A Simon & Garfunkel Sort of Day

This morning I woke up bright and early to meet some friends at a local Denny's. I wore a sweatshirt out the door for the first time in a long time - very satisfying. We're coming up on summer in the heated Southern California, but before 9 or 10 in the morning a sweatshirt is wanted (though not necessarily needed). I stuck in Simon & Garfunkel for the drive... and their CD remained in the player for the rest of the day. It's a "best of" CD, so a combination of Bookends, Sounds of Silence, and Bridge Over Troubled Water. I'd like to get "Graceland" and see how Simon sounds on his own - but something tells me they're better together. The first four tracks were energizingly chill, so perfect for morning driving.

I was the first to Denny's, and glad for it. I love people watching, and a diner in the morning is a great spot for that sort of thing. I ordered a cup of coffee and sat for about 10 minutes, watching groups and couples and families enjoy their breakfast and morning. I think Denny's is underappreciated these days (though their prices have gone way up in the past 5 years). It's such a homey place - I have such good, fond memories from various diner's up and down the Pacific Coast. This time, we were all getting together for a couple of hours while our mutual friend, Annelise, was down from San Luis county. When the others got there, it was a great time of talking and laughing and eating a french toast slam, accompanied by a couple cups of (not very good) coffee. I went to the Cragoe's for a bit after - long enough to blast Switchfoot while sweeping up a storm, and start a mini-water fight with Rach and Gracie. First one of the almost-summer! I have to say, I got them waaay better then they got me; mainly because we all realized what a mess we were making on the wood floor. We called a truce the old fashioned way, by spitting into our palms and sealing it with a hearty handshake. (Rachel: "I've always wanted to do that.")

I drove home (with the company of Simon and his friend) to find my brother home from college!!! Brady'll be down here for all the graduation hubbub, until he and I fly out for Alaska on June 16th. After a bit at home, we drove over to the last 'official' gathering of SNBSATK (Sataurday Night Bible Study at the Kappens). We had a sort of picnic-pool-hang out... very relaxed. A bit later on we went out front and played a combination of SUMMER (another version of HORSE) and some knock-out. Can't say I was very good, but I wasn't half bad either. :) We wanted to make root beer floats, but the only ice cream we had was chocolate - so we made do. The flavor was surprisingly good! It was kind of malt-ish...and very rich. Try it some time!

Tonight we played cards and I read a bit more of the Mark Twain book... mainly a story about two of his childhood schoolmates drowning. He described the emotions that went along with it for a schoolboy - they all thought that it was God's judgement. The boy that drowned must have been bad, so God was punishing him. To confirm their beliefs, a thunderstorm accompanied each night that followed the drowning. It got me to thinking... we can sort of laugh at those beliefs now, knowing that that's not exactly how God "operates". But how many little children really believe that? Do they know a loving God, or one that punishes the bad and rewards the good? I suppose He is a bit of the second, but it seems like such a limiting picture of who God is. Hm.

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I love the sarcastic truth of this song. The speaker realizes his mistake in the two last lines. We are meant for relationships, not to be lame hermit-like people.

I Am a Rock (Simon/Garfunkel)

A winter's day
In a deep and dark December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I've built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

Don't talk of love,
But I've heard the words before;
It's sleeping in my memory.
I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.