weird week

Last Saturday evening, 

somewhere between St. Louis and Evansville

the weirdness began in that corner of McDonalds.

To the left of the table, from this perspective, is an outside door. Opposite the door is a wall with computer screen games. Abigail and Selah were sitting by themselves playing while we ordered. As I walked past the drink machines I was looking for them so we could sit together. I noticed an older man at that table, watching them play. Protective grandma mode kicked in and I watched him closely as I approached them, daring him to say something to either of them. I was ready to fight.

He spoke to me when I stopped behind them. I expected a rebuke for allowing them to sit there alone, what I got was an unusual, but initially polite, verbal exchange.

"Do you go to church?"

"Yes."

"With all those beautiful children I thought you might. What denomination?"

"I am a Christian."

Weird vibe was still radiating and I was not feeling any more comfortable than I had when I first saw him. What he said next fired me up, made me spitting mad, even as it plunged like a dagger into my whole being.

"Maybe your husband will know the answer to that question."

If you know me, you might have a good idea of my internal reaction. 

"I am a grown woman.

I know what I believe.

I don't need a man to explain it for me.

And if you want to talk to my husband you are out of luck.

I am a widow.

You need to be educated and today I am just the woman to do it."

It takes a lot longer to read my thoughts than it took me to think them. Thankfully, God had a strong guard over my mouth so none of that escaped. In the midst of the yelling going on inside my head, David walked up. I almost burst out laughing when the man complimented David on the beautiful children we have.

That should have been my second clue the guy had issues. He thought my son-in-law was my husband. I don't know if that is an indication of how young I look or how old David looked. What I do know is he got the same question- and then a forage into a discussion involving Abraham Lincoln and wills and probate.

A week later and miles removed I am able to see that situation a little more clearly. The man was looking for someone to talk to about his fixation-Abraham Lincoln. Unfortunately for him, I was tired, suspicious, easily offended and not interested in anything he had to say after he said "your husband." 

Tuesday morning a man looked closely at me and immediately said "Your face looks good! Really good!" He looked at the woman with him and repeated the phrase. It was like he couldn't stop saying it. It felt weird, but thankfully it was not really odd. And I did say thank you. The man was my dermatologist and he was commenting on my rosacea being clear and the healing of the skin on the bridge of my nose from the skin cancer he removed several years ago. 

I went to Hobby Lobby after my appointment. July 27. Walking into the store I was bombarded with signage of 66% off Spring and Summer items. I made a quick dodge to go down a side aisle and was stopped by the incongruity of 40% off back to school supplies on an end cap of an aisle that housed Thanksgiving/Fall decor on one side and Christmas decor on the opposite side facing an aisle full of Christmas trees.

I got a text alert one evening.

I don't shop at Cotsco. I am not Stephanie. And what does it even mean "your code...from 10 came in 2nd"? I really don't want to know. I've also been getting texts from weird, inappropriate sounding groups. I don't open any of this kind of stuff and you shouldn't either.

There was a full moon this week. Maybe it's playing into all of this. 

Thursday this was the first word I had to unscramble in Word Collect, a game I have on my phone. It may be mixed up but I immediately recognized it. Grief. It tends to scramble a lot of things.

thank God, literally, for Romans 8:38-39
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."