I think I mentioned that I went to my cousin’s grandmother’s birthday party while I was up in Bemidji.

     My cousin, Jon, was home for two weeks on leave from Iraq, and his parents threw a birthday party for my aunt’s husband’s mother.

     This is a very nice lady.  She has always been kind, and friendly, and generous.

     I met a lot of her friends, including some members of her regular bridge group at the party.

     That was fun.  They all seemed very nice as well.

     There was this one lady, though that stood out from all the rest.

     She had on robin’s egg blue slacks, a bright, multi-colored floral shirt with lots of blue and pink and orange on it.

     She had a HUGE pin on her left lapel.  It spelled out the word SHINE in rhinestone diamonds.  The letters were easily an inch-and-a-half tall.  The whole thing looked like it belonged on the fist of a multi-million dollar rap recording artist.

     She saw me looking at it, and smiled.

Me:  That is certainly an eye-catching pin.

Her:  Yes, I bought it at the Crystal Cathedral when I went there to see Shuler speak.

Me:  Wow.  That must have been quite a trip.

Her:  Oh yes, I went with my church group.  We are going on another trip (she told me

          when and where, but I forgot)  This time one of the ladies said that if I liked to

          shop, I should bring an empty suitcase with me.

Me:   Well, that certainly sounds like excellent advice, I hope you have a wonderful time.

Then she saw someone else she wanted to talk to, and drifted off.

But the damage had been done.  The phrase popped into my head and will most likely be there forever:

Jesus Bling.