Road Trip

Three days and twelve pounds later I return home weary from all the hospitality that was heaped upon me. It was a great but exhausting trip…they (my aunt, my cousins) nearly killed me with kindness. All that being waited on…hand and foot…attending to my every wish. It was unusual to be given that much attention, not something I am accustomed to at home. My #2 son and #1 grandson accompanied me on the drive to the old ancestral homeland with its bayous and moss filled trees…the land of my birth…the land that my parents grew up in.

This trip was different from the trips that I remembered as a child. Back then, on the family pilgrimages to see the grandparents, the entertainment was counting the number of cars of a particular make or color, reading the Burma-Shave signs and fighting with siblings over who got the window seat. The window seat was the best seat because the windows were always down, a summer-time necessity, as they were the only air-conditioning. You could stick your head out like a dog and let the wind pull at your face or move your hand like a bird’s wing changing the angle of attack to feel the invisible forces push and pull at your extremity.

There were no seat belts to cramp your style…standing up on the seat was no problem. After all these years many things have changed. The only rule, which has never changed, is the rule about asking; “Are we there yet?” This question is still not allowed to be asked every five minutes.

On this trip the entertainment was I-Phones and Blackberrys…texting and “checking in” on Facebook. Searching the “Gas Buddy” app for the cheapest fuel prices, Googling the nearest restaurants and bookstores. Consulting Google for our current position and any other superfluous question that arose. I felt like we must have stopped at ever Burger King and Dairy Queen for a royal flush. Now, Buc-ees is the new standard when it comes to world-class restrooms. No road trip should be without a stop at the place under the beaver sign. I love their bill-board which reads “ 2 good reasons to stop at Buc-ee’s … #1 and #2.” Their Beaver Nuggets????...I am working up the courage to try them. The name “Beaver Nuggets” congers up the image of beaver pellets. Well, maybe on the next road trip.

Thank you, Aunt Vivian, sister Diane and countless cousins, for the hospitality.
Thank you, daughter Jamie, for letting us borrow your air-conditioned car.
Thank you, son Jason and grandson Cameron, for being great traveling buddies.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for a safe and fun trip.
Amen

Escape To Zoar

As I listened to the reading for the day it struck me that I need an escape route. Lot got out of town just in time and I need to be planning my get away too, before the Lord rains down sulphurous fire on this place. Yep! That’s the ticket…go to Zoar and don’t look back.
As I sail through life…whether it be a violent storm or a light chop…it is comforting to know who is napping in the back of my boat.

Dear Lord Jesus,
Of this I readily must concede.
While tiny as a mustard seed.
It’s my faith, that is my creed.
Without that I would be a weed.

It is Your word, that I must heed.
It is Your will, that must supersede.
It is on Your word, that I must feed.
If I am to get, up to speed.
Amen.

Today’s readings
Genesis 19:15-29
Psalms 26:2-3,9-12
Mathew 8:23-27

Algebra And The Thermos Bottle

"We gather together to celebrate the mystery of God’s love for us.” How many times have I gone to Mass and never really heard that opening line? This morning it struck me…the conundrum of conundrums. The mystery of God’s love for us…us, a sorry pack of sinners. Why would He do that? And…most of all…why me? Some part of me…I’m not sure which; the atheistic, the agnostic or the autistic part…has a hard time believing that. Or, maybe, I just have a hard time understanding it. There are so many things I don’t understand but believe they work…like algebra or the thermos bottle. How does it know to keep cold things cold and hot things hot?

Understanding something is not the proof of its truth.

There is somebody out there taking care of me.
I have proven to myself…that…I can’t do it on my own.
As un-understandable as it is, I like God’s program.
So, I’ll just give in and go with it.
Thank You, Lord Jesus.
Amen.

I Did It My Way

I enjoy taking certain liberties and pleasures when my spouse is away…such as…eating over the sink, drinking directly from the carton with the refrigerator door wide open and leaving the seat up. I love the feeling of throwing caution to the wind and doing exactly as I wish.

For these are the times that I treasure,
this is the stuff by which one can measure
the meaning of life and all its pleasure.

I had best sweep up the crumbs and wipe off the rim before she returns.
Hopefully my wife will not discover the double life that I lead.

Back Together Again

"Back Together Again" less all the fairings and bags of course. After completely disassembling the BMW into eight million pieces, servicing every moving part, changing every drop of fluid in every mechanism, disassembling the carburetors numerous times cleaning and chasing every tiny port and passageway, replacing the missing parts with official BMW parts and adjusting each part to factory torque specifications…I finally got it together for a test ride…It looks and feels like a new one. It seems like the sitting in "Uncle Tio’s" barn and the 9,000 miles he put on it over 30 years ago didn’t hurt anything.

The 31-year-old R100RT “airhead” is such a sweet ride. Now to install all the fairings and bags and dream of that road trip to the mountains…all points north and west…maybe Alaska.

Thank you, Lord Jesus,
For all the blessings you send my way,
I do realize this one is just for play,
but I have to thank You anyway,
even when carburetors made me pray.
Amen.

