On Palm Sunday, March 25, 2018, I turned 68 years old. 

It reminded me of my sixth birthday in 1956, sitting in a Westhampton Methodist Church pew celebrating Palm Sunday. The world was fresh and new.  For years after that, I wondered when it would happen again. 

Well, 62 years later, my birthday was once again on Palm Sunday. I wanted to “bookend” … sit in the same pew in the same church on Palm Sunday. Morgan and I attended the 11 AM service that day. To my great delight, we were greeted by longtime church members who remembered me and especially my parents. Margaret Anderson, Natali Kent, Todd Pitts, and others made us feel like we were returning home. During the service I watched the children parade palm fronds around the sanctuary, sing a song, and listen to the children’s sermon. I was one of those children six decades ago. 

Westhampton United Methodist Church is alive and well. It is in good hands with Christy Haga Turner, the pastor, a Mary Washington College graduate. 

I later learned that Easter occurred on March 25, 1951, my first birthday. It will not repeat again until March 25, 2035, my 85th birthday. I hope to accomplish another bookend, much like Mark Twain and Haley’s Comet.

I came in with Halley’s Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year (1910), and I expect to go out with it. It will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I don’t go out with Halley’s Comet. The Almighty has said, no doubt: “Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together.”
– Mark Twain, a Biography

And they did. 

I look forward to sitting in WUMC in 17 years, watching children under the wooden cross that my father made. Thank you, mom and dad, for all your blessings.

To end the day, Morgan and I went to my brother Jim’s house where every Sunday they gather with the Krohns (Tara) and Davenports (Michelle) for Sunday dinner. We had a great family gathering celebrating Tara’s selection as Teacher of the Year at Woolridge Elementary School, Riley’s decision to attend Chesterfield County’s Center Based Gifted program (Morgan is an alumnus), Jack’s five lacrosse goals in one game (out of nine for the team), Michelle and John’s soon to be launched distillery adventure, and my birthday. 

So turning 68 was good. Thank you everyone.