Fred Carter, March 2016
Local singer/songwriter Fred Carter will be playing at the Oysterville Church this afternoon – sharing the dais with Seaview’s St. Peter Episcopal Church’s priest, Father Dick Loop. I am so happy that Nyel and I will be able to be in attendance, but it won’t quite make up for a party we recently missed at Fred and wife Vicki’s. Well… few things could.
It was billed as the “Piggy Petting Potluck Party” in honor of (?) or celebration for (?) the porcine pet they were taking care of for friends. If I’m not mistaken, it was their second pig-sitting experience and, in this instance, the only comment I heard from Vicki about the pig was “stubborn!” As far as is known, the pig will not be accompanying them to Vespers.
Edwin Espy, 1915
This is not to say that I think bringing a pig to Vespers would in any way be appropriate. Well… maybe if someone organized a ‘Blessing of the Animals’ event like they do at some churches. But otherwise… I don’t think so. However, there was a time back in 1914 or ‘15 when my uncle Edwin somehow managed to leave his pet goat locked in the Sunday school room of the church for three days. Although Edwin always said he “didn’t remember” the incident, his older sister Mona certainly did since she (or so she claimed) was the one who had to do the cleaning up afterwards.
Pigs and goats and other animals aside, I hope we have a full house today. The Oysterville Moment will be presented by Hal Buttrell. His wife, the inimitable Diane, will be playing the organ (or maybe the piano) to accompany the congregational hymn-singing. That old-fashioned pump organ is sometimes daunting and, although Diane has been practicing over there now and again, the jury is out regarding her final decision. Piano? Organ? I wonder if I remembered to tell her that at least one other organist signed up at the gym for leg-strengthening exercises several months before Vespers began.
See you there at 3 o’clock this afternoon. But please leave the pigs and goats at home!
I fear that I put the congregation at dis-ease when I play and the flowers tremble!