World AIDS Day

I just returned home from the World AIDS Day service held by our church. I am so grateful to have such a wonderful group of people. We had more people attend the AIDS service than we had for Ash Wednesday. It was a good service.

The service was held in the office of one of our church members. We sat in a circle, with the musicians at one side and the pastor (Rebeccah tonight) at the other. Shortly after I arrived, the service started. After a few minutes, I started smelling just a whiff of something unpleasant. It quickly went away though, leaving me to wonder if someone had a touch of the vapors, as we used to say in the South. The service proceeded through another prayer, and then we stood to sing. As soon as I stood up, there was something much stronger than a whiff...and it became recognizable as that distinct aroma produced by our 4-legged companion, the dog. Since I was the last to arrive and thus was sitting on a sofa by myself, there weren't many likely other sources for the smell, so I looked down and sure enough, there are leaves sticking out from under my shoe. Apparently, the near-freezing temperatures kept the dogshit from becoming redolent immediately - only after the warmth of the interior did the smell start to waft.

Well, I don't know about you, but I couldn't handle it. I walk out of the service (waiting for a break in the "action" of course). As I walk by, Pastor Rebeccah whispers "It's at the end of the hall". lol I go outside, take my shoes off and then come back in and finish the service in my socks. She must have thought I peed in my shoes or something.