I was just sitting here after the 10:30 Mass, where we had a special blessing for Fathers. I was thinking that all the men who have “fathered me” over the years are now in the kingdom. Although I prayed for them, I had no one to send a card to or to phone. Then, my phone rang and my eldest niece and Godchild, Mary Ann Walburn Pearson called me to wish me a very Happy Fathers Day. I was very touched and although I wasn’t sad about Fathers’ day, I decided today would be a good day to catch up on Paddy.
When last I wrote, it was June 1st, I was staying in my suite and getting ready for a family baptism the next day. It was lovely and I saw a lot of my cousins. Then we had 8th grade graduation and then I went home to rest.
It is now Saturday, June 23rd, the feast of the birth of st. John the Baptist. I have the 5:30pm Vigil Mass and have spent the day preparing my homily and relaxing in my suite. It is raining on and off and I just spoke with my friend, Carolyn and she will pick me up at 4:30 at the rectory door and drive me over to the church. I am grateful for that as I must take two of the oxygen canisters with me, so I have enough for the Mass.
I haven’t been able to write about the last few weeks as I am really confused about having to be on oxygen 24/7. I still want to be active and get around but I feel upset when I run out of oxygen unexpectedly. It has happened a number of times at daily Mass and then I come right back to the rectory to be refreshed by the air-conditioning and my big machine. I feel badly that I run back and hide. I turn my phone off and just get in bed. Or worse, I sometimes just play Spider Solitaire on the computer.
Also the news about our Cardinal, the children taken from parents at the border, and so much sickness and death test our faith. Yesterday, I watched a film on TV called “Paul, Apostle of Christ”. It was well done and reminded me of our faith. Please keep me in your prayers and don’t worry about me. I promise to write a more interesting note next week.