Back in Chicago Land
Yeah so I’m back in Naperville now. The week-end was fabulous, though.
Friday afternoon we drove to Lima, and stayed with Alex’s family that night. His dad is one of the football coaches at the high school he and his borther and sister graduated from, and their first game was that night, so we all went. It was so much fun! I had never been to a high school football game before. We had popcorn, hotdogs, and candy; everyone was very loud about their cheering; I made fun of the cheerleaders (sorry, Juliet, I can’t help it, it just happens. All former gymnasts either become cheerleaders or make fun of them. It’s an either-or proposition). The best part was, that the football field was contingent to a corn field, and right nearby was this enormous water tower…talk about looking like Smallville! (They won, by the way.)
The wedding was Saturday in Norwalk, up by the lake, and it was beautiful. Amy was gorgeous. I loved her dress…of course I went with her to the store to order it, so if I hadn’t liked it I would at least have been prepared. But it was so nice and very simple, perfect for her because she is not a fuss-and-feathers kind of a girl. And Rob looked so sure of himself, he wasn’t nervous or on an adrenaline high or anything, which is always reassuring. 
And everyone had fun at the reception.
I was so excited to see everybody again! I got to see the Wentzes and a bunch of my sorority sisters and a good number of the fraternity brothers, and I’ve just missed everybody so much.
Saturday night we spent in Lima again, and Sunday morning we went to this…interesting…church. Before I go any further, I should put a disclaimer up, lest I be guilty of judging others: Everyone was very nice and welcoming and, more importantly, sincere about everything they sang or said. And, of course, we all serve the same God, and the same grace, forgiveness, and salvation is for us all. That said, it was an adventure in strict conservativism. The songs all fell into one of three categories:
a) Sounds like they put Christatian words to the song “Happy Trails to You”;
b) Sounds like something off of a Carmen album…back in the days of the synthesizer;
c) I learned this from Psalty the Singing Psalm Book and Charity Churchmouse.
Seriously, some of the songs were perfectly fine songs and I used to sing them at Vineyard…fifteen years ago…but they were all slowed down a lot, and the instruments consisted of a crazy synthesizer sound track accompanied by a live organ…and not a big old organ like in Phantom of the Opera with enormous pipes to lend it a grand and fully-rounded sound…no, the most stereotypical creaky church organ you’ve ever heard in your life. No pipes at all. Members have, purportedly, been known to say that the day they add a drum beat is the day they leave.
Other highlights:
-They were between preachers, so the denomination (which shall remain nameless) had sent a “supply.” They actually used the word ’supply’! (A supply is someone who comes and fills in and preaches once and might possibly be called to the church later. Except that the phrase is fairly archaic and frankly I thought it hadn’t been used since the days when Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote the book Anne of Green Gables.)
-There was an ad in the church bulletain listing the time and place of a meeting…for “the leaders’ wives.” !!!!! Enough said.
Heaven bless them, and heaven preserve me from such a fate as ever having to consistently attend such a church! I was so happy to get back to the office here at CCC yesterday, where I am so spoiled that I can wear my flipflops, bluejeans, a t-shirt that says a feministic slogan (albeit in French), and an army-style jacket in true olive drab. I am so spoiled rotten!
August 31st, 2004 at 6:01 pm
Actually, the Church is non-denominational and the preacher was one that had applied for the job. Maybe you mis-heard, or there was a typo in the newsletter (which they are famous for :))
Glad to hear you had fun, it was quite a drive when you all were asleep