Goodbye Bob

Tonight came the love child of Mrs. Mayor and the Grinch. Picture the Grinch with pink pig tails and yellow feathers. Yeah. You would think that Kyle suckling the child would have induced me to lose it but it was actually the Grinch in his Christmas costume with the baby. I laughed so much which taking the picture I was afraid it would be out of focus. Under normal circumstances, I don't think I will be spending this much time with every cast but I have so enjoyed being with this cast, that I keep coming back for more. They are some of the nicest and funniest people you will ever want to meet. I'm thinking of changing my banner to something Seussical- probably in the next day or two.

On a completely unrelated note, a week or two ago I noticed the print shop where I went to get copies for the Quaker Youth Book Project was empty, the windows looked forlorn and wistful. Today I stopped in at the bakery next door to ask what happened. The girl told me that Bob, the owner of the print shop, had died of a heart attack and his son held an auction to sell the machinery. I was very sad to hear this as Bob Beal was always very kind toward me. When you walked into his shop, you always felt like you had just walked back in time forty years. The front room smelled of smoke with a layer of dust on the stuffed bird and model car sitting beside the old cash register. Not only did Bob print 100 copies for me for $3, he did it on credit. If I didn't have cash with me for my whole order, he would give me the papers anyway and let me stop by in the next day or two to pay for it. How often in this day does that happen? He was old school and I liked old school. He lived above the store and always had a smile. I don't know much more about him than that, I rather wish I did. He deserves that. But from what little I do know, he gave me a gift I will always carry with me. I can't even name it, but it is something I didn't have before, something new and something redeemed. He was light. In his own old school, gentle, and quiet way, he was light. I am blessed beyond words that light shone on me. Thank you Bob. Say hi to God for me, tell him it's time to warm up the weather, not to mention the economy, and I trust you are in good hands. I miss you.

365-09 #80