The AHQ Tour Update #2
New Contest in this Issue!
Written by Byran Smucker
6-17-02
One of my favorite things to tell on this trip is that Tom has a Math class for the next 10 weeks that starts at 8:00 in the morning. From the first update you know how much he complains about getting up so early. Recently while still in Oregon, I was to meet him "early" in the morning at 11:15. I was actually 7 minutes late, but he wasn't there. I waited and waited and waited and waited until 11:35. Luckily I had a cell phone. When I called he had just gotten up. From his complaining you'd think he'd make sure his classes didn't start until noon, otherwise he'd be late half the time.
In a future update we should have a contest in which the winner predicts how many times he'd be late to his class over the 10 weeks of Summer term. No, scratch that. An easier number to calculate would be the number of times he'd make it on time. But, since our editor is a totalitarian tyrant, this may not even get into the update. If it does get in, it will probably be heavily edited. So you'll be lucky if you see this. (Editor's note: See, I'm not tyrannical, I left it in. But what a stupid contest idea! Watch for the real contest later in this issue.)
Crocs!!! I finally got to see some crocs! I've been whining about how this trip would be a total failure if I didn't get to see some crocs. A local heard me and told us to go to the Okefenokee Swamp, so we did! It was great. It is also pronounced "oh-key-fen-oh-key." Thank you.
By the way, we all need to let Konrad know how great his voice is. He thinks, nearly all the time, that his voice is shot. In fact, he could be cracking cement foundations and causing chasms to open in the earth and still think he's feeling awful and sounding terrible.
I guess I'm not really narrating our journey am I? I think it's because nothing much has happened since last night. We got up really late, with Konrad the first to rise after 8:00 and me the last up at 9:15. Paul and Konrad went shopping, and we cleaned up Rick and Connie's house. The house was in immaculate condition when we arrived, but it degenerated quickly and thoroughly with 5 men in it. We tried to restore it to pre-guy condition.
I didn't realize that Sarasota gets as much or more rain than Oregon where we live. It showed today. We were in and out of rain as we drove through the lush green foilage of Florida. This rain could almost literally be categorized as a "shower," right down to the temperature of the water.
I'm interspersing this update with pictures of crocs!
Awhile after we left Sarasota we stopped to eat at Burger King, where I discovered the first Southern accent of our trip! In Sarasota, everybody's from Pennsylvania or somewhere, so no one talks like a Southerner. But we're traveling toward Georgia and it has led us into rural Northeastern Florida, where people retain a beautiful, sometimes nearly unintelligable, Southern drawl.
After we got done eating we were cruising down the highway when all of the sudden Uncle Paul brakes and pulls alongside the road. You'll never guess why. Tom wanted to walk in the forest that stretched away from the road. But then David warned him about the snakes and he quickly changed his mind.
He never warned me that I might meet a croc!
We arrived at Lake Grace Mennonite Church around 6:00. Tom immediately struck out like Indiana Jones to brave the wild corn fields and ponds with vicious snakes and alligators while Uncle Paul and I checked out the church. They had a Noah's Ark in the backyard so Konrad, David, and I climbed on it, nearly breaking it.
There I am, waving back. This was before we went to the Okefenokee Swamp, and I was really wanting to see some crocs. I didn't find any down there though, I was sorely disappointed.
But one good thing about not finding any crocs was that I didn't lose any digits.
Getting ready for the service, trying out our new steaming travel iron. The instructions said not to iron the clothes while wearing them, but we didn't have time for such nonsense.
Our long-time friend Eddy Flick came to see us. We have know him for a long time, but had never met him personally. (Editor's note: He recently started producing a great newsletter about a cappella music.) The sevice went famously. We were treated to the Walter Overholt restaraunt/hotel. Wonderful food, Southern hospitality that lives up to its reputation, and wow, Georgia is very cool (not literally of course). I'm very entranced by the rural South. I've read books set in it, I've heard about its history, so it's amazing to actually be here and hear people talk and see alligators and feel the heat and everything.
By, blatantly basking in the hospitable haven of the Overholts.
6-18-02
We decided to take a some time to do some sightseeing, mostly of alligators, and so we went to the Okefenokee Swamp. (Editor's note: Technically, they are alligators. But I like saying "croc," so I will continue to refer to them as crocs.) We took a train ride and saw a snakehandler.
Editor's note: That's me in the middle of the back seat.
The highlight, though, was a boat ride through the swamp (Paul said we should sing "Get out of the boat and into the water" with an alligator in the background while he took a video). (Editor's note: "Get Out of the Boat" is the first cut on our new CD, "Lookin' Up"! Order yours today! Or just win one of our contests.)
The Okefenokee swamp. I like saying Okefenokee.
We learned about all sorts of things, from 190-proof moonshine to a plant whose one side stays dry even when submerged in water. We also learned that alligators, while extremely powerful and fast enough to run any one of you down, have very small brains. Tom said all alligators must be tenors. Konrad said, well, since alligators have small brains and big heads they must be leads.
So we left, our tourist quota being filled for awhile. (Editor's note: Speak for yourself, I like being a tourist.)
We're currently heading down the pine-lined roads toward Due West, South Carolina where we'll have a service this evening. Tom and I are looking forward to seeing some of our 2001 BMA Bible School classmates.
BY THE WAY, since the editor thinks my idea for another contest is stupid, here's another one that was suggested, not nearly as insightful into Tom's character. When we went to the Okefenokee Swamp, what animal most startled the totalitarian tyrant?
(Editor's note: This contest is for real. The first person to email me the correct answer wins a copy of AHQ's new CD "Lookin' Up." Send your answers to me. Only one guess per email, if no one gets it we'll offer up some hints. Previous contest winners are ineligible for future contest participation.)
At least he's smiling.