Louisville

Right off the airplane you know you're in a different space.
The gift shops are selling barbecue sauce, honey and maple syrup
all packaged to look like whiskey bottles and flasks.
This is after all the home of Kentucky bourbon,
Then there are the statues and pictures of horses lining the walls.
There's an information desk by the baggage turnstiles.
A gentle smiling woman called the hotel shuttle for me.
unusual.
Most places you have to fend for yourself.
Outside easy friendships formed as we waited.

It's easy to spot the Presbyterians here.
We all wear glasses
or most of us anyway.
We're older.
The women are heavier.
We look like librarians.
A lot of the men have beards and or mustaches,
carefully trimmed of course.
nothing too flashy.

the hotel is old but elegant and graceful.
There's a wonderful four poster bed in my bedroom.
The cheese grits for breakfast are to die for.

Day One of this moderator training is parliamentary procedure.
Help me, dear Lord, to stay awake
and learn what I need to learn.
May there be some little corner of this day
that has something fun
and right brain in it.

Bless all my peeps back home.
Keep them safe and smiling.