AMEN AGAIN…

       Joey was missing today. Miss Lillian and I had the duty together—along with the gospel hour and a long, long sermon.

       Thankfully, we needed only 12 sack lunches and 15 PBJ sacks. Lillian made salad, hot dogs, and pasta for lunch. For dinner, she was heating roast beef, and steaming rice and broccoli. When she poured bacon grease over the steamed broccoli I was more thankful than ever that I don't live at the shelter.

       And, Honey, you haven't lived until you've stood over a tub sink filled with chitterlings (chittlins—pig intestines). Lillian was "cleaning them" in preparation to cook them for her sister. Several times she passed through the kitchen spraying air freshener. Suuwee!

       My dimpled one is gone. In his place (I swear) a new sweet face that I know I'll be drawn to. "Were you here last week?" I asked him.

       "No. I just got here on Monday."

       "Well, welcome!"

       This is the first week of his 6 months. Let's all wish him great success.

       I'm hurting today—there was a party last night, and I had too much fun. Lillian encouraged me to leave early, but I wanted to stay through the serving. She said the residents would much rather have me serve them than her… Lillian doesn't like those folks. She states flatly: "They're lazy. I'm sick of looking at 'em!"

       It must be hard to come to that job, year after year, schlepping so much disgust.

       Well—it's over. By next Sunday Christmas will be over. I need a nap.