Another early start - we were woken before 6 AM by noises outside, it sounded like heavy rain. After a while, when I am properly awake I decide to call the credit card company. Robert suggested Skype. Great idea, I ran the sound test, but my microphone is not working. It has the same problem as my Windows 7 laptop at home - two microphones on one device and neither working. I tried deleting the device and restarting, but the problem is not cured. Back to the phone. I call and get an answer straight away and after the inevitable security grilling I am told he has no idea why the transaction was declined, and that it will not happen again. I struggle to believe him. The call costs £6, mainly because it was answered straight away.
As we eat breakfast there is just the sound of rain and the occasional blast from the heating. It is quite dull, an odd atmosphere.
At last we begin our journey to see Roberts family in Douglasville. It is a 90 minute drive away. On the way we see a wrecked Christmas in the shape of a badly damaged car on the median (central reservation). There are no barriers on the interstate between the carriageway and the median. The car is being recovered, but there is next to no delay to the traffic flow. Happily we are not involved in any incident and reached Robert's mother's house safely. After a greeting and a few minutes chat we moved on to his brothers house for lunch. We had Brunswick stew and barbecue - a tradition, and very pleasant.
In the afternoon we went to the mall to look for the shoes that Mike wanted us to get for him. It was busy, but nowhere near as crowded as it would be at Lakeside. Here I was asked to talk more because they love the accent, that was the first time it had happened to me, and would happen another twice during the day. It was also the first time I have been asked for ID while making a purchase. At least the card is working. There is a roundabout in the mall - the first I have seen - what confusion is causes, despite the signs ( OK, perhaps just 'yield' is not enough). Roundabouts are everywhere in the UK, and definitely improve traffic flow.
Then off to Lithia Springs Baptist church for the candle lit service. Its a long time since I've taken communion outside my CofE tradition, this service was very different. As with all non-liturgical service there are elements that are missing or hard to locate. Here I missed the confession / absolution, but I won't let that ruin the experience. The choir sang some of the songs, and the congregation sang some songs with them. The strange and uncomfortable thing for me was the applause at the end of the choir items. We occasionally get applause at Christ Church when the children have done something - usually as a 'volunteer', and I'm not really comfortable with that, but they are children and it is good to make them feel that extra bit special. As adults we should know that all we do in church (and outside, but that's a different debate) is done to glorify God. We should not be seeking the approval of people, but of God (Gal 1:10), so by extension we should not be giving it. The sermon was good, the opportunity to speak to those who attend rarely was well taken and the message about who Jesus is and what he has done (died for our sins) clearly presented. Communion was a very different experience. Small pieces of purpose baked bread were distributes among the congregation, and eaten at the same time by all. Then small cups of wine were distributed and drunk at the same time by all. The words that Jesus used were repeated, but there was no attempt to bless the bread. This is a good thing, as it reminds us only of the act and is therefore a purer act of remembrance. What is lost is the sense that we are all eating from the same loaf. We sang 'Away in a Manger' to a tune I didn't know.
After the service we went to Waffle House with Robert's friends and their children. Waffle house is always open. It is a diner - so you eat at tables or the bar. We had to wait for adjacent tables to become clear. The food is basic, but satisfying. We ordered a big plate to share - we tried hash browns, which are very different for the English version, less formed and stuck together, and grits. Grits has a strange feel in the mouth - hence the name, and a bland taste. In that respect it is like porridge, and like porridge it is normally eaten with something added. Jo didn't like it, but I did.
Then there was a long foggy drive back to Auburn.
Things I like about America - in no particular order
Police and recovery teams don't block the road.
Shops don't close at midday on Christmas eve.
Large churches, well attended
Being English here
Things I don't like about America - in no particular order
National Rifle Association
Drivers who don't understand roundabouts
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