There is a sadness even in gaining freedom from what seems an oppressive situation. Five years of work, and little to see for it. Oh, I know I've touched lives, helped people, created some new understanding. It's just that pastors as well as churches like to see growth, we often just have different views of how to accomplish said growth. And different understandings of how church ought to function. And I've been reminded because we've had situations that have come up over the five years repeatedly with the church parlimentarian saying this is how it needs to work based on the Constiitution, and people promptly announcing that ain't the way it's supposed to work. So, why would I feel bad about walking away from that?
Well, there have been friendships developed that will now be truncated. There have been dreams of staying until we retired that are dashed. There are hopes for what could be accomplished that are gone. There have been dreams of deeper involvment in the Conference that now will not occur - unless something miraculously changes in the next few weeks. Reason for sadness!
There is also the freedom that I won't need to go to meetings where people may listen, but in most cases won't care what I say about directions. I won't have to put up with surliness and suspicion and tw0-facedness. I'm hoping that this will shock the church enough that they will truly take the time to figure out who they are and what they want from a pastor. I'm hoping the tension that exists between the lifers and the newbies will be dealt with in a manner that will bring new strength, pride in heritage and a commitment to be the socially connected and active that has been the signature of this congregation through their long and storied history.
But my part is done. Farewell!
Next, a NEW CHAPTER!
Peace!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The End
Today I signed the letter detailing the terms of the severance package. Five years of ministry will come to an end just two weeks beyond that fifth anniversary. The issues are complex and deal with both myself and the church. There are people delighted that I'm not a piece of history for this community. There are others who will be devastated by this move. So how is this something that pertinent for the blog?
Well, here goes! Those delighted will point to my lack of cooperation with their desired direction, they will say I didn't listen to them. Those devastated will say but we didn't find any reason for this! We like his sermons, we appreciated his teaching and visits and counseling. The truth? It lies somewhere in the middle. I know I didn't fulfill all the desires of the congregation. I tried to move in direction of helping them see some new directions for ministry, and to understand that all the church growth studies I have heard or read say that long term sustained growth comes through the congregation instead of from the pastor. I tried to lead them into the direction of new forms of worship, new understandings of how the church reaches out to younger people.
I have listened to those who wanted me to function as a 1950's pastor in the twenty-first century when people are dual career families scheduled to the brow-line with sports, dance, school and family activities. I have tried to help them see that with that kind of scheduling, it's impossible to function as a 1950's pastor. I have not been successful, not to the smallest degree.
So what do I want now? Only a couple of things, that we can find a place to live, jobs, and healing. That the church will in fact figure out who they are, what they want, and if they want to survive - which will include a level of commitment that hasn't been evidence so far in my tenure.
God be with us all! Please, God!!
Peace!
Well, here goes! Those delighted will point to my lack of cooperation with their desired direction, they will say I didn't listen to them. Those devastated will say but we didn't find any reason for this! We like his sermons, we appreciated his teaching and visits and counseling. The truth? It lies somewhere in the middle. I know I didn't fulfill all the desires of the congregation. I tried to move in direction of helping them see some new directions for ministry, and to understand that all the church growth studies I have heard or read say that long term sustained growth comes through the congregation instead of from the pastor. I tried to lead them into the direction of new forms of worship, new understandings of how the church reaches out to younger people.
I have listened to those who wanted me to function as a 1950's pastor in the twenty-first century when people are dual career families scheduled to the brow-line with sports, dance, school and family activities. I have tried to help them see that with that kind of scheduling, it's impossible to function as a 1950's pastor. I have not been successful, not to the smallest degree.
So what do I want now? Only a couple of things, that we can find a place to live, jobs, and healing. That the church will in fact figure out who they are, what they want, and if they want to survive - which will include a level of commitment that hasn't been evidence so far in my tenure.
God be with us all! Please, God!!
Peace!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Freight Train, Freight Train
A week ago, the member of the Church's Staff Parish Board told me, when I purposed an end date for a troubled relationship with the congregation, that the Board didn't want to simply push me out of the parish, and I should continue to serve and search. Yesterday, that same person returned to inform me that the pressure was ratcheted up, and I'm to be gone by the end of June. As is my modus operendi, I stayed calm and reasoned on the exterior, while trembling with fear and anger inside. That representative is attempting to set up a meeting tomorrow night to talk over and finalize arrangements for our departure faster than contractually required.
