Guest Book

Hey there sweet family, Bird, you're an inspiration! Your comment sparked a memory of the closest I can come to an ABB "Hallmark Moment" Christmas story: Long, ago and far away (1988, Superior, WI) I was leader of the Lutheran church women in NW WI and president of our church's (Bethel Lutheran) women's group. A major event of the church's holiday season (behind the children's Christmas pageant and the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services) was the Christmas Tea. The Christmas Tea, held on a weeknight early in December, was the preamble to the holiday season ... an opportunity to bake and bring your fanciest sugar cookies to church, and wear outfits that made you look like a sugar cookie as well. The evening of the Christmas Tea the Gregg Allman Band was opening for Stevie Ray Vaughn 150 miles away in Minneapolis-St. Paul. I tried very, very hard to be a good Lutheran church lady and miss the concert ... but ended up grabbing a friend of mine from Sri Lanka (non-Lutheran, so free of inner-conflict) and rolled on down to the Cities. The following Saturday I arrived at the church about 1:30 in the afternoon to unlock it, turn on the lights, and turn up the furnace for the 2:00 practice of the children's pageant. That done, I walked up to the altar to admire the easily 20 feet tall Christmas trees that had recently been put up. A few minutes later, a voice behind me said, "We missed you at the Christmas Tea. Where were you?" It was Pastor Mark Hiiva. He was leading the children in a few songs for the pageant and had come early to make sure his guitar was in tune. Church - especially at the altar - isn't a place to improv', so I told him the truth. "The Gregg Allman Band was playing in the Cities and I went to see them. I've always loved the Allman Brothers Band ... I couldn't resist." Pastor Mark, guitar in hand, strode the few steps towards me, "The Allman Brothers Band? You missed the tea to see Gregg Allman?" Amazingly lightning didn't strike as I answered, "Yes." Then Pastor Mark said, "If I'd known, I would have too!" and proceeded to play an acoustic version of Whipping Post right there between the Christmas trees while the bright afternoon sun streamed colors from the stained glass windows on us. It was practically a light show! :spinner: I almost never miss Superior, WI or socialized religion, but do miss Pastor Mark. He left Superior before I did to minister in an impoverished multi-cultural section of Los Angeles. Peach be with you, Pastor Mark. Take care and know that you are loved, Lana