Each year now since 1992 we attend this wonderful Arts and Music festival called CORNERSTONE. It's hosted by the folk who comprise Jesus People USA. Over the years we have developed numerous rich friendships with individuals and families in the community. A number of our children have lived at "Freindly Towers" in the heart of the windy city of Chicago.

Anyway, we rent a car to go down to illinois. Save on our vehicles ware and tare. I called and booked a car five weeks before we had to leave. Four days before D day i call just to confirm. Everythings a go...

I normally book from one place this time out i don't know why but i rented from another agency.
The day comes.. actually about six hours before we plan to leave.

We go to pick up the car... everything is fine till he asks " Oh and where are you going to"
"Illinois" i reply.
'What kind of Kilometer package would you like" he counters

It turns out if you take the car out of Ontario it's 16 cents a K. Both times i called nobody mentioned a thing about that "rule". In the past when i had gone with the other Car Rental it was always unlimited Kilometers.

Well needless to say we reached an impasse... Mainly over the fact that it was going to cost me aprox. another three hundred dollars for the car. He felt it my responsabilty to maintain the up keep of his rental cars.

I left with no car and with my tail tucked firmly between my legs called the other folks whom i'd always rented from.... i prayed... God please we need a car...

They had no cars for rent...

I turn fifty three today... man where does the time go... feel like a 16 year old kid trapped in side a crumbling teniment building. The floors creek, the doors are coimg off their hinges and the plaster is cracking. But it still has that old world charm.

Any way at milestones (at this point each subsiquent birthday is a milestone) i guess it's appropriate to reflect...

I'm a blessed man and i really don't understand how it all works... all i can do is humbly bow my heart and thank the Creator of everything seen and unseen.

I've been married to my best friend going on 35 years now. Not along time by eternal standards, but Mary is still a waiting her medal of endurance. All in all the spark is still kindled, if ya know what i mean.

We have seven children we not only love but like. I'm deeply proud of each of them and the people they have become and consider it a privaledge to be a part of there lives. We are richly blessed with family that are friends and a bevy of friends who are family.

I have had the oppurtunity to be involved in stuff that i have enjoyed doing. We have always seemed to be carving out a path through the woods. We've had a blast and if the terrain is any indication of the road a head, we are preparing for more of the same.

Sooooooo "Thank you Lord for thinking about me i'm a live and doing fine..."