See how it spahhhkles and shiiiines? He said it was a reflection of the many facets of his nevah-endin luv for me."
The second belle said, "Oh, honey! What a precious man you married!!! That is a truly wonderful ring!"
The third smiled sweetly and said, "that's niiiice."
The second lady then said to the others, "Well, for our fuhst anniversary, my sweet John took me on a trip around the globe! He said that all the treasures of the world were his in me, and he wanted to show me beauty like I'd brought to his life."
The first woman said, "Oh, my! How extravagant and romantic! You are a lucky lady to have such a dahlin' man!"
The third smiled sweetly and said, "Oh, that IS niiiice."
This went on for some time, going through the major life moments and the gifts that accompanied them. To all of these, the third belle smiled her slow smile and said, "that's niiiiice."
At long last, the first two belles, realizing that their friend had yet to offer up any stories of her husband said, "well, dahlin, what did YOUR husband give you for your fuhst anniversary?"
"For our fuhst anniversary," she began, "my husband sent me to ettiqutte school."
The other women were horrified! "But whatever for? You're just the sweetest, dearest little ol' thing! Why on Earth would that cad send you to ettiquette school?!?!?!"
"Well," said she, "I used to say 'F*** you, B!tch!' Now, I simply smile and say, "That's niiiiiiice."
I hope this helps, Mrs. The King. I'm praying for ya!
