Lifetimes

About forty years ago, when my dad was a teenager, he and his friends would travel to downtown Lancaster to go to the movies. Being conservative Mennonites, movies were forbidden by the church, so these rebellious boys would stand in line outside the theater ducking down behind other patrons “just in case” their bishop drove by. If the bishop saw them, there would be confrontations and issues and discussions with parents, but because they wanted to see such forbidden fare as The Glass Bottom Boat starring Doris Day, my dad and his friends went out anyway. And hid.

Last night I went out to an area restaurant. We were waiting for our drink orders when MY bishop entered the place. I smiled and waved at him and his wife, and they sat right behind us. The waitress brought my white russian, and as I took a sip, I heard a waitress reciting the beer selection behind me.

I have no idea what he ordered; I’m pretty sure it was a beer, and I certainly felt no qualms about finishing my drink in front of him as the two of them said good-bye to us and headed out the door.

I guess it doesn’t really need to be stated, but I’m going to state it anyway: a lot has changed around here.