OUT TO PASTOR: Practice doesn’t always make perfect

 This month, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and her amazing husband will celebrate 54 years of marital bliss.I can’t believe how fast the time has gone. It only seems like yesterday that we got married. Maybe that’s the benefit of getting old.I remember the beginning of our life together.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 93

 After that night – which was July 27, 1973 – Mama took a turn for the worse.The next morning, Saturday the 28th, Mama awakened for a while but was not very coherent. She managed to reach out for me to take her hand.

OUT TO PASTOR: What is was... was a cookie

 At least once a month, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and her daughter will spend a day visiting thrift stores in our community.I’m not sure, so don’t quote me, but I think there’s a 100-mile radius where they do their shopping.This past week was one of those days.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 92

 When I came back, they were engaged in lady talk, as I call it. Mama reached out to feel Corrina’s dress, which was a pretty combination of green and red with white laces girls like to wear.

OUT TO PASTOR: I had a thought but I can’t remember it

 I just celebrated another birthday. I never imagined I would get this old, but here I am, old and still breathing.Reflecting on my birthday celebration, I looked back on my life and realized I’ve been so busy that I’ve haven’t had much chance to think.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 92

 How intuitive could a dark-haired girl be at a mere 16 years of age, I wondered, as we drove on?I realized there was a great deal of biography in that talk about “Lonely Street,” and Corrina seemed to sense it long before I did. But we had a good laugh, the best since our backyard talk.

OUT TO PASTOR: And then it’s Monday… again

 I’m not sure if it’s just me getting old or something altogether different.Time seems to go by fast.My father used to say, “The older you get the faster time goes.”I’m finally beginning to understand what he meant by that.At the time, I laughed at him and didn’t understand what he was saying.

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 91

 The following Friday evening, Corrina and I visited Mama as we had planned.Corrina was a mystery, that I was learning. In that way, she was like Doocy himself.

OUT TO PASTOR: One more candle on another cake

 The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I were finishing our supper.If anyone can put together a marvelous supper, it is she.If anybody can eat a marvelous supper, it is me.As we were finishing, she looked over at me and said, “My dear, do you know what we will be celebrating next week?

FRONT-PORCH GOSPEL: This life story begins in 1973 (kind of) part 90

 With the congregation gathered around, Doocy was prepared to go on.