In spite of having to endure a Saturday filled with gray skies and drizzly rain, I did manage to get quite a few things accomplished which had been poking at me for days, and luckily the landfill was still open which enabled me to getting some things cleared out of a storage building and hauled away.
By the time I was finished with that little project, it was nearing the hour for me to change back into my street clothes and drive over to Holy Family Church where a Memorial Service was being held for John and Patricia Johnson whom I’d known for a number of years, and especially Patricia because her maiden name was Lannon which was a highly respected family here in Mason City. In spite of their father being a doctor which put his children in that ‘upper crust’ class, I was never given a feeling they considered themselves better than anyone else.
My goodness! I was in near shock over how many people were in attendance, and I dare say that church was nearly full with friends, relatives and associates. I’m sure if someone actually did a head count, they would’ve found more bodies in the nave than there’s been contained in years. I was somewhat disturbed by the fact that they didn’t have an organist playing instead of the pianist seated up front which I didn’t consider very appropriate for such a large gathering. Oh well, I’m sure they didn’t have anyone on hand to play so they had to settle for less.
As chance would have it, I was afterwards given an opportunity to have a very soulful chat with Patricia’s Jesuit sibling priest who just happened to be officiating their Memorial Service. Today was the first time I actually had a chance to visit with him in at least thirty years, so I had to commend him on his many accomplishments which included being the president of Omaha’s prestigious Creighton University. We also shared a few touching memories out of the past which always helps with the healing process. Of course, with all large families, they’ve had their sorrows as well. After I left, I was a little angry with myself for not asking for his email, just so I could send him a follow-up note. For not having crossed paths with him in so very many years, I was a bit shocked over how well he remember me. I was also glad I’d decided to go downstairs for their luncheon gathering because there were a very many people I knew whom I also touched base with. One of their regulars hollered out, “Well, I’m glad to finally see you back.”, which was a little embarrassing. Gee, I came to the conclusion long ago that I wasn’t even missed.
Once back at office, I changed into my work clothes and busied myself for the remainder of the day with inside and outside work that had to get done, and wouldn’t you know after being half-drenched and ready to call it quits for the day, it stopped raining and the cloud cover lifted. Oh well, in spite of the weather, I did get everything completed that was on today’s list.
Being at that Memorial Service. along with seeing and visiting with all the many out of my past, created a long walk down memory lane that turned into another clear reminder that nothing lasts forever, which should be a reminder for us to make the best of each day, just so we can go to bed at night knowing we’ve done even the slightest of good and lasting things for the world in which we live.
Tonight’s One-liner is: The demand to be loved is the greatest of all arrogant presumptions.
