I am down at my sister, Maggie but I wanted to get a message out. Today I had the 11:00am Mass. Thomas a Becket is one of my favorite saints from church history. If you have not seen the movie, “Becket” with Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole, you should. It is not the usual Hollywood adaptation of a real person and is mostly historically accurate. He was the last bishop struck down at the altar in 1170 A.D. until Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador was killed saying Mass on the feast of the Annunciation in 1985. I love the history of our church filled with courageous martyrs.
I spent much of the morning at my desk and preparing packages to send to relatives in the South for Christmas. This would seem strange unless you know that I send Christmas cards in late February or early July.
I arranged to meet the Bostons and their two grandchildren, Brian, age 7 and Ashley, age 4. The are the children of Christopher, the older Boston boy and his wife, Sara. Patrick, the younger and my Godson and his wife Danielle live in the Pittsburgh area; while Chris and his family live in Ohio. Grandma and Grandpa took the children during Christmas vacation and toured the museums in Washington. I joined them for dinner tonight and we had a delightful time. All the family will spend New Year’s at 7 Springs, a ski resort that we seminarians use to go and visit when I was at St. Vincent’s.
I also spoke today with Keith, Sheila, and their grandson, Kieran in Pittsburgh. Keith had some serious heart surgery and the recovery has been slow. I hope to get up and see them early in January.
I also spoke with my cousin, Ann Brown O’Connell. She and I are going over to my cousins, the Jensen’s in Alexandria for dinner on Thursday, the 30th.
I’m spending the night here so that tomorrow morning, I can drive over early to St. Mary’s to drop off some Christmas ornaments and pick up Pat Delaney, who is visiting from Florida with her daughter in Ridge and I am driving her up to Olney to visit another daughter. I think she is heading back to Florida by train on New Year’s.
I have been running around a lot but I shall spend New Year’s Eve in seclusion. Now off to bed.
I have been running around a lot …. is an understatement! But it warms the cockels of my heart that you are well enough to enjoy family and friends!
Have enjoyed reading all your updates. I told Rick that I remember that Mom would buy journels every year for you. This reminds me of them.
Rick and I are enjoying these.