My B1 start car: Charles, Nathan, Caleb, Michael Taylor, and Will (shotgun).
…Caleb recounts the time two retreats ago, drinking a huge energy drink before the six hour return trip. Dunno if he remembered that he was in my car at the time (Caleb, you've come a long way since then!).
…Michael uses the word “Epic” five times in the first hour. I don’t hear it again the rest of the week, though I didn’t get to hang with him much the rest of the time.
…Charles reads the downtown Woodstock church marquee out loud: “Dealing With Evil, Part 2.” My reply: That’s where we’re going!
…Listening in on EP conversations, I hear the word Myrrh, not knowing the context. Later Mona says her girls pronounced it correctly…MIR. They still thought it had something to do with what the three kings brought baby Jesus.
Metter Big Switch: Will, Holt, Wesley Pherson, Phillip, and Joel (shotgun).
…Phillip rocks black Chucks.
…With the EP dealing with outer space, some finally figure out our destination.
…After hours of driving through the country, driving through downtown Jacksonville means a return to civilization. Joel breaks out his camera. With all the palm trees growing in the wild, he snaps pictures of five landscaped palms planted by the interstate, in a row. “I like palm trees!” he says. Makes for a great photo.
…The boys focus on the EP Sudoku page, with varied success. Holt: “Joel, you’re so good at it because you’re a Norman.”
…Later Holt notes the time. “Noon! We’ve been gone for six hours. That means we have six hours to go. I know this, because it’s a ten hour trip.” My reply: Holt, no wonder you’re having trouble with Sudoku!
Final switch: JT, Michael Brewton, Micah, Wesley Newton, and Charlie V (shotgun).
...Mrs. Hanson’s girls tell of a “freaky man” looking at them in a passing van.
DH: What did the freaky man look like?
Girls: “Long hair and a beard…kinda like Jesus!”
...B3’s Mrs. Taylor continued to be the REAL group leader, deciding when to change to a “smoother” lane, peeking around B2, wondering when B1 would speed up or slow down. I love it.
Despite the five whether stops, we made great time…arriving at 3:30. Thanks to Titusville traffic lights, the B Group arrives with Group A. At the park the “Dr. Pepper” shirts are revealed. Some toss a Frisbee, others play with Cassie and Daniel. Mr. Mason kicks a soccer ball with Russ and Matt Ellis, the young pirate.
Most join in the football game. Holt loses his shoe kicking the ball. Mallory collides with DJ. Kyle is a football demon, breaking up plays, scoring touchdowns, and making interceptions. Connor McKenzie QB’s, and later accidentally breaks a large tree limb. It’s a pleasure getting to know his dad John, who’s chaperoning. They worship with the Millers. I make my first attempt at photography, standing behind the QB…so I mostly snap pictures of the player’s backs.
PaPa John’s pizza in the park as the sun sets, closing out a gloriously sunny day. Back in the conference room we are treated to the first of Mr. Landrum’s videos, recapping the day. Who What Where is back! Kara and DJ do a great job hosting fun time, based on the reaction and participation of the students.
Will, Charles, Holt and I return to our room 142, exhausted after the long day. Holt had woke up 19-1/2 hours earlier. Getting to sleep before 11 pm was no problem.
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