Last And First Meeting

Having had to run a few errands prior (i.e. checking the old apartment and grabbing the mail), and leaving the office a little later than expected due to a delayed but very positive meeting (our year in review), I arrived at the lodge about an hour later than I usually do and with little time to space for the evening. Actually, as I pulled into a parking spot and made a final few calls, I greeted two other brothers as they walked across the parking lot. Maybe attendance would be more than I expected?

Well, I walked in a few minutes later having finally completed the calls that had occupied my commute, and saw a small round table of brothers conversing and getting a few last minute items done before the New Year began. The evening, absent of candidates, was a much more relaxed time of fellowship and an opportunity to catch up on everything that is going on not just at the lodge but in our lives. It was also a perfect time to make sure I thanked the brother who assisted me over the weekend by transporting the new couch.

As the new masonic year had started a few days prior, there was a slight change at the lodge last night. While the Worshipful Master will be serving another year in the east and I will continue sitting to his right, the Treasurer, having served in that role for the past seven years, decided to step down and have another brother assume the responsibilities of the office. Last night, it was nice to see the previous Treasurer relax a little while he offered support to his successor. While the new officer is more than qualified for the job and his commitment to the fraternity is unquestionable, I understand the process of getting comfortable in a new position in the lodge as an officer. After all, I had to do the same thing last year.

There is a lot of promise in the coming year as our calendar is filling quickly, new brothers are actively participating in the fraternity, and new candidates are brought in every month with petitions in hand. We conclude the year with more masons than what we started with, greater engagement by the brethren, and an energy that is continuously building with every passing week. It is a great time to be a brother and I am enjoying the front row seat that I have as we turn the fraternal corner and begin to grow again.

It’s Freaking Snowing!

This is what we saw on the news!

When I opened the door to my office at the end of the workday there was no one to be found in the building. The bitter rain had driven everyone from the warm confines of work and the only car in the parking lot responded to my remote. It was darker than I had seen in a long time at this hour and the echo of the heavy rain nearly drown out the traffic just on the other side of the embankment.

As with all unfavorable weather conditions, the commute home was slow with the glare of headlights screaming from the wet pavement. So, like many nights, I pulled onto the highway, slowly accelerated, and waited for the blaring of brake lights to fill the horizon. As I fluttered the gas pedal, the rain began getting heavier, the mist from the trucks denser, and the pace of travel much slower.

Nearly halfway home and I was making pretty good time given the weather around me. Around this time the straight streaks of condensation that I had become accompanied to this evening began slowing their descent and hovering above the road before melting on my windshield. Not even midway through November and the frigid temperatures were already providing us with a wintry mix.

It took me a little longer to get home from that point as the roads remained cocooned with fall leaves forcing us all to slow down significantly on the back roads. Thankfully I was able to find a spot in the parking lot as another day of work was just completely on the perpetual maintenance project in which we live. With the sleet pattering all around me I was finally able to walk through the front door and spend the evening with my wife.

Not long after we finished our dinner we saw the news previews pop up on the screen showing the flurries falling across the region. That was when we noticed that things had grown silent just beyond the windows. Curious, we walked over to the door, cracked it open, and glanced at the light accumulation already coating the cars.

While not a significant weather event and nothing that would hinder our commute in the morning the fact is that we’re not even halfway through November and it is already freaking snowing! Surprised, I couldn’t help but venture out into the sloppy slush so I grabbed my hat, put on my shoes, and stuffed my mail in my pocket. Might as well enjoy the change in the weather before we get tired of it because based on the predictions that is not going to take very long.