Installation Sunday

We have wonderful guests galore in Alexandria this weekend, as the church where Kate is minister is holding an installation ceremony this afternoon. Two folks stayed at our place, one is being hosted across town, and others are coming in for the day. Last night - dinner for some people here on Abingdon Drive (where we live): shrimp scampi. That was after going to a nearby Octoberfest a couple of blocks away to meet Eddie Carroll (from Denver) and a friend, Brian, who lives in nearby Arlington. Brian is a Red Sox fan but besides that is an okay kind of guy. That was in the late afternoon, and I then had the pleasure of watching Penn State come back from a 17-7 deficit to beat Michigan and remain unbeaten as they continue a run at the national championship.

So, this morning after church I need to run to the grocery store, where (I hope) they will have the catered lunch ready for me to pick up. The lunch is for all of the visiting guests and minister dignitaries who are bussing in for the installation, which is (I'm pretty sure) at about 4 PM or so.

Things should settle down after that. We will ungueast gradually and Kate will be officially "installed." I'm not quite sure what that means in reality; it's likely more a symbol and ritual indicating formal acceptance of Kate by the local church community - perhaps the roots of the word indicate placement of Kate in "stalled" mode or in a stall (office?) or something like that. I hear installations happen in other churches, too. It was never a Catholic thing as I was growing up - priests just appeared . . . assigned by the bishop. Maybe that's why religion is generally in a holding (as in a stalled) pattern. Too many installed ministers and not much movement beyond the comfortable.

That's all for now. Kooper is whining like he needs to go for another walk (there's no stalling him).