I have recently been reminded of a story from early in my marriage.
There were four couples at our church in Nashville that were all married within about a 7 month period. We spent a lot of time together in those early days of our marriages. We always went to dinner together after Wendnesday night classes.
It just so happened that the first Valentine's Day for all of us fell on a Wednesday night. We all got together and thought it would be fun to go to a fairly nice restaurant together after class. So we made reservations, we arranged to have the restaurant leave flowers at the place settings for the ladies. Us guys were really proud of ourselves.
So we get to the restaurant and had to wait a little longer than we had planned. When we got to our table, the restaurant had forgotten to put the flowers out. We should have know then what lay in store. Let's just say that the quality of service that night went down hill from there. Service was really slow. Orders came out wrong...multiple times. If I remember correctly, one person had to send her food back to the kitchen not once, but twice. The service really was deplorable.
We finally complained to a manager about how awful the service had been. The manager promptly fixed the problems and gave each of us a $25 gift certificate ($50 per couple)! Not long after we complained our server came to the table and apologized. Now, normally, that would be a very nice gesture. However, the words that came out of the server's mouth blew us all away and just topped our night. Our server said "I'm sorry, it's been a busy night and I've had to pee for the last three hours." We were floored. We still chuckle today about that night and about our waiter's excuse for the poor service.
I am reminded of this incident because of this week's revelation that Hillary Clinton flat out lied about the circumstances surrounding her visit to Bosnia in 1996. I don't relate the two stories because our server was dishonest or anything, but because of his lame excuse. I first came across the story on Tuesday and I was shocked at the lack of discipline Hillary showed in making her statements. It's not like the Clintons to be that undisciplined. Of, course, the Clinton campaign is trying to call it a "misstatement" as if Hillary made a slight error.
But what really gets me is that Hillary is blaming the misstatement on sleep deprivation. The absurdity of both excuses is frightening. While both the waiter and Hillary may have been telling the truth, the absurdity comes from the lack of a logical connection to the behavior that is blamed on the physical condition. A strong desire to pee does not excuse a waiter from making sure an order is right before taking it to the table and the lack of sleep does not excuse one from making up an experience out of whole cloth.
Now, I could understand the situation if Hillary had stuck to simply saying there was a lot of security because of snipers in the area. Many news reports this week have confirmed that snipers had previously been active in the area around the airport. I could see trying to pass that off as "innocent" embellishment of a 12 year old memory. But what I can't see is stretching the truth beyond any resemblance to the facts. You can't completely contradict the facts and then pass it off as faulty memory.
How could you not remember the difference between running to a car to take cover and a nice leisurely stroll down the tarmac with some locals? The explanation in my mind is not a misstatement, but a flat out lie. What's more, she was the FIRST LADY. Did she really think there was no documentation of the trip? Did she think the press was not with her on that journey?
I don't know what makes Hillary tick, but I do know she has lost all credibility because of this. I was never a supporter in the first place, but I don't see how anyone but the most intentionally blind can vote for her now.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Weekend Update
Had a pretty busy weekend.
On Friday night, we had a nice discussion with two other couples over dinner in our Young Marrieds ministry. We wrapped up our discussion of Love Life for Every Married Couple. The book was good and I think the group got a lot of good things out of the book, I am ready to move on. We will be studying Dr. Gary Chapman's Five Love Languages next. I think this is going to be a good study. I have flipped through the book and feel like it will be an easy read with lots of practical information. I hope it will help us grow this ministry.
On Saturday night, I went with a good friend to a Florida Panther hockey game. The Panthers won an entertaining game which was made more so by our seats. My friend used his firm's tickets which were four rows behind the visitor's bench. It was cool watching the shift changes and action closely. However, it was also frustrating to watch Tomas Vokoun have such a good game. I have a feeling Nashville would be in a much better position for the playoffs had they not traded Vokoun.
On Sunday afternoon, I watched Miami lose a heartbreaker to Texas. On the one hand, it was great for them to get that far since they were predicted to finish last in the ACC this year. On the other hand, it was frustrating to watch them come so close to winning and blowing it because they did not play well in the first half of the game. Hopefully, they will build some momentum going into next year. I just hope Frank Haith sticks around to keep building this program.
Another highlight of the weekend was getting to experience the joys of homeownership. Right before I left the house on Saturday, I was cleaning some dishes and put some food down the garbage disposal. I tried to turn the disposal on and it made a humming noise, but the blades were not spinning. After a couple of tries, nothing happened and I had a sink full of nasty water with food floating in it. Julie called Roto Rooter and they came out Saturday afternoon. After taking it apart, the plumber pronounced the disposal dead. While he went to the truck, Julie looked up disposals on her iPhone...turns out they have a life expenctancy of about 15 years. Our house was built in 1994. My guess is the disposal was original and it's time came. The only problem was we had no indication before Saturday night. Anyway, we now have an InSinkErator. Hopefully it will last longer than we are in the house.
