What Paddy Shot At

I am hoping to “bring you up to date”; but my eyes get tired if I type on the computer for too long.

Let me just say that the cataract surgery on my left eye went very well. I can see everything so much clearer. The surgery took about 20 minutes but the drops you had to put in before and since are exhausting. I am tired and all I really want to do is go to bed. I do Mass and I have had a few baptisms but I don’t sit around the office much.
I’ve seen the doctor and he is pleased as I am. So much so that I asked to have the right eye done and that will be done on November 12th. I’ll be having drops in the eyes till Thanksgiving. I have to wear these dark glasses that make me look like a really old “Blues Brother”. I also have to wear a “shield” when I am in bed or taking a shower. Then I look like Blackbeard the Pirate. I know it will be worth it all but it is exhausting.

So thanks for all the prayers. If you hadn’t done them, imagine how much complaining I’d be doing. I really am not a good patient.

Speaking of a “good patient”. Maggie is doing very well at the rehab. I am very proud of her. She will leave there – maybe next week – and continue therapy at home. Keep her in your prayers. It won’t be easy for her to stay in the wheelchair – without a nurse looking over her shoulder.

So that’s it for now.

I do apologize for the delay in writing. Lots of medical stuff kept me busy or tired.
So I last wrote on the 6th and was planning to go with my family to a show on the 7th; but I wasn’t feeling well, so I just stuck around the rectory.

October 8 Someone came to see me at 8:30 then I went and picked up Jerry for a doctor’s appointment. Confession and 5:30pm Mass and supper with Ron.

Oct 9th I covered the front desk because Joan had to go to the doctor’s. It’s always fun to “surprise” people by being there. I went to see Dr. Solomon and then had the 5:30pm Mass. Also called Patrick Berry as today is his 70’s birthday.

On Saturday, Oct 10th I had a baptism at 10am, and a wedding at 2:30. Please keep Wyatt Gregory and his family in your prayers and pray for Kevin and Abby as they begin their married life together. I had the 5:30pm Mass. I was glad the deacon preached.

On Sunday the 11th I had the 7:30am Mass and again the deacon preached. Then I had three different baptisms – One was a nice 8 year old, who wanted to make First Communion; so we had Mass as well in the chapel. Then I had a darling little girl, Lily Gabrielle for baptism and at 1:30 I had another baptism. Please keep Perry John, Lily Gabrielle, and William Matthew and their families in your prayers. Around 3pm, Mike and Sue picked me up and we went to visit Maggie at the rehab. She looks good and is doing very well. I think she’ll need to be there for a month but does well at the therapy.

Oct 12th I went out to visit one of my Communion calls and then I relaxed. Fr. Jim Bocabella picked me up for supper with John, Regis, and Mike. We had a great meal and laughed and talked for hours. We try to do this every three or four months. It always lift our spirits.

Oct 13th Had the 8am Mass and worked on baptism stuff. Picked up Fr. Jim Beattie and we went to Sergio’s for supper. Today is Terry Odien’s birthday. I called but couldn’t get through. Usually John, Terry, and I get together to celebrate all the birthdays. I think it will have to be in November this year.
Oct 14th I had the 11am Mass. Busy day.

Oct 15th Feast of Teresa of Jesus. Went and had an EKG so that all will be ready for the surgery on the 22nd. I didn’t pass, so we’ll have to see what decision is made. Fr. Bill Wadsworth (just ordained on June 19th) joined us for supper. We had a good time and I was in bed by nine.

Oct 16th is the feast of St. Margaret Mary and I had the 11am Mass. Early this morning, Catherine from school set up my computer and I skypd with a group of teachers in the Archdiocese. I spoke about Catholic Identity. It was an unusal experience and may be only my first skyp. Today is Bill Feeny’s birthday. On Sunday, October 16, 1966, we celebrated his 21st birthday with his family at a party in the parlor of St. Vincent’s Seminary. I called him but he was not there.

On Saturday, the 17th, I had the 8am Mass and then picked up Joan Beall and we drove to Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Edgewater for Ed Collin’s memorial. There had been one on the 10th but I couldn’t go so we went to this one held at Kass’s parish. It was lovely and her parishioners put on a great buffet for all. On the way home, we stopped to visit Maggie. Again, she is doing very well and gets around in the wheelchair even with the large cast on the foot. I got home by 3:30 and had the 4pm Confessions. Again, went to bed early.

On Sunday, the 18th, I had the 10:30am Mass and preached. I was happy to be able to do that but couldn’t help with Communion or go to the back of the church. Met a number of parishioners in my office afterwards; then Margaret Mary and I went over the schedule of my eye drops for the next few days. I know everyone tells me the cataract surgery is easy and will take only a few moments and I’ll be seeing so much better. I believe that but all the preparations and doctor visits have been exhausting.