Fortunately, the landlady called yesterday and we told her; she took it far better than we had expected, stating that we had been good renters, and suggesting she won't hold us to the two month written notice because it is easier to find renters in summer than in winter. We still have a repair we will get done next week, and will have the carpet cleaned before we leave, even though it probably should be ripped up and replaced before the place is rented again.
Churches have long be known for their two faces, one compassionate and long-suffering, the other more flinty and abrupt. We knew this was coming, and have been trying to work around it, both with proposals for new ministry opportunities here, and in seeking a new location in which to do ministry. The former has met with stiff resistance at nearly every turn here, and the latter has simply not resulted in anything we felt confident about trying.
So now we attempt to exercise that trust that God is in control, our needs will be met, and there is something better yet to come. It is hard, there is no denying that; but can it be as hard of Jesus knowing his most trusted friends were involved in betraying, abandoning, denying and hiding from his trial? My life will go on, I will provide for my wife, in one way or another, and the sun will still come up tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll try to find a way to make lemonade out of this basket of lemons I've just been handed.
Peace!
Fortunately, the landlady called yesterday and we told her; she took it far better than we had expected, stating that we had been good renters, and suggesting she won't hold us to the two month written notice because it is easier to find renters in summer than in winter. We still have a repair we will get done next week, and will have the carpet cleaned before we leave, even though it probably should be ripped up and replaced before the place is rented again.
Churches have long be known for their two faces, one compassionate and long-suffering, the other more flinty and abrupt. We knew this was coming, and have been trying to work around it, both with proposals for new ministry opportunities here, and in seeking a new location in which to do ministry. The former has met with stiff resistance at nearly every turn here, and the latter has simply not resulted in anything we felt confident about trying.
So now we attempt to exercise that trust that God is in control, our needs will be met, and there is something better yet to come. It is hard, there is no denying that; but can it be as hard of Jesus knowing his most trusted friends were involved in betraying, abandoning, denying and hiding from his trial? My life will go on, I will provide for my wife, in one way or another, and the sun will still come up tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll try to find a way to make lemonade out of this basket of lemons I've just been handed.
Peace!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Knowing when it is time
Yesterday I went to the funeral of a woman who had spent her whole life serving others, who had found her life's love 14 years ago, and who knew when it was time. She suffered from diabetes, had the toes of her left foot removed, then part of the foot, then part of the leg. When her kidneys went into renal failure, she simply said enough. Her loving husband took her home, and their loving church supported them, giving him time to be with her as she died, and supporting in other needful ways as well. That is a wonderful picture of the way church should work for all - one big, loving family, ready and willing to learn with each other, support each other, and offer both shared laughter, and shared tears.
The story of Jesus and the woman suffering from 12 years of internal hemmoraging was the text for the message, and as the preacher noted, it really seemed to discribe this amazing woman. She finally had had enough poking, prodding and trying one more thing, and as the preacher said, she reached out to touch the fringe of Jesus' robe. Through that difficult-to-understand, difficult-to-accept transition called death, her Savior made her well, made her whole. One of her classmates in a program to prepare lay members of our churches to assist in ministry and deepen their own faith, spoke of the same passage as the one this lady chose to preach from in the preaching class - where her transformation in the power of God became most evident - where she "blew us away with the Spirit-power of her preaching," putting all her own feeling of frustration with medicine into illustrating reaching out full of longing and hope to touch the fringes of the robe of this great healer, said to give hearing to the deaf, sight to the blind, mobility to those unable to move and life to the dead.
Again, what wonderful imagery of what our Christian life is to be about. Those are NOT simply stories, they are the stories of our lives as we struggle with things that don't make sense, disease that just cannot be healed, anger, hatred and life-crippling despair that controls a life that wants more. These are the stories to help us discover that Jesus is still here, though perhaps in the guise of a 55 year old woman who died from complications brought on by diabetes, or a soldier in the middle of a war-ravaged land who decides that little child with such a serious health problem deserves better, and uses all his or her pull and connections to get mother and child or perhaps family to a place where care can be given to at least this one small, desperate child of God.
May the joy this woman knew in her faith, the courage she showed in her determination of the end, and the serenity of her trust in her Savior become a real and lasting part of all our lives.
