I was confused. When it was Sunday, I thought it was Saturday (one of the idiosyncrasies of this damnable PLS!) and we had arrived at my son and daughter’s place in Nashville on a Friday — no, a Saturday; that’s why the next day was a Sunday!

When I was pushed into the church (the Brentwood United Methodist Church), I was seated in the first aisle at my dearest wife’s left- hand. I wore neither socks nor a long sleeve Polo shirt. Why should I dress up for a baptism rehearsal? Little did I know!

The pastor, Dr. Davis Chappell, before his sermon (which turned out to be a ‘hoot’), called the family to the Baptismal Font, where he took baby Elizabeth Anne Faucette from the arms of her parents, Alexandra and Dr. Phillip Faucette (he later refused temporarily to give her back), and introduced her to her Godparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben May (Alex had known the wife, Laura, since 3rd grade in Marietta, as well at Lassiter High and UGA), and their children Grayson, Griffin and Cheney.

Dr. Chappell also introduced the baby Ellie to her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Mills (Bob is the novelist/columnist), and her 3-year-old brother, Hutson, as well as her paternal grandparents, the Deacon and Mrs. Chip Faucette of Nashville. Never did the baby cry or whimper once, even when the baptismal water was sprinkled on her head.

(Dr. Chappell ad-libbed recognition of Chip Faucette as ‘a deacon of the Episcopal Church in Atlanta, another man of the Cloth.’)

I was left in my wheelchair at the Communion Bar, a circle away (and several steps below) the Baptismal Font.

Also in attendance in the magic circle were Mrs. Missy Michaels (the proud Papa’s sister) and her children, Flynn and Brady (her husband and the boys’ father, Ned, is a pro-golfer involved with the FedEx Tournament celebration in Atlanta).

Phillip and Missy’s younger sister, Mary Faucette, formerly of the Peace Corp and the hit TV show Nashville, was also present at the Font.

After the service, which turned out to be the ‘real’ thing, (Chris and I can certainly see why Phillip and Alex are so smitten by Dr. Chappell!) we had a picnic lunch for the Godparents and the family outdoors at a pavilion. a perfect setting, near Alex, Phillip, Hutson and Ellie’s home.

Highlights were slabs of ribs, baked beans, assorted fruits, mac & cheese, and sweet iced tea — and the most incredibly delicious cake I have ever enjoyed!

It was an absolutely perfect day. And we got back home to Atlanta Monday night after three or four stops — not Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday as expected!
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Copyright©2014 by Robert A. Mills, all rights reserved, may not be published, re-written nor broadcast without the author’s permission
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I know, I know…. I have said I will make no further mention of the matter, but I lied; besides, you leave me no choice.

I am well aware WXIA has made Chip Holcomb their Chief Meteorologist, but he and his colleagues rarely refer to him as such.

If we could but add it to his name, and the AEM logo, over the black strip for 4 or 5 seconds at the bottom of the screen: Chris Holcomb. Chief Meteorologist AEM: problem solved! More later re WXIA, the NBC affiliate in Atlanta. RAM
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