"I can't come in today," I explain. "I'm sick," sucking snot up my nose and coughing to the best of my ability.
"Even though I'm close to dying," I continue explaining on the phone, "call me if you need me."
"Feel better!" was the response, "We need you!"
"Thanks," I'd weepily reply hanging up.
Then I pet Goddess, pick up the cooler of beer and make my way to the beach.
There's no better place to get well, heal, process or pray than sticking your ass in the sand ... yep ... cold beer in your hand ... toes in the sand ... all that is true.
Then one day when I was gone, I got a call and standing on Orient Bay in St. Martin, I called in gone.
The years following have been crazy though I've mostly remained gone ... from people, public view, politics and preaching.
Sarah was the first person to call me after I'd called in gone and, while I suspect we were already in love, it took a couple of years to uncover it ... which we magnificently did one night on the beach!
Then God had to get involved.
I didn't go asking, God just came calling.
The first thing that happened is I became a parent again. Already a survivor of raising 3 children to adulthood, the last thing I wanted was to do it again! BUT ... little girls can steal your heart and mine's gone ... just like I was when I used to call in ... I sitting here now so damn excited they're coming home today!
The second thing that happened is Monty Parks, a member of "The Elected," one of life's most likeable guys and can damn finger pick a guitar asked me to come. Monty lost his mind and invited me to the "Tuesday Night Acoustic Jam" ... probably because nobody else was coming ... so it was down to me ... but I picked up my guitar again ... let me be honest ... Elvis died at the right time ... The Beatles broke up at the right time ... cause I'm back! ... AND Sarah's part of the band ... AND we have a drummer!
Sarah doesn't always want to be in the band but is a good sport and Davy plays drums a Hell-of-a-lots better when she's standing in front.
THEN, Samuel Adams left Bar Church ... it was Deja Vu all over again ... a woman with a butcher knife called me to be a preacher the first time ... then the Bar Church congregation
conducted a "hostile takeover" of Sarah and me ... and I'm a Simi-Professional Christian ... again.
You can't plan this stuff.
And I sure as Hell wouldn't change any of it.
So ... after calling in gone ... I am married to the love of my life ... have 6 children ...3 of whom are little girls ... am in a band with a drummer ... and am Semi-Professionally working as a Christian again ... at my age.
God I love my life!
