[Ed. Note, 06/13/06: This was written last week but never posted because Helena started running around like a crazy person and never got around to posting it. Please excuse her tardiness, as she was rendered temporarily insane by forces beyond her control. She is doing much better now.]

I am writing this on the new laptop while I kill time at my boss’ house, waiting for her dogs (more specifically, her daughter’s dogs) to pee. I am a full service office manager.

The weekend’s events went off without a hitch. I think I am getting the hang of this whole leader business - I made good-sized event go and never at any point during the whole thing did I get stressed. I didn’t even stay up late Friday night rushing around to get ready. In fact, everything was ready by 9:30 Friday night and then I spent the rest of the night wandering around in disbelief. Surely there was something I’d forgotten. But, no. On the big day, everybody knew what they were supposed to do and they did it. I didn’t have to crack my whip or beg or plead. I feel I have pretty good reason to be proud of myself.

From there we went to my niece’s birthday party, which was pretty much exactly what you’d expect from a nine-year-old’s birthday party. Food was had, kids were corralled, wackiness ensued. Actually it was pretty low-key for a kid’s party. Heck, going from an event with almost fifty kids to one with eight (three of which were mine) made the party seem like small beans.

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Now I’m writing from the doctor’s office. Love! My! New! Toy!

They’re even playing decent music, so it’s hard to complain.

Yesterday we officially became godparents. It was interesting in that our friends were in part having their children baptized to appease their families and most of the people there are not what you would call deeply Christian, so in some ways the whole process was really downplayed. But at the same time, it is a huge deal. I didn’t expect to feel it as deeply as I do, but my family got bigger yesterday and I am moved. It is a tremendous honor and a huge responsibility and I hope I can live up to it.

The event got us started talking last night about our daughter’s religious education and what form it will take. Neither of us being big on following any particular doctrine, it’s not something we’ve really talked about a whole lot. Nothing was resolved, of course, which was really the point I think I was trying to make – that nobody has the answers and if you pretend to your kids that somebody does, you’re setting them up to become extremely disillusioned later. It’s like finding out there’s no Santa Claus, Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy only with added existential angst.

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I read this today and liked it. I try to live it, but that’s hard.

This is the way of peace: "Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love." - Peace Pilgrim