House Hillman moves into 2008 in as precarious a position as ever, grasping for a control over our lives two steps removed from reality. Ah, life! To be thoroughly set in one’s ways and to be so unsettled at the same time certainly keeps one on edge. What edge? You decide, gentle reader.
Conrad “Guitar Hero” Hillman is a freshman in high school, playing soccer (indoor and out) and doing well academically. Most of the time he plays with his Wii (snicker) as a first person shooter, rocker or fantasy soccer player. When wrenched away from the tube, he has a hand-held device to keep his edge. He rocks!
Lucy in the Sky is a sophomore (sophos/moros) at Wake Forest University majoring in Who-Knows-What, a degree that will put her in a solid position for thinking about What to Do in Life. It is thought that her prince will come; though her experience of family and friends thus far makes that seem unlikely. Fostering little ones out of wedlock is all the rage these days, so Lucy has Jack, a cute little longhaired hamster.
Master of the World Luke is on the edge of adulthood as he graduates from Georgetown University in May. He has majored in “Government,” believing bureaucrats and politicians will make excellent associates in the next phase of his life. His desire is to rule, though he has a strong secondary interest in the latest technological gadgetry (he has one of those new phones that even defecates in three colors). He is the Station Manager for GUTV, and has interned on the Hill (the true Hill-man) learning the fine art of manipulation and misdirection.
Pentagenarian Leslie continues as a redhead in all her flaming glory, widely discussed by the male students she serves in her work in the Media Center at our high school (not really). She manages the headquarters of House Hillman in Fletcher, NC, a job which often brings “the look” to those not up to snuff at the facility. Leslie works, reads, exercises (still), cleans house, chauffeurs the One Left Behind, and watches Desperate Housewives – activities that make her life “happy” or “satisfactory.”
I am in my twenty-fifth year of ministry in the United Methodist Church, the last year and one half at First UMC in Rutherfordton (pronounced RUF-tun), NC in an area devastated by the loss of textile manufacturing jobs. The county is clawing its way back as retirees from the North and refugees from Florida move into our lovely foothills of the Smokies. I live in a parsonage in Rutherfordton part of the week and at our headquarters in Fletcher the other part – an arrangement which, to my surprise, is not all that unusual in our arcane system of deploying clergy by episcopal fiat.
Dragon, the Green Iguana, passed away over a year ago. She was with us for ten years, and is remembered with great affection. Sierra, our 13+ years Golden Retriever, has been passing away for some time now. She is full of tumors and has a bad disease smell about her, but she still functions and maintains her winsome personality. Sweet old dog!
That’s the news, gentle reader. House Hillman continues a long-standing tradition of “education rich/cash poor,” and the search for the true Jesus in this wacky Bible Belt. For further commentary/observations, see individual blogs at HouseHillman.com.