Did I say wine? I meant Coke. Frankly I was not as prepared as I hoped to be for my first extended visit with Timmie in my new digs. The pool is not open yet, and I do not have his computer set up yet (I am missing a router and a mouse). So Sunday we set out to do the twenty dollar Atlanta tour. We drove out to Six Flags and watched the kids scream on the roller coasters (nope, no money to go in yet), then we drove downtown and did the World of Coke tour which was still fourteen bucks for us both to get in, but the cheapest major attraction in town. Timmie was not the least bit interested in the old Coke advertising but said the highlight of his day was tasting Coke products from all over the world. We did Underground Atlanta which is essentially a big mall, but had live music and several free attractions.
Then, a stroke of genius: for just a buck and a half each Atlanta has a brand new trolley that does a full downtown attraction tour. We actually did the circle three times getting off and looking around at CNN and other cool spots. By the third time around they had Timmie up front ringing the trolley bell with the mike in his hand announcing the stops to the other passengers, "and next on your right, is the Georgia Aquarium." I laughed till I cried. He was awesome. Even with buying lunch and him playing arcade games we managed to spend under $25 which was quite an accomplishment. Almost all the attractions here, four theme parks, the zoo, various museums, IMAX, etc. run at least thirty bucks for entrance for a father and a son. Plus, I don't want to just pay the one day price on most stuff. For less than two days admission at Six Flags and Stone Mountain and other places you can buy an unlimited year pass which makes tons of sense for Timmie and I, so I will hold off for a little while.
We began the morning going to Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. It was a mournful experience for me. I had attended back in its heyday when 7,000 people filled the auditorium and some folks could not get in. Yesterday attendance in one of the most spectacular churches in America was down to several hundred. Earl Paulk, 79, made what is likely one of his last, if not his last, appearances in the pulpit. He was thin and frail, but stood the whole time to rally the troops. Yes, I am very much aware of the scandal that has plagued the ministry, and frankly I don't care. You can not judge the message based on the shortcomings of the messenger. If that was the rule of thumb Christianity would have died out in the first century. Anyway, I am glad I went, but I don't know if I will go back; I will pray about it. I do think the TRUTH that was once spoken there will rise again; I just don't know if I have time to wait for that day.
Last, a huge shout out to my favorite counter guy at Exxon: I handed him a ten and said, "I need ten dollars worth on pump 7." He said, "I'm sorry, ten dollars worth is now thirty dollars." Definitely the quote of the day!
Daddyo loves you
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