Week-end Update: Expected and Unexpected Joys

I have had a good week-end, good in ways both expected and unexpected. I began the week-end by driving down to Columbia, SC to meet up with my parents so we could go to the James R. Crumley Archive banquet together. In past years, I had seen people post pictures of the banquet, and I always thought it sounded interesting, the kind of event I would be sure to attend if I lived nearby.I've lived nearby for several years, but this was the first year I could go. Past years had seminary classes, minister commitments, and of course, Hurricane Helene disruptions. As I got ready to go, I realized that I wasn't really sure what to expect. I wondered if there would be people I would know. I was happily surprised to have such a good time, which I wrote about in this blog post. I knew that the week-end would have good family moments, and it did. It was great to be with my parents. We are all old enough that I feel the passage of time keenly, that each good time together might be the good last…