Growing up in Oroville, WA means being close to a lot of people (whether you like it or not :). For instance, there were 33 people in my highschool graduating class. Many of these people - including myself - had gone to school together since pre-school (3 yrs. old to 18 yrs old - that's a lot of years, people!). For all of you that didn't grow up in this fashion, this means that you basically have 32 brothers and sisters - okay so maybe not siblings but cousins at least. So now, take this even smaller and increase the bonds tighter - I mean reeeeeally tight...then you have the Oroville, WA Episcopal Church Youth Group. Starting in and around 5th grade Marilyn Wilder (glutton for punishment that she is :) wrangled us in church, in our weekly evening meetings, through confirmation classes and confirmation, and on multiple field trips to Camp Cross and other out of town churches. At this time Marilyn was a member of the Church, NOW she's the Reverend! She's bonafide! I can't imagine a person better for the job!
I didn't bother to set up community service in Oroville ahead of time because somehow I knew...that Marilyn Wilder would have something up her sleeve.
I was pretty ill with a cold the first few days I was in Oroville so I was running a little short on time - when I dialed Marilyn. About twenty words into the coversation she says, "Oh, just meet me at the church in five minutes - you're going to need Brick (the person not the wall material)." It takes about 5 minutes to get anywhere within the city limits of Oroville. Once at the church, Marilyn outlined a landscape project that she wanted me to finish involving setting some pavers - made by the current youth group - in a pre-determined design, in some crushed rock. She showed me where I needed to go for the rock and off she went to pack for her trip.
I immediately called Brick's house and cell phone leaving messages that I was in town and needed him to call me (I'm pretty sure that after this little stunt, he'll never return my call again). As you can probably guess, Brick was in youth group. He is definitely one of the most hilarious people I've ever met - I don't know how you could not be funny with a name like Brick Wall - I'm not kidding, that's his last name - his 'real' name is John but that's not nearly has funny. He has a way of delivering little quips that absolutely cracks me up. Not only was I looking forward to his help on this project, I was also looking forward to hanging out! So...Brick calls me back, I explain what I need to do, and without question he says, "Yep, I'll help you, see you tomorrow - my house - 1 p.m. Just like that - the project was set up.
Brick and I drove out to the landscape place where Marilyn had instructed me to get rock and we got to shoveling. I made sure to get photos of us at the beginning of the shoveling because I was pretty sure we wouldn't feel so much like smiling during or after. Sooo...
I shoveled....
Brick shoveled...
and I shoveled some more- I forgot how heavy rock is ... (see I told you Brick cracks me up)
and when we had what we thought was enough, we drove to the church. For once in my life I thought to take before photos.
We started with a bare patch of dirt that needed some leveling.
So level I did.
Each of the pavers has a cross in it and when all said and done, it looked pretty nice.
We hosed off our masterpiece and went to Brick's house to warm up and hang out with his wife and kiddos.
Thanks, Brick, for being such a sport - I couldn't have done it without you. It's wonderful to have good friends :)
and when we had what we thought was enough, we drove to the church. For once in my life I thought to take before photos.
We started with a bare patch of dirt that needed some leveling.
So level I did.
Brick and I laid the pavers in the pattern that Marilyn wanted. Brick brought the rock up wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow and I spread it out. We worked and worked trying to make sure that we ended up with something that at least resembled Marilyn's intention and finally.... we were finished!
Each of the pavers has a cross in it and when all said and done, it looked pretty nice.
We hosed off our masterpiece and went to Brick's house to warm up and hang out with his wife and kiddos.
Thanks, Brick, for being such a sport - I couldn't have done it without you. It's wonderful to have good friends :)
These are two people when young, my mother would have described as "pills". I buy into that description but with modifiers; both are funny and giving but "pills" they still are.
ReplyDeleteThe youth group they and others were part of prepared me to become a priest. Nothing the church could ask of me could be any more demanding than meeting with them every week. The problem was they were extremely inventive and very smart...qualities used to torment me. But they were almost always entertaining and I think by the way Kari is living her life, that they learned something spiritual along the way. I couldn't be prouder of her and of Brick who is always willing to help.
The Rev. Marily WIlder
Very nice pics, by the way.
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