I'm back from St. Louis. Made it to and from safely, in spite of my brother-in-law dozing off on the way up. He hadn't had much sleep the night before. He and Sherry picked me up in Atlanta around 10:00. A little over halfway to St. Louis, he dozed off and was awakened by the rumble strip on the shoulder. I took over driving and it immediately started to rain. I think he faked the falling asleep at the wheel so he wouldn't have to drive in the rain. That's OK. I got back at him by letting him negotiate the crossing of the Mississippi River on the Poplar Street Bridge and getting onto I-44 in Friday traffic. This interchange is a design marvel created by the Missouri DOT.
The last time I was in a Catholic church they had altar boys. When did they start having altar girls? I guess it keeps the priests from abusing altar boys. (Remember that the description of this blog is pushing the boundaries of bad taste and political incorrectness.)
The last time I wore a suit was when my mother died nine years ago. It took me about seven tries to get my tie tied correctly. First I had to remember how to tie a Windsor knot. Then I had to figger out how to get the ends the correct length. AAARRRRGGGGHHHH! I used to be able to do this in my sleep.
My cousin Gary gave a very good eulogy. He made it almost to the end before he choked up. He did a far better job than I could have.
More tomorrow.
Posted by denny at August 17, 2008 08:30 PM
I'm so sorry about the loss in your family. I'm glad you made it back safely...
Posted by: Bou on August 17, 2008 08:55 PMGood that you made the return well and that you didn't kill yourself with the tie.
Who passed away? Definitely sorry to hear about it happening.
Posted by: Shannon on August 17, 2008 09:24 PMGood to have you back Denny...now get to Blogging!!!!
I can laugh at your alter "boy" as a Catholic because something was WRONG...and I fought to have it turned better...
Now let's have the Moooslims do the same and the world will be a better place!
When I had to wear a tie I tied them once and then always took them off over my head...never to be "tied" again...I hope you did this ...not that I wish that you need to use one soon !!!
Posted by: ty guy on August 17, 2008 11:03 PMGlad to hear you're back safely home, after the sad event. A bow tie would look nice on you, Denny.
The Catholic Church started having altar girls when some nuns and women got mad because the Pope refused them the priesthood. I guess to get closer to the altar should compensate...?
It's not politically incorrect to speak openly about the church's abuses. Our Canadian Prime Minister recently apologized, in the House of Commons, for the physical, sexual, emotional abuses perpetrated against the Natives children in the Northern Residential Schools ran by Catholic and Protestant Nuns, Ministers and Priests, 30-40-50 years ago. Of course, the schools are all closed now.
Will it stop abuses against children anywhere? Will altar girls be safer than altar boys?
All this has nothing at all to do with God.
Posted by: Claudia on August 17, 2008 11:25 PMBetter altar girls than altered boys.
Posted by: Rurik on August 18, 2008 12:35 AMAnother reason to consider is that Girls at that age are better students...and therefore pass the "grade" easier... I wasn't an alter boy until 8th grade because I had a hard time trying to memorize the Latin required...I'll put money that EVERY girl in my class could memorize within the first week of 5th grade what took me 4 years to do
but then I think Denny you were only trying to make a FUNNY
It was worth it when we found out where Father hid the keys to the Sacramental Wine!!!!!!
Posted by: ty guy on August 18, 2008 02:24 AMOf course, Denny was just being funny. I made a pompous fool of myself again by taking his question seriously.
I'm through...Finished...Kaput. Aurevoir gang. I'm not game anymore.
Posted by: Claudia on August 18, 2008 02:53 AMWelp, you are home safe.
That's what counts.
I am sorry about your loss, though.
Like I said, funerals suck. But they are a part of life.
We live to die, right?!
Take care, Sir.
Happy thoughts your way :)
Posted by: Gina on August 18, 2008 07:17 AMGlad your home, safe and sound.
I never was any good with the Windsor (that's what they expected during my regular Army days), so now I just stick to the good-ole Four-In-Hand.
Posted by: Greg on August 18, 2008 11:04 AMty guy,
In the 4 years I was an alter boy, I don't think I ever learned a damn bit of latin and I served on those 6:30am services during the week right before starting the day at Catholic school after the service was finished. I'll never forgot all those old folks (mostly women) that were old school catholics there for that latin mass. Some were new immigrants, many were second generation, but they sure knew that Latin. The priest would look my way, tap a foot, do something to alert me that my job was coming up. Learning Latin never occured to me as it has to be one of the most vulgar sounding languages I have ever heard.