Hazelnut Reflections

mid-marathon

(To my loyal readers of the last few posts: I'm afraid "Episcopalian notoriety" was a turn of phrase encompassing Casady School, All Souls' and the Cathedral.)

So we had a lovely Celebration of New Ministry on Thursday night at husband's church. The church was nicely full and many of our clergy colleagues showed up, and new friends from Guthrie, Shawnee, Tahlequah and Norman. Husband, preacher and I were taken to dinner by diocesan staff. There was the service. I was the litanist, so I was nervous for the first bit--one wants to sound good at a service honoring one's own husband, n'est-ce pas?

I think husband and staff did a nice job of including as many people and groups as possible in the event, and as always, the church hosted a very lovely reception. Anyone want to come over for leftover cake?

Of course, when we arrived, the cats fulfilled their appropriate function of keeping our egos in check by demanding the attention that had been denied them all day. It is, after all, all about them.

Yesterday's surprise for me was a trip to the Myriad Gardens and Crystal Bridge right here in downtown OKC. I had not been there yet, but took the in-laws after lunch yesterday. What a lovely, lovely place. It's tucked away in downtown, and you would not know how many little paths and water features were hidden so close as you drive down Reno or Sheridan. The Crystal Bridge is a tropical conservatory, very cleverly designed over a canal, and literally filled to the brim with warm weather plants, both tropical and arid.

OKC is holding up very well under inspection by our out-of-town guests. They especially were stunned by Lake Hefner, which none of them expected. (One of them thought I was kidding when I kept mentioning that we were going to have lunch by the lake>) We've also fed them well, hitting some of our favorite places--Iron Starr, La Baguette and Java Dave's, Pearl's on the Lake.

I'm still very tired, and we have three more days of entertaining, so profound thoughts will be few and far between for a little while longer.

posted by Emily @ 8:20 AM