Peace!
The story of Jesus and the woman suffering from 12 years of internal hemmoraging was the text for the message, and as the preacher noted, it really seemed to discribe this amazing woman. She finally had had enough poking, prodding and trying one more thing, and as the preacher said, she reached out to touch the fringe of Jesus' robe. Through that difficult-to-understand, difficult-to-accept transition called death, her Savior made her well, made her whole. One of her classmates in a program to prepare lay members of our churches to assist in ministry and deepen their own faith, spoke of the same passage as the one this lady chose to preach from in the preaching class - where her transformation in the power of God became most evident - where she "blew us away with the Spirit-power of her preaching," putting all her own feeling of frustration with medicine into illustrating reaching out full of longing and hope to touch the fringes of the robe of this great healer, said to give hearing to the deaf, sight to the blind, mobility to those unable to move and life to the dead.
Again, what wonderful imagery of what our Christian life is to be about. Those are NOT simply stories, they are the stories of our lives as we struggle with things that don't make sense, disease that just cannot be healed, anger, hatred and life-crippling despair that controls a life that wants more. These are the stories to help us discover that Jesus is still here, though perhaps in the guise of a 55 year old woman who died from complications brought on by diabetes, or a soldier in the middle of a war-ravaged land who decides that little child with such a serious health problem deserves better, and uses all his or her pull and connections to get mother and child or perhaps family to a place where care can be given to at least this one small, desperate child of God.
May the joy this woman knew in her faith, the courage she showed in her determination of the end, and the serenity of her trust in her Savior become a real and lasting part of all our lives.
Peace!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
A telling comment
I'm told my father-in-law once made a very telling, damning remark to one of those trying to keep a local church mired in a dead past. That comment was, "God calls you to be pillars of the church, not pillows of the church!"
Too many today want the church to be a warm fuzzy in life, no challenge, no responsibility, no accountability, just one nice easy ride. I make my public pronouncement, drop my check in the plate and show up occasionally. That's all I need to do, and God is obligated to let me into the new realm for my generous support of the church. Some believe that joining civic clubs counts for church work - I give my dues and extra money to help "the poor," participate in community minded events and that's all I'm required to do. Jesus will let me in. Some seem to think that running a corporation for a strong bottom line is what we need to do in order to be faithful.
Well, let's look to the roots of our faith - Jesus wouldn't allow the disciples to seek a warm fuzzy, he constantly challenged them to push their limits, to move outside their comfort zones and confront the wrongs of society. Jesus required more than attendance, more than a financial contribution, more than lip service. He required faithful living of the new covenant he was mediating. That new covenant required offering the same response to the marginalized that Jesus gave; it required the willingness to give away what would make me comfortable to help another live; it required the wilingness to expend my very life in order to help another find the God of love and grace Jesus preached. Salvation and grace are a FREE GIFT of God, not an obligation we lay on God by our marvelous good works - that was the route the Pharisees attempted to teach. Jesus didn't allow people to join groups where a morning or an afternoon of gardening made one feel the spiritual requirement was met; he required his followers to get into the gutter, to take the shirt off their backs, to take the food from their knapsacks and give it away to overwhelming numbers.
We also need to remember Jesus allowed the purse of the group to be held by an alleged embezzler, and extravagantly used the resources others gave to meet far greater needs than any believed possible. His belief was that God called him and us to do extravagant things, and would bless our efforts.
I know of a church of marginalized persons who formed with a promise to the United Church of Christ, that if allowed to pursue membership, they would tithe (10%) their income to the Association and Conference. They did so well, they were able to actually do that and more. They were so filled with the grace we want to claim that when the vote was taken on their potential membership, THEY asked for secret ballots so all could vote their conscience. And even though some unscrupulous clergy attempted to stack the deck, this fine congregation - and yes, I know of what I speak, for I followed their growth and attended their worship to find them among the most welcoming and loving congregations I've ever been around - was in fact voted in by a wide margin of first time attending lay people. In other words, the grace they acted with won the day in the face of liars, fear mongers and bigots.
An important point that cannot be stressed enough is that grace is the FREE gift of God! We can never, NEVER place God in our debt. A corporate understanding of the church kills the spirit, destroys the ability to engage each member in the special ministry to which the Spirit calls them, and leaves all stifled, unable to see the wonderful grace and new life God wants to share.
