" Mike, do you believe in God?"

Again first things first. I had a gas in Atlanta. Swam lousy but really loved seeing my swimming friends and community. And getting away from medicine is always healthy in a weird sort of way.

There are some certifiably FAST master swimmers out there. The so called fast suits are tight girdles from which oozes well marbled flesh causing, as Bill so aptly puts it, wives to laugh themselves silly and children to run into the night. And they really don't make a difference. I, again, got vertical in the 100fly, a big no-no, and was headed to the light. My teammates were all lined up to cheer/groan as I dropped my by now leadened legs and couldn't get my arms, or for that matter brain, to cooperate.

Bill, MJ and I finished up the experience with a great carnivorous meal at "Fat Matt's" rib place. Picture a shoe box shaped building you can smell before you can see. You get in line and order, and enjoy some live blues from one end of the place. You see two guys enter the back door each with 12 loaves of Wonder Bread; truly authentic. Bill and MJ ordered big meals o' meat and I ordered my favorite, a pork sandwich. It tasted fantastic and I was having a great time, until my manhood was questioned, again, by my "friends" and for that matter the staff. It seems I only ordered a "small" sandwich. The woman behind the counter shot me a "you'll be back honey" look. And I was. Conversation stopped as I dove into some amazing ribs. That and beer. Did I mention the beer? So much better than here, and there you have it.

Seeing Eli, Amber, Aven , Beth, and Belle was fantastic as well. Watching Belle, 15 mos (I think and hope), entertain herself with a basin of water and have Uncle Eli encourage her to "wash your bachachas" was hilarious. Beats any digital toy out there.

Then the long flight home and to SOS that week. I sometimes walk out onto the dirt field to see the starry ski and did so this night as I was hitting the jet lag wall. Out there I met Thabong, a 13yr old guy with whom we have taken a mutual shine. He was staring into the night and came over to me. I could see this might be an interesting time as he truly had a look about him that I hadn't seen.

With inquisitive and.......what, a very disarming facial expression, he asked 'Mike, do you believe in God" I did the shake and bake as I didn't want to answer before we fleshed out where this came from. He attends a private evangelical school on a very generous scholarship, one for gifted kids. So I put it back to him. "Do you?"

"I don't know." "Why?" "I can't see him." A perfect place for a thirteen year old wrestling with the angst of youth to be in my opinion. "Do you need to SEE him?", say I. And on went the conversation. He wanting proof. So I stepped behind him on this absolutely beautiful night and said, "Do you see me?" "No." "Then how do you know I'm here?" "Do you feel me close to you?" I said as I was stepping away from his turned back. "Yes." "Even now?" "Well I think so." "So you know I'm here but can't see me..." He laughed and said to the effect that he knew where this was going. And we became silent, in the cold night air, he enjoying the company of an old man. And the old man enjoying and marveling at the emergence of a young one.