OP
OP
Organist
senior
United StatesSorry that I've been off-line for the past 2 weeks. We were in Indianapolis, Indiana, and all I had was my android phone which let me do nothing without a lot of hassle.
We’re finally back from Indianapolis where we’ve been since Monday, July 2nd. We drove back yesterday. I was one of the delegates for the ECW (Episcopal Church Women) in the Diocese of Western North Carolina at the ECW Triennial Convention in Indianapolis. It was held at the same time and place (the Indianapolis Convention Center) as the National Episcopal Convention. The convention didn’t start until that Wednesday, but we drove up early and settled in with Liam’s sister and niece – where he stayed for the “almost” 2 weeks. He took me to the hotel and convention center on Wednesday afternoon (4th) and picked me up on Thursday morning (12th). We came back home on Friday (yesterday).
The convention was wonderful, but VERY tiring. The delegates for both conventions, delegates for the “house of deputies”, bishops, and guests (speakers, etc.) stayed at the 4 hotels connected by skywalks to the convention center. That meant a LOT of walking every day – with meetings, workshops, and daily morning worship services (& Eucharist). The events were held in 3 of the 4 hotels with the registration and exhibit hall in the convention center. The “house of bishops” and the “house of deputies” met in different parts of the convention center. We could sit in on their meetings during free time, if we so wished and had the energy to make the trek. Since it was hot (top temperature was 105º F one day), I stayed inside most of the time, using the enclosed skywalks to go wherever. The skywalks came in very handy – avoiding the heat outside and the traffic.
I DID use my cane when I went ANYWHERE because of the increasing energy drain of long meetings and the long walks between most events. Walking down the immense hall of the convention center to get to one of the other hotels was often like trying to merge into traffic on the interstate. Representatives from the USA and other countries were going in different directions, many of whom were pulling their small carry-on luggage (with all of their papers, laptops, etc.) behind or to the side of them. Those who needed motorized vehicles could rent them for the duration of the convention. One of our delegates tripped on someone’s small carry-on bag which was trailing behind him. She didn’t see it, and ended up on the floor with a bruise on her face. Other than that and being sore, she’s OK — but it was a “mad house” going through the convention center hall. I stayed on the far right as much as possible while weaving through small bunches of people (3+) who occasionally found each other (even in the middle of the foot traffic) and were having short conversations to “catch up” or “make plans” or whatever.
All-in-all, it was very interesting – my first time going to Triennial. I’d recommend it to any interested member of the Episcopal Church – just take naps whenever possible. The people are wonderful, and the Eucharistic services are awesome. Each service features a different culture/country (language, music, etc.) with English on the left side of the pages of the booklet and the other language on the right side of the page. The parts of the service were spoken by the leaders alternating languages between Scripture readings and sometimes from one paragraph to another. The Lord’s Prayer was spoken and prayed in each person’s native language – at the same time. One day the featured country’s language was sung, so we were able to hear the last part of their prayer after the rest of us finished (in English, Spanish, etc.). The convention was definitely tiring, but definitely worth being a delegate.
We’re finally back from Indianapolis where we’ve been since Monday, July 2nd. We drove back yesterday. I was one of the delegates for the ECW (Episcopal Church Women) in the Diocese of Western North Carolina at the ECW Triennial Convention in Indianapolis. It was held at the same time and place (the Indianapolis Convention Center) as the National Episcopal Convention. The convention didn’t start until that Wednesday, but we drove up early and settled in with Liam’s sister and niece – where he stayed for the “almost” 2 weeks. He took me to the hotel and convention center on Wednesday afternoon (4th) and picked me up on Thursday morning (12th). We came back home on Friday (yesterday).
The convention was wonderful, but VERY tiring. The delegates for both conventions, delegates for the “house of deputies”, bishops, and guests (speakers, etc.) stayed at the 4 hotels connected by skywalks to the convention center. That meant a LOT of walking every day – with meetings, workshops, and daily morning worship services (& Eucharist). The events were held in 3 of the 4 hotels with the registration and exhibit hall in the convention center. The “house of bishops” and the “house of deputies” met in different parts of the convention center. We could sit in on their meetings during free time, if we so wished and had the energy to make the trek. Since it was hot (top temperature was 105º F one day), I stayed inside most of the time, using the enclosed skywalks to go wherever. The skywalks came in very handy – avoiding the heat outside and the traffic.
I DID use my cane when I went ANYWHERE because of the increasing energy drain of long meetings and the long walks between most events. Walking down the immense hall of the convention center to get to one of the other hotels was often like trying to merge into traffic on the interstate. Representatives from the USA and other countries were going in different directions, many of whom were pulling their small carry-on luggage (with all of their papers, laptops, etc.) behind or to the side of them. Those who needed motorized vehicles could rent them for the duration of the convention. One of our delegates tripped on someone’s small carry-on bag which was trailing behind him. She didn’t see it, and ended up on the floor with a bruise on her face. Other than that and being sore, she’s OK — but it was a “mad house” going through the convention center hall. I stayed on the far right as much as possible while weaving through small bunches of people (3+) who occasionally found each other (even in the middle of the foot traffic) and were having short conversations to “catch up” or “make plans” or whatever.
All-in-all, it was very interesting – my first time going to Triennial. I’d recommend it to any interested member of the Episcopal Church – just take naps whenever possible. The people are wonderful, and the Eucharistic services are awesome. Each service features a different culture/country (language, music, etc.) with English on the left side of the pages of the booklet and the other language on the right side of the page. The parts of the service were spoken by the leaders alternating languages between Scripture readings and sometimes from one paragraph to another. The Lord’s Prayer was spoken and prayed in each person’s native language – at the same time. One day the featured country’s language was sung, so we were able to hear the last part of their prayer after the rest of us finished (in English, Spanish, etc.). The convention was definitely tiring, but definitely worth being a delegate.
Loves doing make up with her friends.
Have a good night's sleep 
I've found that it doesn't hurt like it did before the surgery. Getting the strength back -- going UP stairs -- is taking longer for me. I might get a membership at the Y to help with the strength in my legs -- and with everything else. We're getting there one bit of progress at a time. 
