Ray got home safe and sound!

I got up and made pancakes for one (they were delicious!) and took a short walk with Cameron. It was cold but sunny and windy most of the day.

I decided I could make it to the forum at the Fellowship, a chance to hear speakers on a variety of topics, not necessarily religious. In this case, Frank was sort of reviewing a book called the Rational Optimist. It is written by a man who writes a column for the Wall Street Journal. One of the points he made is that we don't need to worry about running out of oil. They keep telling us we'll run out, but it hasn't happened yet. Technology will come up with something new (like fracking!). And that we shouldn't go back to living like we did before, on isolated farms. I guess he was saying that's what environmentalists want. I was so upset, I could barely listen. I was busy trying to decide what to say. He also said that the people in the slums of places like Mumbai say they are happier than they were where they came from, living with their families in the country. When he asked for comments, I said that my house was quite comfortable and used a lot less energy and my car also, but I didn't drive less. Other people argued with his contention that poor people are happier. Another man, Steve, said he had been poor, but he had worked hard and not had children until he could afford it (I would describe him as an "older" father). I said not everyone could get a college degree. He wanted to know what we should do about that. Frank said he grew up poor in NYC, but they had free college then and there. He became a cemist and worked with poson gases and it wasn't pleasant, but he did it to support his family...Jim came up to me afterward and thanked me for saying that some people can't get an education. He says everyone argues that we are all equal. I started to explain that we need to pay people well who do menial jobs and he disagreed with that. I said I didn't want to collect garbage, for instance. He said we should subsidize them. Anyway, it was very stressful and unpleasant and frustrating. I think some people enjoy arguing and provoking controversy, but I take these things seriously.

I hung around for the service as well, even though I had done as much knitting as I could for the moment. Joy S. had died on Saturday and the minister talked about our community coming together and being there for each other. It was very moving and I cried. So did lots of other people. I sat with Becky's friend Teresa and her young sons. It was nice to have her come to UUFA.

As I was driving home, I called my Dad and he met me at Peking for lunch. It was pleasant, except that we went there a lot with my Mom and I missed her.

I hadn't been home an hour when Ray called and I went to pick him up at his office. We got home and he went to bed for a couple hours.

My Dad left, I fed the pigs. Ray got up and we had some omelelts, the leftover soup, and broccoli. Also the last of the Chocolate Eclipse, warmed up, with ice cream. We watched a little TV and went to bed. Ray had no trouble falling asleep, but I read for awhile and then woke up before 5:30, so I didn't get quite enough sleep.

I feel a little achy and cross, but it will be fne.

Two things to be grateful for yesterday: Ray's safe return and 4 fresh eggs.