1st Reconciliation

Father, I am sorry for my sins ...

mainly because it has been 25 years since my last confession.

In English, anyway.

I tend to attend confession in foreign countries.

Specifically, NON-ENGLISH speaking countries.

It is simpler that way.

1.  "I am sorry, I do not obey ... anybody."

2.  "I am sorry, I do not listen or pay attention very well.  Honestly, at all!?  I know it is probably because I was misdiagnosed as a child. I must have ADD. It is a self-diagnosis."

3.  "I am sorry, I use HIS name in vain. Like EVERY sentence spoken silently or verbally.  Unfortunately HIS name is always accompanied with an Expletive!"

Penance is given.

"No speak English, try better."

So I self-prescribe my Penance:  10 Hail Marys.

And perhaps, see a medical professional about this possible ADD.

Oh, and maybe visit my home parish for confession ... it is on my list of Lenten Promises.

Be.Thankful. {day seven}

I am thankful for the beauty captured in my House of Worship.

I am thankful for Catholic education.

Catholicism.

The Pope.

Nuns/Sisters.

The Habits donned by the Sisters.

And predominantly Catholic countries!

women of habit

are women we could all learn from... (with the probable exception of shopping and wardrobe attire)

economic
prayerful
soulful
insightful
sisterly
motherly
orderly
inventive
creative
frugal

I love traveling to predominantly Catholic countries and seeing nuns. They are so cute, so souvenir-like. They must dislike having their photos taken, hence the nuns' flipside shot as they cursed me in Polish (I'm sure it was a curse... my God-given talent is being able to cuss in any given language). I think I'll go watch 'Sister Act', or perhaps 'Sound of Music'...

(a post to my favorite, long-ago, but not forgotten nun; Sister Phyllis)

Holy crush

I should go home, I know this is wrong, I am glued to my chair, I just sit here and stare

he's got your eyes
he's got your smile
he's got your face
he's got your bald head

I am fixated on the figure standing before me. He knows how to captivate an audience (unlike you who has to be "mr. center of attention" at any one's expense).

This person is the image of a love I once had. And I find it amusing to sit here and dwell on my crush on the man before me considering that I actually despise (ok, HATE) the person whom he reminds me of.

The person he unfortunately digs up from my suppressed memory and places into my consciousness is a liar, a cheater, and an A+ bullshitter. And my condolences go out to his current wife.

I frequent my crush's hangout on Sundays at 9:30 am. If only it were the coffee shop down the street, the neighborhood market, the local restaurant... but it's not.

I hang onto every word he utters (or that I eavesdrop upon) although his words don't actually register in my brain. I really don't know what he is currently saying since I am daydreaming and have lost myself in "missyland".

I suppress my crush for two very different reasons:

(1) I am happily married to a "one-of-a-kind" man who (thank, God) has no lookalikes in this country to my knowledge, anyway.
(2) he's a Father, you know, as in a Priest (the non-marrying kind)

I conjure up ways to approach him. I have visions of matchmaking my single friend, Jennifer, and this Priest. Perhaps, a visit to the confessional after several self-induced drinks is on my list.

me: Father, forgive me for I have sinned

F: yes, my child, go on...

me: if you insist... I would like to set you up on a blind date with J. You would be the perfect couple. Your both Catholic, family-oriented, kind, considerate...

F: I do not understand

me: we can go on a double date, if you are not comfortable with the whole blind date situation.

F: I am a Priest

me: right, but, you can find a new job.

F: you are dismissed. And for your penance, please do all your confessing to another Priest from this day forward.

Father was transferred at the end of the month. In fact, I believe he was transferred out-of-state to ensure that people like me do not transfer their parishioner-ship (or stalk). I can't help but wonder if he is still a Priest??

He is an excellent Priest. But he's an even hotter Priest.