Laughter is the best medicine

The Womens Home is abuzz with chatter and excitement tonight. Short of women volunteers, and with Paula in Florida, we have placed our male Chaplains on duty at the Women and Family Home.

Today Harley had to come up with a Rec Idea. Well, first off, the boys lied to the girls and said they got to go to laser tag, so they were mad!

"What? Not fair! We have to go to the LIBRARY!" they complained.

But tonight, they are singing the praises of Chaplain Harley.

""He is so nice."
"He is so kind."
"We got to go to the library and then out for coffee!"

"And his wife, Rhonda, is really nice too. We stopped in at her work and brought her hot chocolate, but she wasn't there. We helped her one day when they moved their office. Rhonda's awesome. She used to work here!"

They made a sign for Paula's door that said:
PRINCE HARLEY IS IN

They tittered as they commented on the cartoon picture of Harley in a crown: "One of the eyebrows is really fat."

I told them that Ken was actually the Prince and Harley was the frog. They thought that was hilarious.

As Ken took over tonight for his shift, and was handing out meds, they were wondering who would be leading Bible study. He told them it was him and they were elated.

"Pastor Ken, you are really going to teach us Bible study tonight?!"

They turned to me, "How many years have you been married? 16?"

Of course I had to check with Ken as I don't remember such things... "18."

"18! And no kids."

"You girls are my kids."

"Wow! Thanks!! And now we're good kids, too!"

"Yeah! I've been sober 5 months now!

"I've been sober 8 years. I came for my depression."

"Are you depressed?" I asked.

"Just a little bit," she replied, explaining she had just learned that her former common law husband committed suicide by overdose 6 months previous.

I bid my farewell, "Good bye, Prince Ken! Have fun with the women!" I heard more giggles as I slipped out. "Bye Michelle! Good night!!"