The Summer Solstice

I plodded along struggling to make the short walk from the shop to my truck in the sweltering afternoon heat. The sun scorched the powdered dry soil and a dust devil pelted my face with grit. Breathing in the hot dry air torched my windpipe and wilted my lungs. I could feel each ray of sunshine burning me like a powerful lazer and every pour of my skin struggling to keep cool by giving up precious body moisture. I couldn’t help but think, “What am I going to do when summer arrives?”
In the Northern Hemisphere, the first day of summer…the summer solstice…begins on Jun 21, 2011 at 1:16 P.M. EDT…the longest day of the year.
Ancient pagans celebrated with bonfires. Couples would leap through the flames, believing their crops would grow as high as the couples were able to jump. That seems like a formula for disaster…today…in this heat, I can barely put one foot in front of the other.

Dear Lord Jesus, forgive me for complaining about the mud. This is just another example of not knowing what is best for me. Perhaps a little mud wouldn’t be so bad.
As I lie my girth upon my berth,
I pray for rain for all I’m worth.
Send Your showers to quench the earth,
And let the waters extinguish its thirst.
Amen

Father's Day

One more year…one more Father’s Day…one more without my father. This June 11th, one week before Father’s day, is the anniversary of his death 46 years ago. It doesn’t hurt so much any more but I still miss him. All he ever asked for was "a little peace and quiet”…of which I gave him little. My dad was a stern man and could be a strict disciplinarian. Perhaps I was the reason for this. But he obviously cared…otherwise he would have allowed me to be the foolish adolescent that I really was. I have visions of him sitting on the couch in the den, reading the paper and chewing on a cigar. He never taught us kids how to fish or hunt, throw a baseball or kick a football but he did teach us the important stuff…always tell the truth, say what you mean and mean what you say, and hard work never hurt anybody.

As a father you’re not so bad.
On this day I shall not be sad.
It is for you that I am glad.
Thanks for being a super dad.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad

Apricot Cake

Though it was late; I took the bait.
With the cake I filled my plate,
and then I ate what was so great. 



It’s just the calories that I hate.

Shopping

While placing a pound of bacon in the shopping cart next to the package of Ding-Dongs…being careful not to crush the chips…I noticed that I was the skinniest person in Wal-Mart. I couldn’t help but think…what a sad commentary for our society…that here in the land of plenty, obesity has become an epidemic.
I gave a sigh and waddled to the checkout while casting a lustful eye at a box of Milky-Ways.
Perhaps too much of a good thing is not a good thing.

I am so blessed to be where I'm at.
Please help me, Dear Lord, get rid of the fat.
The Twinkies and candies are not to blame.
It’s my will power that’s not in the game.
Amen.

What’s For Supper?

Six or seven garden ripe tomatoes (a gift from the neighbor),
Part of a left over onion,
The last few cloves of garlic,
Some celery,
A hand full of jalapeños,
A dash Salt,
A splash of EVOO.

Process it in the food processor until it is unrecognizable.
Simmer over a low fire until the pasta is ready
Go to the freezer and retrieve whatever meat you can find, I guess chicken will work, chop in little pieces and stir-fry.
Plate and serve with your favorite Kool-aid.

OK, OK! I guess Bobby Flay will not be calling me for any “throw down”.

It may not be the traditional RAGU but it is taste good...especially when you are hungry.

Thank you Lord Jesus for the food we eat
Thank you for this special treat
Thank you, for the neighbors so kind
Please help me keep my blessing in mind.
Amen.

Doubts And Questions

Brand new Deacon Patrick Knippenberg gave a killer homily today…the kind that makes you sit on the edge of your seat and tugs at your insides. It was especially meaningful to me because I live in a world of doubts and unanswered questions.
It was reassuring to learn that faith has as element of doubt in it, because if I knew…if I had positive proof…there would be no need for faith. It was conforting to find out that I was in good company with those that worshiped but doubted.
Mathews gospel 28: 16 -17 “The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. 
When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
”
Dear Lord Jesus;
Please forgive my nagging obsessions,
With so many doubts and so many questions.
Strengthen my faith, please send me the grace.
To get me back to home base.
Amen.

Yesterday

Yesterday is gone and today I carry on. It was a gut wrenching experience and I’m glad it's over. It was difficult not to yell at someone…and I sooo.......wanted to. Someone had to be at fault for such stupidity…the only problem was…that it was me.
The “Chernobyl” experience made me wish I had not given up cussing and swearing…perhaps even blasphemy.
Ok…today no more multi-tasking, no more getting everything done at once…if I only get one job done and done right it will be fine.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the lessons learned
Even when the eggs were burned.
I know you are trying to stretch me up
But I don’t know how I can drink your cup.
Amen

A Watched Pot

They say “a watched pot never boils” but if you add a few eggs…it becomes another Fukushima or Chernobyl with exploding hydrogen gas and complete core meltdown. Actually, I did not watch the pot for just a few seconds and then lapsed into a senior moment that lasted for a full hour. Upon realizing what I had done…I returned home surprised there were no fire-trucks in the front yard. After ventilating the house of all the acrid smoke I decide maybe I had better just put on my pajamas and go back to bed.

Thank you; Lord, for saving my bacon…again.
Amen.