Omaha is the center of the nation

By Kyle Small -
We had John and Mona Norman, who come from California, over last night for Chipotle (we ordered online!). Believe it or not Chipotle was out of guac, so I made some of my own - twice the garlic, twice the onions - guaranteed heartburn! Anyway, John Norman is Janet's cousin, so we consider them like aunts and uncles. The whole second/third cousin, or cousin once-removed is too impersonal.

Anyway, Lindsay joined us late for supper since Micah needed his first. I went to relieve her and burp him, but 20 minutes into burping Micah, we both fell asleep. We finally went horizontal in the bedroom, and I woke up 3 hours later after John and Mona had already left. Some host that I am - sorry John and Mona. We were both tired.



But the report of the evening was that there was much laughter and reminscing about life. Lindsay said that they also spent time making fun of each others' parts of the country - Midwest and West Coast. Lindsay said they (actually, she) spent a few minutes picking on my home state, Nebraska, in order to elevate herself as a Minnesotan and Michiganders. Michigan celebrates the home of Gerald Ford, who was born in Omaha, and California celebrates the Gold Rush, but the Golden Spike of the railroad is in Omaha - Union Pacific...a weak connection, but I do believe Omaha is the center of the nation (and geographically, it kind of is...)...But hey, Nebraska is pretty easy to mock (I have always considered Omaha its own state) Who wants to be affiliated with Cornhusks? Anyway, I will try to move beyond taking it personally about Omaha...especially because I have a bigger perspective now (see picture below).


After I read this to my wife, she said, "oh, aren't you the bigger person." Again, I will try not to take this comment as one about my weight...I think that everything is personal because of my hormones....

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Returning to the Mitten - Small Family Update

By -
Image
Running - What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger? I went for a run on Thursday morning at the end of April. I was in West Michigan for a consulting project and enjoying a later start to the day. I left my in-laws house to run a route I enjoyed many years ago. Lindsay's uncle has a home on my West Michigan running route, and I decided to stop to say hello while running. I simply wanted to offer a hug and enjoy some connection. It was a delightful pitstop. I said, "I miss you." He said, "I miss you, too. Come home." His demeanor was energizing and directness a bit unraveling. His words fell distinctly on my ears. I continued running and his words wouldn’t leave me. I kept running and wondering if/how I should tell Lindsay about the encounter. Siri called Lindsay while I continued running. I wasn't going too fast (I couldn't if I tried according to my son). I asked Lindsay, "What if I said when we leave for Bethany we will not be returning to South
Read more

Moving, Healing, and Times of Transition

By -
Image
               We have a spreadsheet for this season. The final column is for the dog. When I first made the spreadsheet, she wasn’t included. Then the plans were made to pack, travel, and move. Everything made sense until we asked about the dog’s whereabouts. I admit it is nice for the confusion to be about a dog. It’s been a  dogged  two years, yet our family is intact; our home is selling; the children are registered for schools; I get to keep my job; and Lindsay has an incredible opportunity on the horizon. But the real news is some we have been waiting for since February. Madeline had her MRI and CAT scan early in the morning last Thursday. A few hours later the results were available in MyChart. Lindsay called to read it to me. She hadn’t yet read it herself, so we were bracing to hear the words for the first time together. I was so anxious and even as positive words laced the opening lines, I was waiting for the “but.” The report communicated several things: 1. Decreased cervica
Read more

Returning to the ECC

By -
Image
Returning to ECC artwork by Julie Courtney Excelsior, MN We  were reflecting on Ida B. Wells and Sojourner Truth when the email came through acknowledging the activation of my ordination in the Evangelical Covenant Church. I was attending a conference centered on African American Religious autobiographies at the time. Somewhere between a discussion of Sojourner Truth’s words to Douglass, “Is God Dead?” and the autonomous power of Ida B. Wells defending Douglass’ white wife, I saw the email notification. Someone invited the rest of us to hear   Ida B Wells’ words, “Because white people forget Christianity and good breeding when dealing with those who belong to the darker races is no justification for this dark race to do the same. I cannot see it any other way than that the truly Christian, well-bred person is always so, no matter with whom they come in contact.” The decision to activate my Covenant ordination and suspend my ordination in the Reformed Church in American is not without
Read more