Monday, October 19th, my Day Off. I was driven out to see a dear parishioner who has not been able to come to church lately. She’ll be 89 in December and we had a great visit. On the way back, I was dropped off at a cardiologist and had another EKG. Margaret Mary came and put in my first drops. So it looks like the surgery is on for Thursday, the 22nd.
Marie just called me to tell me that Ronnie, her former husband died this morning. He has been living with MaryAnn and he had a stroke last weekend and has been in the hospital since. He was conscious but couldn’t speak. He wanted to die and the Lord took him. May he rest in peace. Keep the kids and grandkids in your prayers.

Today is October 20th. I had the 11am Mass and then Tuesdays with Fr. Maury. Our topic was “how we honor and remember our deceased”. We had a great discussion. When I came back, Margaret Mary was here and put in my second day eye drops. We also worked out a schedule for tomorrow – as I need 6 times to get the drops.

Now you are kind of up to date. I am sorry that I wasn’t better about writing but having 4 doctors’ appointments and trying to be a good patient, just kept me from thinking clearly enough to write. I will write again after the surgery on Thursday. Pray that I will be a good patient.

I wrote last week but it seems like a long time ago. It was the 1st and I did give my talk at Stone Ridge and it seemed to go well. My funeral was very nice and lots of people came to support his wife and children, and grandchildren. They were married for 62 years and were a lovely couple. Please keep Bill and Ceil in your prayers.
Maggie had her surgery and it went very well. She is now in Annapolis in Rehab. I just talked to her and she did well today in physical therapy. She also told me our cousin, Helen O’Brien Nolan came to see her. She is a Eucharistic minister that comes there on Wednesdays, and will bring her Communion. She is one of my favorite cousins – although I enjoy all of them.
On Sunday, I had the 12:30 Mass and then did the clergy-led baptismal prep session. I love doing that. I had planned to go out but wasn’t feeling good, so I went to bed
Monday is now my “DAY OFF”, so I just stayed around my suite.
Today, I had the 8am Mass, then I went on the altar during a funeral for the husband of one of the ladies who come to Tuesdays with Fr. Maury. After the Mass, I met with many of the group and we discussed our thoughts and feeling about the Pope’s visit. We also talked about the Synod in Rome. It was a lively discussion and went about two hours. Then Joan Ward drove me to get my glasses repaired. In the midst of not feeling well last week, I lifted my glasses and a lens fell out because the screw had slipped out. I just didn’t wear them all week; but I was glad to get them repaired and be able to see distance again. I couldn’t see past the sanctuary.
I just finished supper. Called Joe Stoutz because it is his birthday. Yesterday was Dave Haas’ but I missed it because I didn’t go on line yesterday. Tomorrow is Ray Fecteau’s birthday.
And now I’m going to bed. I am free tomorrow because I was suppose to go to a show in Pennsylvania with my family but I didn’t feel up to it; so I’ll stay around the suite again. I have a very busy weekend coming up.
Keep me in your prayers.

I am, as they say, “Up and taking nourishment”.
I had the tooth “extracted” on Monday. It only took about 4 minutes once the 30 minutes of “novacaining me” happened. I was “groggy” the rest of the day and stayed in or by the bed. I had medications but I am leery of them. I slept on and off all night.

On Tuesday, Joan W drove me to the eye doctor for a pre-lim for the cataract surgery I will have on October 22. Again, except for Mass, I stayed around my bed.

Wednesday, the 30th, I had the 11am Mass and then met about the funeral I will have on Saturday. I tried to stay in the office so I wouldn’t “nap” and could get a good night’s sleep. I made a lot of phone calls and “caught up” with people. I talked with Kass. Her dad died and there is a memorial service on Saturday, the 10th. She is doing well and had lots of support. I talked with Dolores Marinaccio, whose husband, Orly died this week. She too is doing well with family and faith. I knew them from St. Mary’s in Landover and through Anna Marie and Gene. Please keep them and Kass in your prayers. I talked with Eileen Lee Baughan. She broke her leg and is in the hospital in Baltimore. My sister, Maggie is having that surgery on her foot this Friday, so please keep her in your prayers. Also I called Fr. Beattie and was told he’s sick in bed; so please add him to your prayers. I’ll keep you informed on everyone’ improvement.

Today I am finally going to get my hair cut and beard trimmed and go to Jiffy lube. I have exposition at 3pm but don’t have the evening Mass as it is the Sodality Mass. I am tired of eating soup and mashed potatoes. I hope to go to bed early

Tomorrow, I will go to Stone Ridge and give a talk on Pope Francis and have Mass for the alumnae. I have a funeral on Saturday and the 5:30pm Mass. All of this will help me to get back to normal – I trust! Keep me in your prayers also.