My constant hope, even in the face of those who cannot see the writing on the wall, is that the church catholic will finally come to understand that we are about ministry and mission, not a fine fat bottom line or staff that obediently walk the paths of comfort and warm fuzzy for us.
Peace - but not TOO much!!
Too many today want the church to be a warm fuzzy in life, no challenge, no responsibility, no accountability, just one nice easy ride. I make my public pronouncement, drop my check in the plate and show up occasionally. That's all I need to do, and God is obligated to let me into the new realm for my generous support of the church. Some believe that joining civic clubs counts for church work - I give my dues and extra money to help "the poor," participate in community minded events and that's all I'm required to do. Jesus will let me in. Some seem to think that running a corporation for a strong bottom line is what we need to do in order to be faithful.
Well, let's look to the roots of our faith - Jesus wouldn't allow the disciples to seek a warm fuzzy, he constantly challenged them to push their limits, to move outside their comfort zones and confront the wrongs of society. Jesus required more than attendance, more than a financial contribution, more than lip service. He required faithful living of the new covenant he was mediating. That new covenant required offering the same response to the marginalized that Jesus gave; it required the willingness to give away what would make me comfortable to help another live; it required the wilingness to expend my very life in order to help another find the God of love and grace Jesus preached. Salvation and grace are a FREE GIFT of God, not an obligation we lay on God by our marvelous good works - that was the route the Pharisees attempted to teach. Jesus didn't allow people to join groups where a morning or an afternoon of gardening made one feel the spiritual requirement was met; he required his followers to get into the gutter, to take the shirt off their backs, to take the food from their knapsacks and give it away to overwhelming numbers.
We also need to remember Jesus allowed the purse of the group to be held by an alleged embezzler, and extravagantly used the resources others gave to meet far greater needs than any believed possible. His belief was that God called him and us to do extravagant things, and would bless our efforts.
I know of a church of marginalized persons who formed with a promise to the United Church of Christ, that if allowed to pursue membership, they would tithe (10%) their income to the Association and Conference. They did so well, they were able to actually do that and more. They were so filled with the grace we want to claim that when the vote was taken on their potential membership, THEY asked for secret ballots so all could vote their conscience. And even though some unscrupulous clergy attempted to stack the deck, this fine congregation - and yes, I know of what I speak, for I followed their growth and attended their worship to find them among the most welcoming and loving congregations I've ever been around - was in fact voted in by a wide margin of first time attending lay people. In other words, the grace they acted with won the day in the face of liars, fear mongers and bigots.
An important point that cannot be stressed enough is that grace is the FREE gift of God! We can never, NEVER place God in our debt. A corporate understanding of the church kills the spirit, destroys the ability to engage each member in the special ministry to which the Spirit calls them, and leaves all stifled, unable to see the wonderful grace and new life God wants to share.
My constant hope, even in the face of those who cannot see the writing on the wall, is that the church catholic will finally come to understand that we are about ministry and mission, not a fine fat bottom line or staff that obediently walk the paths of comfort and warm fuzzy for us.
Peace - but not TOO much!!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Booglie-bashing
After a counselor treating me for clergy-burnout suggested I hoe the garden or pound nails while thinking of my most frustrating antagonist, I modified that when video games and computer games came along. I can deal with those people who drive me around the bend, because, usually, after an episode, I go home and engage in on-line gaming or fire up the PS2 and engage in some synthetic bashing. It hasn't turned me into a raving maniac, but it does allow frustration to be vented in a socially acceptable manner.
When I have meetings that are enough to have me gnashing my teeth, pulling my hair and talking in rumbling mutters, I look to the games to relieve some of that stress, vent some of the annoyance, and allow me to cool down enough to even think straight.
Sometimes I don't have that outlet, and those are the times I notice that the burn lasts longest. Lesson to be learned - find an outlet for that stress, whether it is gaming, building, hoeing in the garden, or pounding the tar out of a loaf of bread dough - so your true self can come through and really seek an answer, or see that this is one of those you simply have to listen to with half an ear and forget!
Peace!
When I have meetings that are enough to have me gnashing my teeth, pulling my hair and talking in rumbling mutters, I look to the games to relieve some of that stress, vent some of the annoyance, and allow me to cool down enough to even think straight.
