The Ultimate Sacrifice

April 29, 2005

 The letters has been storming in. Hundreds, lo even THOUSANDS, wondering what I will do. People asking `Will he not go back to Kenya now? Will he come later?’

 And the calls. The volume has prevented any of them from getting through, but I imagine people saying `How is it possible that you could still be going?’

 But yet, somehow I am. People will look at me and weep and start chanting `What a NOBLE man.’

 I’m sure you know the story, but for the very few, here is the chronicle:

 Our flight to Kenya leaves on AUGUST 9^th.

Neil Diamond comes to Dallas on OCTOBER 14^th.

 And as unbelievably as it sounds, I WILL be on that flight.

 I've always wanted to be an example in my faith. Finally, I have the opportunity to make the ULTIMATE sacrifice.

 Sometimes I even amaze myself.

 Nancy and I spoke at our church last week for both services. I love my wife, I love looking at my wife, but after listening to her give the same talk for two services, I have a new empathy for all political wives. I tried to gaze at her with an adoring look, but it’s HARD to be Laura Bush.

 When we return to Kenya in about three months, it will be easy to say what we enjoyed the most, besides seeing family and friends.

 It has been the changing of seasons. Seeing winter become spring has been a thrill for the twins to be sure, but it has been wonderful for all of us. Ben and Kate have never seen a real spring before, and the rest of us have reacted like we never have before. It has been such an unexpected gift.

(Ben and Kate and bluebonnets)

I have a tradition of watching the Final Four with some rude friends from Kansas, and they say unkind things to me all evening. I, of course, pray for their souls and their taste in basketball teams. We hadn’t seen the Final Four since 2001.

But this year, after the game, we stayed and talked and talked. It was just hard to let it go. When I finally left, I drove a block and it hit me; I won’t be insulted during a Final Four in America until 2011.  

• Part of my practicum for my degree in college counseling involved taking the SAT. I was thrilled to receive a perfect score on the verbal, and dismayed that my math score was so low that they recommended that I refrain from driving. I’m learning so much, but the clock is ticking so fast.

We were in a daze for the first few months we got back, and already it’s almost time to go back.

I’m not ready to go, and I can’t wait to get there.

Your pal

Steve

PS. Nancy and I have our 20^th anniversary in June. Any cheap suggestions for a getaway? For some reason, Nancy has rejected by suggestion that Omaha is lovely this time of year and coincidentally is the kick off start to the Neil Diamond tour.