It has been an unusual two weeks.
On Monday, the 23rd of February after the 11am Mass, I drove down to Maggie’s and spent the night. She, Marie and I went through boxes of photos that Marie’s children had brought down from her house. We found some old “treasure” and some we had no idea who they were. We worked hard and for a treat, Maggie made us “Polish pancakes”, comfort food that our Mom use to make for us on the Fridays of Lent.
On Tuesday, the 24th, we went to Maggie’s doctor appointment in Annapolis. It was a sunny day but bitter cold. We went to BINGO at the beach that night. Gerry Size, a dear friend from St. Bernard’s was there. She was surprised by our coming and we caught up on her family. She and Marie were roommates in the hospital forty some years ago when each was having a child. I think it was Ricky (US Army retired) and Vickie (grandmother). Also Al Size was the priests’ barber. He came to the rectory to cut our hair. He was a DC fireman. Gerry says he is “slipping a little” so keep them both in your prayers. None of us won BINGO.
On Wednesday, the 25th, we left Maggie’s at 6:30AM to drive over to Virginia for Marie’s appointment with her oncologist. Dr. Ann Favret is the 11th child of a family I was very close to in St. Camillus. I was so glad to see her and catch up on her husband and three children. She explained things very clearly to Marie and I. Marie has cancer in her liver and it is not treatable. At her age, it will be slow acting and as Marie had very bad reactions to chemo-therapy seven years ago; she doesn’t want to take treatment again. She feels very good now and is almost completely recovered from the surgery last November. We’ll just monitor things and as the doctor said, “Mrs. Walburn keep active and do things”. Marie said, “Oh, my going on a cruise to Alaska in June” We had a good visit.
On the way home, we stopped to visit our cousin, Ann Brown O’Connell in Bethesda. Please keep her in your prayers as well. She has been ill for years with cancer but has kept herself very active. She is now stopping treatment and getting care at home. Her family is staying with her. Her niece, Judy was there when we stopped in – and of course- as she and Maggie talked they discovered that Maggie’s neighbor in Dunkirk is an aunt of Judy’s on her Dad side. Small world!
We stopped for lunch at RIP’s and had a good meal. It began to snow!
On Thursday, we had to cancel Maggie’s doctor’s appointment because of the snow. She did make cream chipped beef on toast for breakfast – another treat from our Mother! Then I decided I should head home and I had exposition and the 5:30pm Mass. I went to bed early.
On Friday, we had a delayed opening because of the ice. I had exposition, the 5:30pm Mass, and Stations. There was pizza afterwards and then I was driven back to the rectory.
On Saturday, the 28th, I saw someone for spiritual direction and then had the 11am Mass After Mass, I went to a Dollar store and bought some Sudoku books for Marie and then I went to Doctors’ hospital to see Father Jerry Trancone. He has been struggling with a –fib in his heart and lately has been falling at night. He has little strength in his legs and may have to go to re-hab. Please keep him in your prayers. Then I drove down to
Maggie’s. Mary, Ronnie and Debbie, Jimmy and Camille (Some of Marie’s children and spouses) and Sonny and Trevor (grandchildren) all came over and we had pizza and talked (and laughed!) We had a great time.
On Sunday, March 1st, I drove over to Our Lady of Perpetual Help to do the 8:30 and 11am Masses. I loved it. The liturgy was participative and I think my homily was OK. The pastor was away doing a family baptism and Sister Kass Collins is the pastoral associate and had invited me. The people were very welcoming and I had lots of help with my oxygen and giving our Communion. I’d go again, if they invite me.
NOW, there was a little problem in that around 9am, it began to sleet and it continued all day. I got home OK but there were lots of cars (and trucks) spinning out of control on the beltway. It took about 2 hours and I was glad to see Connecticut Ave. I took a nap and then Fr. Ron escorted me across the street and I had the 5:30pm Mass. I was amazed that about 300 people were there! I was driven back to the rectory.
On Monday, the 2nd, the schools were closed. I had the 11am, exposition, and the 5:30pm Masses. Some of the snow melted but it froze that night.
On Tuesday the 3rd, I had the 11am Mass and they closed school early. After Mass, I did meet some of the seniors and we talked about Lent. Many didn’t come because the weather was supposed to get bad. It didn’t! but it was cold.
On Wednesday, the 4th, I had the 8am Mass and was going to go to the Retired Priests meeting but instead I went and got Marie and Maggie and we went to Bowie to pick up a package. Then we went back to Maggie’s after a stop at McDonald’s! Today is Marie’s 75th birthday and so she had phone calls and emails all day. That night even with the rain, we went to BINGO. Mary joined us and so I headed home as the rain was supposed to change to snow around 2am. Mary took the ladies home after Bingo. None of them won but they had a good time. I was in bed by 11pm.
I stayed in my pj’s all day Thursday. It snowed all day. I had soup in my frig and so I just ate and relaxed, napped and watch TV. It was a real DAY OFF!
On Friday, March 6th, the facilities guys cleared a path for me to walk easily and safely to the parish center. I had Mass at 11am, exposition at 3pm and the 5:30pm Mass. Afterwards, we had Stations and then pizza. I spent the whole day in my office working on Baptisms. We had 24 scheduled in the next three months.
Today, I had the 8am Mass and will have a Baptism at Noon. Please keep Jeffrey Christian and his family in your prayers.
This afternoon, there is a surprise birthday party for Marie. Our cousin from Florida, our nephew from Georgia, lots of her classmates from grade school and high school and our family (about 80 of us) will be at the fire house in Dunkirk. I may stay the night and will be home on Sunday. I’ll report on the party next time.
I’ve been on the phone a lot during the storms and caught up with family and friends. As part of my Lenten practice I am trying to be more in touch with old friends – as well as not eating Snickers – Keep my intentions in your prayers and know that I am praying you have a holy and productive Lent.
This past weekend people were still talking about your visit! They can’t wait for you to return….seems a lot of locals are connected to people in your past lives. You are right that it IS a small world, especially in Catholic circles. Weather should be better when you return in May 🙂