Lent.

Remember man that you are dust. And unto dust you shall return.

And so it is.

I begin this Lent with personal and difficult reminders that we are but dust.

I did receive a cross of ashes on my forehead on Wednesday, the day of the horrific school shooting in a high school in Florida.

On Thursday morning I helped with a funeral of an old parishioner and friend. A former FBI agent.

His funeral was poorly attended. 

Yet.

He had a nice official police escort to his burial place. 

Police cars and motorcycles. 

Several State Trooper vehicles. 

And sirens. 

Other than that and the hearse, there may have been 3 other vehicles that traveled to witness his interment. 

On Thursday afternoon I learned of the death of our church organist. She was only a few years older than me. Her only child is the age of my children. 

Shock and a heavy heart have been my companions this last 24 hours.

I will help with her funeral on Monday.

The words I used to hear when I received the ashes on my forehead on Ash Wednesday weigh heavy.

And yet...

Over years the words have morphed into something different. 

The emphasis is not on death, but on living the Gospel. 

So, life. And hope.  

Forty days in the desert.

Easter will come.

Shalom.

Living proof.

Our church directory proofs arrived via email today. We kinda liked them and actually purchased some. Don't remember zackly which ones we bought. But here are some samples of the sitting...

This is us. 

It may be a fun weekend. Starting out tonight - we are party hopping. Going from an annual draw down for a local retreat center to a big band dance to round out the night. (I even bought a fancy dress today that was on sale to wear to the gala tonight.) The leader of the band has been frail for going on, at least, 3 years. He actually fired Hospice and has been the energizer bunny. He just keeps going....every year we attend thinking it will be his last. And it isn't. 

Tomorrow we head south to visit Out-of-Town-Son and our wonderful DIL and sweet Cc. 

I have finished the afghan for the new baby and will deliver it. 

The weather will not dampen our spirits. 

Namaste. 

Football, chili, and movies.

Are you mostly satisfied with what you have? 

I can honestly say that I am. Mostly.

It doesn't mean I don't want things and stop going shopping.

But. When asked what is my favorite car, my response is "the one that is paid for". 

My current vehicle will be 10 years old to me in March of this year. It is still in very good condition.

I hope I can get, at least, 2 more years out of it. 

In the mean time, we are about to pay off Macho's truck. Yip. Ee. 

It is the best. I don't like having payments. Ten years ago, when I "retired" we hit the goal of paying off our house. That was a great feeling. 

***

Super Bowl Sunday.

I don't have a dog in the fight. 

Macho is pulling for the Eagles, for lack of a favorite team.

I'm leaning toward Brady and the Patriots. I haven't gotten on the "I hate the Patriots" band wagon.

Not sure I really understand all that, except for the "deflate-gate" fiasco. 

Tom needs to win and retire. Let the next hero have his day. 

Anyway, we will watch (1) the game (2) the commercials (3) halftime show...

I am cooking a big ass pot of chili. Probably the best I ever cooked. 

(I say that every time. The best pot I ever cooked = the one in front of me.)

Tomorrow the leftovers will feed some hungry people in our Loaves & Fishes soup kitchen.

Win - win. 

*****

So, in the last two weekends I have attended 4 movies. I know right?! Like, wow! I am out there just being the movie buff. Getting caught up in the Oscar season. And. There are more I want to go see. You can say that I am helping the economy. I'm spending that tax cut money at the theater! 

*

I got to spend the day with Daughter yesterday. Weeks and weeks ago she suggested we see the movie "Lady Bird" together after hearing it advertised as "the movie you need to see with your mother".

After watching the trailer - I avoided watching/reading any more about it. Daughter didn't even watch the trailer. 

The movie didn't disappoint. We both felt like we lived a year during the watching. We laughed. We cried. We saw ourselves in parts of the characters - both as parent and child. 

We both left the viewing exhausted. 

Teen years, growing up, high school can be brutal. Parenting can be brutal. 

Divine guidance, soft hearts, and the right friends can ease the path. Still in all you have to make your mistakes and keep faithful to your heart. You have to figure out how to overcome rejection. You have to figure out that you can forgive, too. 

Daughter, I love you beyond measure. I made mistakes and didn't always do my best as your mother. But. I always believed in your ability to do what you set your heart and mind to. I have learned that you are incredible in your capacity to see high value in embracing diversity. I hope that I didn't damage your wings too badly and still hope that you soar to your highest height. 

Two words. 

Insomnia. Cookie. 

(Insert thumbs up here.)

Namaste. 

Weather report.

After being warm enough to not wear a coat yesterday we are back to freezing. On Groundhog Day. I am not complaining, well I sort of am.

February came in funky. Out of Town Son hit a deer first thing yesterday morning. His truck has many miles on it. He has put off buying a new truck. He might have to out of necessity now. Sorry about that.

Beach Boy has the drama going on at his school. Head coach reassigned, without his consent. New head coach named two weeks after the reassignment, one week after the job was posted. I smell a rat.

Daughter has had a delightful week at her new job.

The afterglow from last weekend has kept me on an even keel all week. Our garden club speaker got the flu. We had our meeting anyway, and it was delightful. Sometimes impromptu works. We even sang Happy Birthday to our 92 year old member, Ms Gene. She is precious.

Enjoyed a pizza with some good friends last night. We were checking out the live music to see if it was danceable. Not so much.

Mr. Macho wants to see a western movie tonight. Tomorrow I am going to watch a coming of age film with Daughter.

For such a long time in my part of the state, the locals did not celebrate Mardi Gras. Now the Protestants are getting on board with Lent and some people actually have Mardi Gras events. 

I have brought some Mardi Gras to myveryown neighborhood. In the trees and on my mailbox! 

Let the good times roll.

I found all this money on my walk yesterday. It makes me think of my Dad, he got such a big kick out of me finding pennies on the ground so often.  As always, when I find the money, it goes into my poor box. 

***

Senior Mass and brunch this morning. Always a good time. I made my special muffins to contribute. 

They are so yummy and have tons of good ingredients...I start with a basic zucchini bread recipe and add carrot, apple, raisins, coconut, walnuts, lots of cinnamon. 

Happy weekend evahbody. 

Namaste.