A day of life transitions

Today was a busy day. It's been a day of transitions for me, for others, and I've played a number of roles through it all.

Starting off, I went to a memorial service at the First UU Church of Ann Arbor for David Leland Dawson, the father of one of my best friends and UU coconspirators. I didn't know Mr. Dawson very well. He was Spencer's Dad, the good cook with the white beard that went out back after dinner and smoked his pipe. But, he meant a lot to Spencer, and I've seen how much my friend has learned from his father, and it shows in the work I do with Spencer, so I was there to celebrate his life, and support my friend. The service probably had one of the best selections of music of any I've been to (and that's over 100 funeral and memorial services).

I came home after the service and some mingling, and told Tessie to figure out what she was wearing to our friends wedding later that evening, again at the home of the Ann Arbor congregation. Now, I had originally not intended on attending said wedding. I didn't get an invitation, and I'm not one to crash weddings. In discussions, I found out that there WERE no invitations, and those attending were those who were local family, friends, those asked, and those who by word of mouth just HAPPENED to be going, so I decided to show up for the ceremony at the very least, and in the end managed to get dinner at the reception as well.

Well, the wedding was lovely, as they are wont to be. It was a bit of a reunion for a number of old Michigan YRUU leaders, as the groom was Michael Ohlrogge, who currently serves on the Commission on Appraisal, and has been a Heartland District leader for some years. He also managed to break down into sobs at two points during the ceremony, so if any of you readers are old Michigan YRUU folk, I'm handing o'er my mantle of "Most Tears" to Michael. Erika must have gotten all her sobs out at worship last week, as she was drier than a Mormon wake, but she looked gorgeous. If Peacebang gave out awards for "Best Thrift Store Purchase", Erika would win.

To round out the evening, I was asked to take part as a representative young adult in the Bridging ceremony the youth group has each year. I had no clue until a few minutes before the worship what was to be involved, as when I was a part of the group this kind of thing never happened. Note to self: work on the extemporaneous speaking, specifically for UU endeavors. What I said was well received (hey... I made some of them cry), but delivery needs improvement.

I was much impressed with the worship. It was both a bridging out for the seniors, and a bridging in for the Coming of Age class. It's the kind of bridging that I am learning is more and more important, showing to our youth that this faith is one they can belong to in all stages of their life, and that this faith needs them to stay. It's the kind of bridging I never had, that I have found I needed.

So today, I played friend, supporting another in hard times of grief at the loss of ones father, in celebration of the union of two souls, and in greeting those leaving their UU community for another. Not bad for 12 hours work. Whatever tomorrow has in store, Saturday, June 2 2007 will be a day I remember, for what it has taught me about how we work together through life's' transitions.