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The fam here is doing well. We’ve had a few more earthquakes since yesterday, all small intensity and not as many as the previous two days. I’m sorry for worrying people.

It was a challenging day for me yesterday. We had been taking care of a dog for a family who went to the US for a while. Yesterday we shipped the dog interior to be with the family. But the dogs, ours and the visitor, sensed something was up and had been demanding a lot of attention for the previous 24-hours. I put the dog into his crate for his flight and secured all the latches myself. But, that smart little pooch panicked when the loaders picked up the crate to weigh him and get ready to put on the plane. This is a small craft, not a big jet. Anyway, that dog freaked and somehow pushed the bottom of the door and got it open enough to streak out and across the street (not busy) to a mission compound. The guards at the compound saw what was happening and closed the gates so Sparky, that dog, couldn’t get back out. I had almost left the parking lot, but quickly parked my car and joined four of the loaders chasing that !@#$%^&*OIUY%$#$%^&UIOI canine all over the compound. It isn’t even MY organization!!! After about 10 or 15 minutes, Sparky was worn out and let me catch him. This time the loaders zip-tied that crate shut.

So, that was one event. I miss Sparky. But, this is a better all-round situation for him and for us and for his family.

The next event followed immediately. I drove the car I was borrowing back up to the school and returned it to the parking lot. I then crossed the road and tripped over a crack in the pavement. My ankle rolled and down I went. Not only did my ankle throb, but I bruised my thigh and skinned my knee. I don’t bounce anymore when I fall and that made me ache all day.

Finally, that evening was our weekly high school basketball game (these games end in mid-April). One of the hs classes always preps a meal to fund raise for their senior trip. It is a good time to visit and kibutz. Last night was no exception.

The sad part was my friend telling me that her husband was in their restaurant in Jayapura and saw and photographed that fish barbecue restaurant collapsing into the ocean. Her restaurant survived but is now being used by the government to shelter and help about 200 people who have been displaced by the quakes, their own homes being unsafe now. I inquired if there was a need for volunteers to help. She didn’t think so.

Finally, the games were over about 2000 hours. I crept home, took my soma, and went off to dreamland. The pain from my fall developed throughout the day and I couldn’t wait to sleep.

It wasn’t a horrible day, just not one where I thought about getting online.

Oh, yes, at the game, I kept getting inquiries from people of that other organization, “didn’t I see you running around base this morning,” and “I was just enjoying my Quiet Time with God, and I heard someone yelling, ‘Sparky.’ It sounded like you. Was that you?” The world-wide CEO of that organization is currently visiting. He said, “I was out on the porch this morning and thought I heard Mary Lott’s voice. I looked out and it WAS you.” Oh, the things I am famous for!