This was our first real issue as homeowners. Prior to buying the new house, Julie was lamenting that we would not have a maintenance staff anymore. And while it sucked waiting for Roto Rooter to show up and I didn't like writing that check, I think the house is still is still worth it...and we have crossed our first homeownership speedbump. I guess we feel just a little more grown up today.
On Friday night, we had a nice discussion with two other couples over dinner in our Young Marrieds ministry. We wrapped up our discussion of Love Life for Every Married Couple. The book was good and I think the group got a lot of good things out of the book, I am ready to move on. We will be studying Dr. Gary Chapman's Five Love Languages next. I think this is going to be a good study. I have flipped through the book and feel like it will be an easy read with lots of practical information. I hope it will help us grow this ministry.
On Saturday night, I went with a good friend to a Florida Panther hockey game. The Panthers won an entertaining game which was made more so by our seats. My friend used his firm's tickets which were four rows behind the visitor's bench. It was cool watching the shift changes and action closely. However, it was also frustrating to watch Tomas Vokoun have such a good game. I have a feeling Nashville would be in a much better position for the playoffs had they not traded Vokoun.
On Sunday afternoon, I watched Miami lose a heartbreaker to Texas. On the one hand, it was great for them to get that far since they were predicted to finish last in the ACC this year. On the other hand, it was frustrating to watch them come so close to winning and blowing it because they did not play well in the first half of the game. Hopefully, they will build some momentum going into next year. I just hope Frank Haith sticks around to keep building this program.
Another highlight of the weekend was getting to experience the joys of homeownership. Right before I left the house on Saturday, I was cleaning some dishes and put some food down the garbage disposal. I tried to turn the disposal on and it made a humming noise, but the blades were not spinning. After a couple of tries, nothing happened and I had a sink full of nasty water with food floating in it. Julie called Roto Rooter and they came out Saturday afternoon. After taking it apart, the plumber pronounced the disposal dead. While he went to the truck, Julie looked up disposals on her iPhone...turns out they have a life expenctancy of about 15 years. Our house was built in 1994. My guess is the disposal was original and it's time came. The only problem was we had no indication before Saturday night. Anyway, we now have an InSinkErator. Hopefully it will last longer than we are in the house.
This was our first real issue as homeowners. Prior to buying the new house, Julie was lamenting that we would not have a maintenance staff anymore. And while it sucked waiting for Roto Rooter to show up and I didn't like writing that check, I think the house is still is still worth it...and we have crossed our first homeownership speedbump. I guess we feel just a little more grown up today.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Biding Time
We had a baby shower this past weekend and I am just overwhelmed by the generosity people at church and families at school showed toward us. We now have many clothes, blankets, toys and miscellaneous other stuff for this baby. It's a good thing he won't have to go around naked. He also has a car seat now, so I guess we'll actually get to bring him home from the hospital. And once we buy a mattress, the kid will have a place to sleep.
As far as I'm concerned, we're ready to have the baby. Sure, there are plenty of things to be done around the house, but there is really nothing that HAS to be done before he arrives.
Prior to the shower on Saturday, we went to a newborn parenting class which wrapped up the series of classes we've been taking to try and calm our nerves before the bundle of joy arrives. We practiced diapering and swaddling a doll which strikes me as pointless because the doll was silent and was not wiggling. We watched videos. We talked about babies. It was realy informational.
After we got home Saturday night and surveyed all the wonderful gifts, a feeling of calm and serenity came over me. It occurred to me that we are ready. There are no more classes to attend. The baby shower is now behind us. Julie's mom was here for the shower and went home Sunday night. We won't see any of our family again until the baby is here. There is nothing left between us and the arrival of this child. All that is left is for us to hunker down and wait. It could be a few days, it could be a few weeks. Only God knows.
Wait and enjoy these last few days of pregnancy. Of course, I use the term enjoy loosely. I think Julie has enjoyed being pregnant to the extent that anyone can enjoy it, but she probably wouldn't tell you that right now. But after the baby is here, I think it is something she will look back upon and and cherish.
I know I am going to try to soak it up before it's over. We'll probably have another child, but I'm sure it's nothing like the first time you experience it. I will never forget the first time Julie pulled my hand over to her stomach and I could feel my son moving. I will never forget the first time we sat in that Doctor's office and I heard his little heartbeat. I only have a short time before I can actually hold my little boy in my arms and that is going to be a wonderful day. But I want to savor these remaining moments where he is moving around inside of Julie. I am going to savor her joy as she watches him move. The process of bringing a new life into this world is so amazing and so special. This is a time I will never forget.
As far as I'm concerned, we're ready to have the baby. Sure, there are plenty of things to be done around the house, but there is really nothing that HAS to be done before he arrives.
