On Monday, September 1st, Labor Day, I met with someone at 9AM for spiritual direction and then drove to the Parkway Diner to have brunch with Fr. Mike Dolan. He is leaving soon for Texas to be a high school chaplain and I wanted to assure him that he will love it. Then I went to the annual priests’ cookout at Little Flower in Bethesda. I think that they have been hosting it for about 29 years and I try to go because it gives me a chance to see old friends and to meet the younger priests. I went over early (around 5pm) so that I could get a parking space near the hall and wouldn’t have to take the oxygen. It worked out well as I got a table near the door and was waited upon by priests and lay people. I really enjoyed the laughter and fellowship but I left around 8 to get home and read. I finished both books and went to bed late.
On Tuesday, the 2nd, I had the 11am Mass and then returned to the suite. It was hot and muggy outside.
On Wednesday, the 3rd, I went to the retired priests gathering. There were about 20 of us and we had a good time sharing stories of the past and the colorful priests we knew. It seems that we are now those characters! I had exposition at 3 and stayed in the office working on the baptisms and then I had the 5:30pm Mass and went to supper with the guys and relaxed in my suite.
On Thursday, the 4th, which is my DAY OFF, I stayed in my sweat clothes all day in my suite and defrosted my refrigerator. I had lunch there but came down for supper. In addition to the frig, I also went through some of my shelves and threw away “stuff”. Besides keeping cool all day, I had a real sense of accomplishment when I went to bed.
On Friday, the 5th, I had a funeral at 11AM. I didn’t know him because he’s been living up at the beach for 20 years but I talked with his family and between my homily and his nephew who spoke after Communion, I think (as the Irish say) we gave him “a good send off”. I rode out to the cemetery with the hearse. It was hot and humid and I was glad to get back. I had the exposition at 3PM and the 5:30PM Mass. I went to bed early.
Saturday, the 6th, I met up with Pat Watters, my friend who lives in Newfoundland and was down here for medical tests. She did that on Thursday and Friday and on Saturday, we tried to do a “movie marathon”, which we use to do every so often when she lived down this way. We e able to do 5, with breaks for food; but this time we only got two. We saw “November Man” and “the dawn of the planet of the Apes”. Both were very enjoyable and then we met Eileen (Lee) and Jay Baughan for supper.
On Sunday, the 7th, I had the 7:30AM Mass and then I joined Antonia and John Bass, Monsignor Don Essig, and some other people who live in Maplewood, where the Basses live for brunch. It was delightful and very relaxing. Then I picked up Joan Beall and we went and met Pat and then went to pick up Barb Ostrye and we all went to supper together. Again it was great to be together but the heat and humidity were terrible. We took Barbara home and then returned Pat’s car rental so she could just use the hotel shuttle to go to the train station the next morning. Then I took Joan home and went home myself. I was asleep in about ten minutes.
( I WILL PUBLISH THIS AND HOPEFULLY BRING YOU UP TO DATE TOMORROW)
After reading ALL these posts I’m ready for a nap!!!! I’m thanking God that you are able to stay involved in the lives of so many people!