The End of the Trip to Ft. Worth

I have arrived safely in Fort Worth. I only got lost once, on the way out of Tulsa where I knew the I was to get on a toll road, saw a sign for a Turnpike, paid $ .30, and knew right away that this was not the road I was supposed to be on. It is a brand new road with no signs to tell where you are. After getting off at the first exit, and making about a 8 mile circle, I was back where I started, and took the other road - the one more traveled - and was back on track on I-44.

The sights and sounds of today's trip are: Gordon McRea and Shirly Jones singing "Oklahoma" as I crossed the state line; realizing that if you start Porgy & Bess (The Houston Grand Opera full version) just past Tulsa, by the time the third disc finishes, you are in Texas; the Arkansas River is Red! I had never seen it - wow did it look different; seeing the first oil well at 12:51 this afternoon - much rust and not working; seeing a working oil well at about 5:00 p.m.

Church sign today: At a Church of The Nazarene - Clean Restrooms. Now, I understand that this sign, as well as the one yesterday about Truckers Welcome were probably signs for a neighboring business, but maybe this is something that the UMC is missing - particularly in LaGrange. We have lots of bathrooms, and they are usually very clean. Truckers would be welcome - just not their trucks. Maybe a big sign at LaGrange Road and Cossitt with an arrow pointing in our direction would work.

My sister Sue also sent me an email this morning with a very long history of St. Robert Francis Romulus Bellarmine - a jesuit theologian who died in 1621. Apparently, among other things, he was a runner-up for Pope twice in 1605 when Leo XI (only ruled 26 days) and Paul V were the winners. I don't know if that is the Saint that the town in Missouri is named after, but anything is possible.I called Deb a few times today from the road to let her know that I was OK. I received two calls - one from Deb, and one from my sister Sue, and as the phone rang each time, I was in a bathroom - good timing.

I am staying at a two-story Courtyard Marriott, and as I was checking in the desk clerk was saying to other people, "we don't have an elevator, but we can help you get your things upstairs." When I checked in I said, "I hope I am on the first floor." I am. One of the reasons that I drove is that I did not pack light. I have with me the laptop (obviously) and a mobile printer, 1500 copies of a flyer about my Judicial Council candidacy, plus all of the materials for General Conference (1560 pages of reading and a Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions.) It was also easier to have all my hanging clothes hanging in the car instead of in suitcases.

After I unpacked, I drove to the Convention Center. What a mess. There are one way streets and several streets around the Center are closed for repairs. I will go over there tomorrow to register. I think I will try the shuttle that they are offering. There are several different routes covering the many outlying hotels. We are on the Purple Route, and tomorrow it will be running on the hour all day. Starting Wednesday it will be every 1/2 hour early in the morning and later at night and hourly during the day.Most of our delegation membes from Northern Illinois are flying in tomorrow. My prayers are for safe travel, good weather, and non-recalled airplanes.
Good luck.

Peace to all, Jack