Prior to the shower on Saturday, we went to a newborn parenting class which wrapped up the series of classes we've been taking to try and calm our nerves before the bundle of joy arrives. We practiced diapering and swaddling a doll which strikes me as pointless because the doll was silent and was not wiggling. We watched videos. We talked about babies. It was realy informational.
After we got home Saturday night and surveyed all the wonderful gifts, a feeling of calm and serenity came over me. It occurred to me that we are ready. There are no more classes to attend. The baby shower is now behind us. Julie's mom was here for the shower and went home Sunday night. We won't see any of our family again until the baby is here. There is nothing left between us and the arrival of this child. All that is left is for us to hunker down and wait. It could be a few days, it could be a few weeks. Only God knows.
Wait and enjoy these last few days of pregnancy. Of course, I use the term enjoy loosely. I think Julie has enjoyed being pregnant to the extent that anyone can enjoy it, but she probably wouldn't tell you that right now. But after the baby is here, I think it is something she will look back upon and and cherish.
I know I am going to try to soak it up before it's over. We'll probably have another child, but I'm sure it's nothing like the first time you experience it. I will never forget the first time Julie pulled my hand over to her stomach and I could feel my son moving. I will never forget the first time we sat in that Doctor's office and I heard his little heartbeat. I only have a short time before I can actually hold my little boy in my arms and that is going to be a wonderful day. But I want to savor these remaining moments where he is moving around inside of Julie. I am going to savor her joy as she watches him move. The process of bringing a new life into this world is so amazing and so special. This is a time I will never forget.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Countdown
It appears that I have taken a bit of an unintended hiatus from posting. It's been so busy around here. But I just had to take a moment to mark the significance of today's date.
Today is March 13, 2008. As of today, the due date for my child is exactly one month away. Now, to anybody who has asked about the due date, after saying April 13th, I also add that it means my son will be born any day but the 13th. From everything I've ever heard, I don't know of anyone whose child was born on the actual due date (other than planned c-sections and inductions, neither of which we are planning right now). So, I have no expectation that baby boy Bergman's birthday will be April 13th.
Despite my assurance that he will not be born on the 13th, today's date still sticks out in my mind. As of today, I can no longer mark the time remaining in terms of months. It is a matter of weeks or even days until my son is born. This fact both thrills me and frightens me.
I look around the world today and I sometimes wonder what I was thinking to have made the decision to bring a child into the midst of all that is wrong with the world. Yet, I imagine myself sitting with my son in my arms and I have indescribable feelings of joy. I can't even begin to imagine how it is actually going to feel to hold my son, my child, my offspring in my own arms for the very first time. But I am fearful of my ability, or extreme lack thereof, to guide this child through life. How do I teach this little person to love God, to care for his family and to be kind to all the people he meets? How do I teach him to respect his mother and to honor all women? How do I teach him to be ambitious and achieve many wonderful things without becoming arrogant or jaded? How do I teach him to live a happy life with the ability to enjoy all the wonder of creation when so many around him will try to drag him down and tell him that the only way to accomplish anything is to seek his own interests at the expense of others?
There is so much I think about now that I am about to be a father. I am scared. I am excited. I'm a mess.
Fortunately, I don't have to have the answer to these questions today. In fact, I many never have the answer. Right now, the only thing I HAVE to know is how to change a diaper.
Fortunately, I've still got a month to figure that out.
Today is March 13, 2008. As of today, the due date for my child is exactly one month away. Now, to anybody who has asked about the due date, after saying April 13th, I also add that it means my son will be born any day but the 13th. From everything I've ever heard, I don't know of anyone whose child was born on the actual due date (other than planned c-sections and inductions, neither of which we are planning right now). So, I have no expectation that baby boy Bergman's birthday will be April 13th.
Despite my assurance that he will not be born on the 13th, today's date still sticks out in my mind. As of today, I can no longer mark the time remaining in terms of months. It is a matter of weeks or even days until my son is born. This fact both thrills me and frightens me.
I look around the world today and I sometimes wonder what I was thinking to have made the decision to bring a child into the midst of all that is wrong with the world. Yet, I imagine myself sitting with my son in my arms and I have indescribable feelings of joy. I can't even begin to imagine how it is actually going to feel to hold my son, my child, my offspring in my own arms for the very first time. But I am fearful of my ability, or extreme lack thereof, to guide this child through life. How do I teach this little person to love God, to care for his family and to be kind to all the people he meets? How do I teach him to respect his mother and to honor all women? How do I teach him to be ambitious and achieve many wonderful things without becoming arrogant or jaded? How do I teach him to live a happy life with the ability to enjoy all the wonder of creation when so many around him will try to drag him down and tell him that the only way to accomplish anything is to seek his own interests at the expense of others?
There is so much I think about now that I am about to be a father. I am scared. I am excited. I'm a mess.
Fortunately, I don't have to have the answer to these questions today. In fact, I many never have the answer. Right now, the only thing I HAVE to know is how to change a diaper.
Fortunately, I've still got a month to figure that out.
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