It has been a full week.
On Monday, I drove to Pittsburgh and arrived at Bob Norton’s house around 3pm. He bought a home after his parents died and uses it as a place to go on his day off. I have a key and so I made myself at home and just relaxed that evening.
On Tuesday, Bob came over and we went to lunch together and it was relaxing just to sit and talk and “catch up”. In the evening, I went to meet Sheila and Keith Morris and their daughter, Kathleen, who is my Godchild. We went to dinner and I had a delicious fish. We talked about Kathleen’s wedding, at which I will officiate in January 2012.
Then, Keith and I went by to see Lizette Rihn. She and her family became friends with me when I was assigned as deacon at St. Anselm’s in Swissvale in 1971. She was born in Belgium and is a very talented lady. She made my chasable and 26 stoles for my first Mass in 1972. Then her daughter, Louise and a friend embroiderd shafts of wheat on each of them and I gave them to my concelebrants. I still see them every so often when I am at a Penance Service or a first Communion. I remember that Fr. Adam Kostick especially loved getting one. Louise had written me that her Mom would be 85 on Wednesday but she wouldn’t be around as she had a day trip to West Virgina with her travel group. It was decided that people should just send her cards. Since I knew I’d be in town, I decided I turn in my card in person.
When I was a deacon, I stopped by the Rihn’s and pour out my soul as I got more nervous about ordination. She would listen and then say, “Let’s have some Drambuie”. I found the perfect card for her birthday. It said on the cover, “So its your birthday!, Yada, Yada, Yada. You look wonderful. Yada, Yada, Yada. Hope you have many more. Yada, Yada, Yada. Then you open it and it says “Now, let’s have that drink!!” She laughed and then I said, “Oh, that’s just your card. Here is your gift”. And I gave her a bottle of Drambuie. We laughed and then had a drink!! She is wonderful and had walked a mile earlier and been swimming and now was getting ready for her trip. She really does look and sound wonderful.
On Wednesday, I took my car to Jiffy Lube and spent the day, watching TV or reading. I went to S & K’s for a delicious steak dinner from the grill and Helena Regal, a friend I met through Eric Diskin. We sat on the porch, as we use to do until dawn when we were all younger, and tried to solve the problems of the Church. It was great and fun.
Then I stopped to visit Betty and Norm Deluca, another great couple from St. A’s. I use to pop into their house anytime after 11pm and Betty would share with me cookies she had just made. I had called earlier, while she was at work, to say I’d be at the back door after 9pm. So I knocked and she said, “Just come in, I have to watch these cookies in the oven”. I knew I was at the right place. Norm, she and I had a great “catch up” on their boys and their grandchildren; their 60th wedding anniversary, and the parish. It was just like the 70’s!
On Thursday, Bob came home and he brought stuff for sandwiches and then I said to him, “What would normally do on your day off?” He said, “Sleep”. So I said, “Good, you like the sofa so I’ll go upstairs and use the bed. I’ll read and may fall asleep. See you around 2pm”. At 4:05, he banged on the door and woke me up. Then I drove to Gavin and Kristen Rapp’s house for dinner with Kerry, a third daughter of S & K’s. She had brought with her, her children, Patrick and Caroline (whom I had baptized) and Kristen’s children, Kieran and Jack (whom I also baptized) hosted them. It was so much fun to watch the children playing and going in the pool. They are from grade 5th (Kieran) through 3rd(Jack), to first (Patrick) and 4 year old pre K (Carolline). They grow up so quickly! David, who will marry Kathleen also came and I found out that our youth minister here at SBS has been a family friend for years. Small world! Ed, Kerry’s husband was in recovery mode after a very successful golf tournament that he ran, so I didn’t get a chance to see him. (I married them) However just being with all these people was “life giving”. It turned out that July 1st, (the next day) would be the 16th anniversary of Gavin and Kristen wedding, so we gathered for prayer and a special blessing for them. (Married them too)
Gavin has just written and directed a film about his Mom, who was a member of The Skyliner in the 80’s. It will be coming out soon and I’ll let you know when. I read the draft and I’m sure it will be great.
Keith convinced me to go to Bob’s that night and to start out for DC on Friday morning. I did that and was home by noon. I missed all the holiday traffic and came home slowly.
I spoke with Karen, a nurse friend and with the Boston’s, friends from St. Camillus days and I wasn’t able to get together with my classmates, Tom, Bill and Richard, but I know they are busy in their parishes. They are not RETIRED!
This was the most relaxing trip to Pittsburgh I’ve had in years. I saw a lot of people but I also slept a lot.
When I got home a lot of people on staff said, “You look so relaxed”. And I was. I had the 5:30pm Mass and then Fr. Jim and I went out to supper. We “caught up” because he leave on the 6th for his first pastorate. I will miss living with him. We had a nice supper and our waiter ended up telling us that our bill had been paid by someone, “who supports what you do”. He wouldn’t tell us who but it was very thoughtful and much appreciated. And a nice surprise to both of us.
And it was nice to sleep in my own bed!!
I’m sure having a quiet house in which to stay (thanks to Bob!!!) made this a pleasant trip. I understand retired folks need lots of naps! 🙂
Welcome back!