Sometimes I don't have that outlet, and those are the times I notice that the burn lasts longest. Lesson to be learned - find an outlet for that stress, whether it is gaming, building, hoeing in the garden, or pounding the tar out of a loaf of bread dough - so your true self can come through and really seek an answer, or see that this is one of those you simply have to listen to with half an ear and forget!
Peace!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Ooffda
My wife and I were comparing notes after an email post she read, and for the first time since about 1977, I haven't been into work all week. Fortunately my employment is such that if I miss a week, it doesn't destroy business. I think when I step into the pulpit tomorrow, there will be people who will ask why I'm back? I've been on antibiotics since Monday, slurping down codeine cough syrup and popping extra Vitamin C. For part of the week I've added Tessalon pearls. I've drunk fluids like they were going out of style. And I've found concentrating on anything to be almost more than I could do.
But now I've got to get back into it! Why? Am I being pressured by others to do this? No, I need to get back into it because enough is enough! I've just been given reason to start looking at post-retirement options to fill time. I've started trying to write a couple of times, so I'll be more intentional on that. I've enjoyed bird-watching for a while, so I'll try to be more intentional about that as well. I've done handicrafts in the past, and may pick that up. I'll also look at some volunteering, maybe getting back into youth soccer coaching, or baseball, or something. I've even considered taking training for intentional interim work - training to become a pastor who goes into a church between settled pastors with training to help them deal with issues that will impair their future ministry under a new settled pastor.
Little did I know that so near the completion of the Retirement Seminar, I'd be forced to consider some of what we talked about that day in a forced scenario. But it has been good for me. I know realize with a vengeance what others know - retirement can't be sitting back and doing nothing or one heads for an early grave!
So, with plans and hopes to help us get along with life after we severe that "pre-retirement" work situation, let's move through the future with an eye to what will happen when -
Peace!
But now I've got to get back into it! Why? Am I being pressured by others to do this? No, I need to get back into it because enough is enough! I've just been given reason to start looking at post-retirement options to fill time. I've started trying to write a couple of times, so I'll be more intentional on that. I've enjoyed bird-watching for a while, so I'll try to be more intentional about that as well. I've done handicrafts in the past, and may pick that up. I'll also look at some volunteering, maybe getting back into youth soccer coaching, or baseball, or something. I've even considered taking training for intentional interim work - training to become a pastor who goes into a church between settled pastors with training to help them deal with issues that will impair their future ministry under a new settled pastor.
Little did I know that so near the completion of the Retirement Seminar, I'd be forced to consider some of what we talked about that day in a forced scenario. But it has been good for me. I know realize with a vengeance what others know - retirement can't be sitting back and doing nothing or one heads for an early grave!
So, with plans and hopes to help us get along with life after we severe that "pre-retirement" work situation, let's move through the future with an eye to what will happen when -
Peace!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Ah Spring Part II
Well, here we are still recovering from bronchitis, taking medicine, drinking prodigious amounts of fluid and getting plenty of exercise just dealing with that. I don't get terribly sick often, but when I finally do, it tends to be a whopper of a occasion. I've had tonsilitis about 4 times, and was promised after number 3 that the tonsil would come out if I got sick again - but we changed health plans and the new doctors smiled patiently at me and announced, "We don't take tonsils out any more." I have had pneumonia, bronchitis and some bodily breakdowns -like the shoulder that needed rotator cuff repair or the nose job to let me breathe.
And the season I tend to get sick? You guessed it, spring! The weather starts playing roller coaster, and I'm usually out in it doing my work - hot, cold, wet, cold, hot, wet, cold - you get the picture. So once again, this spring I'm dealing with a doozie of a case of bronchitis. I did manage to handle the church service with help last Sunday. But I haven't been in church sense! I'm home taking pills, drinking a fortified cough syrup that reminds me of the Cheracol I took as a child, and running Puffs Plus into the waste can at an alarming rate. Oh, and hacking away.
I'm looking forward to getting back at things, especially since there is work some would probably prefer I not do right now, that needs to be done in order to stay ahead of the curve, as it were.
