For the Son came not into the world to condemn the world ...

When a Muslim finishes reading through the Qu'ran, tradition calls for an array of special prayers to mark the occasion. He gives thanks that he lived long enough to complete that task, he prays for the welfare of all the other Muslims in the world.

We learned this from the Turkish couple we adopted, when they heard that I'd just finished reading Incil. This time through, I started on July 18, 2007, at a time when several other big events were in progress. I'd just started working at IBM, and Vicky served notice at her place of employment.

And we do have much to be grateful for. Interesting work, with good people. Sufficient income to keep the family decently. Ongoing educational progress -- I completed my course work at Regent U. with an incredibly stressful, intimidating class in statistical research. The bike touring season is underway, with my sporadic participation. This year, although I signed up for the 100 mile option on the AIDS fundraising ride, it was a warm, windy day and home looked irresistably tempting at the Sedwick Road rest stop, mile 65, a few blocks from a warm shower and soft waterbed.

We spent a vacation week in San Jose, lavishly hosted and feted by Dori and David. We returned the favor in part by videotaping a dear friend of theirs who was doing SCA activities, fencing with all challengers. It's a clean, lovely, and wealthy city. Dori and David can walk to work and school through the golden air of coastal California. The Golden Gate Bridge is spectacular, the cable cars are still truckin' more than a century after their introduction, and Chinatown has an ambiance all its own.

This last Memorial Day weekend, the Smedley family reunion pulled together all but one of the kids, and all but two of the grandkids. Many of us ate too much. The "Triplets of Smedleyville" (Beth, Lara, and Alexis) acted as though only a few days, rather than several years, had intervened since their last congress. John and Katherine provided entertainment for the kids, with a badminton set. Mackinzie, the Alaskan belle, merged easily with the crowd of cousins. At one point, a circle of ten were playing cards. The only non-players were toddler Michael and babe-in-arms Emily.

Well, it's time to call it a day.