September 24

What do you do when things just won’t go as planned? The last time I wrote, it was my intention to post and then go to the laundry mat. As it turned out I was fortunate to get it posted. You see, I write this at the campsite. Then when I get access to internet, I just copy and post. And I thought I had it all figured out the other day. I decided to go to the McD’s in Berryville since I’m halfway between B’ville and Eureka. Also there is WallyWorld and I thought a laundry there.

Well, B’ville’s McD’s does not have Internet (but they do have Red Box, if I decide to rent a movie), and the laundry was there but not self-serve but full service and more than I wanted to pay for my towels, t-shirts and bvd’s. So, I went to WallyWorld, picked up a few things, then headed to Eureka Springs. The laundry is self-serve, next to the grocery store and McD’s has Internet but not Red Box. So, I got everything done, just not in the way I had planned. Any other time, it would have frustrated me, but at least I’m relaxed enough to not get flustered over something so small.

While at the laundry in Eureka, I met an interesting little ole’ lady. There’s lots of interesting folks at laundry mats I found out. She was eating and feeding her dog outside with the same fork and same food she was eating. Trying not say, “yuck”, I said, “Boy he sure is spoiled.” She said, “He’s 15 years old, and deserves to be spoiled.” I said, “Hm, over a 100 huh?” “105! She corrected me.”

When she came in, she moved her laundry to the dryers and told me she was getting these blankets washed to go camping and attend the National Fiddler’s Contest at Mountain View this weekend. The other fellow interrupted and asked for directions as he said he’d like to play in the competition, but had thought it was at Little Rock. She gave him directions and said it would be a two day competition. He was deflated, he had to work on Sunday, so he guessed he wouldn’t be going then.

She turned back to me and told me she’s got a bed for the back of her van and the lady where she’s camping “Doesn’t mind dogs.” In other words, wherever she went the dogs must be accepted there as well. She put her blankets in the dryer and told me, “I’ll be back. I’m taking the dog to the Basin Spring so he can get a good drink.”

I learned quite a bit without saying much of anything. I was in the presence of a fiddle player and a bluegrass fan but they didn’t talk music at all. He could only fiddle for one day, so he was devoted to something else. She was a music fan but mostly devoted to her dogs, she wouldn’t go if there wasn’t a place for her dogs. The music came second.

I haven’t found any music yet. I must ask myself, “To what are you devoted?” Two praying mantis insects showed up at my trailer. Seems to me that my Creator was hinting to me, to stay with prayer, and let the music take care of it self. Centering Prayer, like I learned from the Benedictines is a daily endeavor.

Grace and peace with a song in my heart,
SongWriter