Reverend Ref +

ONCE A QUARTER

I did my fourth funeral today since being in Sheridan. Since I moved to town just under a year ago (I'm a week and three days shy), that averages out to a funeral a quarter. Not one of these have been a parishioner. They have been more along the lines of "acquisitions" (as Jane likes to say).

One of my parishioners said I should go visit Bill. I did, and he eventually died. His wife has been coming to service on and off since then.

The second service was a gentleman who was from this area at one time, or maybe he just liked it, and bought a plot here at a little obscure cemetary on the outskirts of Alder. He was related somehow to one of my parishioners, so I did that one.

The third service was a man who had been here forever, knew everyone and everyone knew him. I was making hospital rounds one day and chanced upon him and his wife. Visited awhile, and he died the next day. I was asked to do the service.

Today was the aunt of a parishioner. The service was held at the UMC church down in Twin. I don't know if she was Methodist and I got to do the funeral because the Methodist minister is out of town (that whole, "You're the next guy available" thing), or if I was chosen because the relative is Episcopalian. Doesn't much matter at this point.

I keep hoping that someone from some of these funerals will drop in to church one Sunday. If nothing else, just to prove I do other things besides funerals.

Lord knows I'm not attracting them in based on my stunning good looks :P


AND SPEAKING OF OTHER THINGS BESIDES FUNERALS . . .

I have a wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner tonight and the wedding and reception tomorrow afternoon (Funeral + Wedding = Lots of Free Food).

All I need now is a baptism on Sunday and I will have hit the Liturgical Trifecta.

While all of this is going on, The Kid is turning 12 today. Tonight she is going to Bozeman for a softball tourney. Tomorrow, Mrs. Ref is taking her back up to Bozeman for the rest of the tourney, taking The Friend to the airport, and coming back to VC for the wedding reception. The Kid will ride home with The Coach.

Sunday, Mrs. Ref will take The Kid up to Polson for summer camp. That means I will have an entire week without a pre-teen girl in sight. Alleluia!! Alleluia!!

And now . . . I believe it is time for a nap.