What has that to do with trying to stay positive this year, you ask? Only that some times our bodies are God's messengers of our need to slow down, take it easy, allow ourselves to breathe and recouperate. They bring this to our attention by simply stopping us for a time. It is important, I believe, for us to reassert the connection between body, mind and spirit - one that demands down time to reflect, rest, play, and pray. God created, according to our scriptures, humans to be co-workers in the care of creation, and GOD RESTED! So what makes us think we can go non-stop non-stop? We need that time, it is part of being human!
So, I will try once again to learn from my body's reminder - take some time for rest and REJUVENATION - renewal, restoration. We need to fuel the fires of our lives with fresh input, be it through intimacy with our chosen partners, new knowledge gained, new friends made, or play time with our children. We need to enjoy life with the abandon of young children, not yet burdened with society's hurry-hurry-push-push attitude. We recently got a picture of our grandson in his new toy, guffawing at the pleasure he was having. As my beloved said, "You have to smile when you see this picture!!" Indeed, as the Creator reminds us in those wee windows called babies and children.
Rest, my friends, you'll enjoy it! Relax, life will go on with or without you! Rejuvenate for yourself and your loved ones! Stop trying to be God and enjoy being a beloved creation that is offered the chance to become more than a creation - a child! Laugh with utter abandonment - it's good for body and soul!!
Peace!
And the season I tend to get sick? You guessed it, spring! The weather starts playing roller coaster, and I'm usually out in it doing my work - hot, cold, wet, cold, hot, wet, cold - you get the picture. So once again, this spring I'm dealing with a doozie of a case of bronchitis. I did manage to handle the church service with help last Sunday. But I haven't been in church sense! I'm home taking pills, drinking a fortified cough syrup that reminds me of the Cheracol I took as a child, and running Puffs Plus into the waste can at an alarming rate. Oh, and hacking away.
I'm looking forward to getting back at things, especially since there is work some would probably prefer I not do right now, that needs to be done in order to stay ahead of the curve, as it were.
What has that to do with trying to stay positive this year, you ask? Only that some times our bodies are God's messengers of our need to slow down, take it easy, allow ourselves to breathe and recouperate. They bring this to our attention by simply stopping us for a time. It is important, I believe, for us to reassert the connection between body, mind and spirit - one that demands down time to reflect, rest, play, and pray. God created, according to our scriptures, humans to be co-workers in the care of creation, and GOD RESTED! So what makes us think we can go non-stop non-stop? We need that time, it is part of being human!
So, I will try once again to learn from my body's reminder - take some time for rest and REJUVENATION - renewal, restoration. We need to fuel the fires of our lives with fresh input, be it through intimacy with our chosen partners, new knowledge gained, new friends made, or play time with our children. We need to enjoy life with the abandon of young children, not yet burdened with society's hurry-hurry-push-push attitude. We recently got a picture of our grandson in his new toy, guffawing at the pleasure he was having. As my beloved said, "You have to smile when you see this picture!!" Indeed, as the Creator reminds us in those wee windows called babies and children.
Rest, my friends, you'll enjoy it! Relax, life will go on with or without you! Rejuvenate for yourself and your loved ones! Stop trying to be God and enjoy being a beloved creation that is offered the chance to become more than a creation - a child! Laugh with utter abandonment - it's good for body and soul!!
Peace!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Ah Spring
Spring! That wonderful time - of sinus headaches, stuffy noses, and, for me, an allergy related killer cough! I've been coughing for a while now, as the weather warmed up, but over that last couple of days, it's been eating its spinach, and I'm sinking fast!
This happens to varying degrees each spring, and this seems to be a bad year! Trust me, you don't want this stuff - feeling like the top of your head is coming off, like your eyes are going to pop out, like you are about the cough your throat and lungs onto the table before you, and not sleeping worth a drat-it-all!
I'll pick up something that hopefully will tone down the cough so I can sleep, then settle in to wait it out, as that seems to be the only course. May your spring be more gentle and wonderful!
Peace! Ach-ooo!
This happens to varying degrees each spring, and this seems to be a bad year! Trust me, you don't want this stuff - feeling like the top of your head is coming off, like your eyes are going to pop out, like you are about the cough your throat and lungs onto the table before you, and not sleeping worth a drat-it-all!
I'll pick up something that hopefully will tone down the cough so I can sleep, then settle in to wait it out, as that seems to be the only course. May your spring be more gentle and wonderful!
Peace! Ach-ooo!
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