Abbey-Roads2

I love this photo, “Mom!  Is that you?”

I think I’ll name my posts this (Free Fall) when I just write whatever comes to mind…is that ’stream of consciousness’? - University seems so long ago.

I realized how nice Lent is when one is the focus of others good works, when they take the injunction to  “Love your enemies” seriously.  You know, doing good to the people you despise, or mistreat - everyone at work was so nice to me today!  I almost felt as if everyone really likes me.

I looked at Drudge today - it was nothing but surreal, a photo of bald Brittney attacking her ex’s car.  A piece on Anna Nicole’s attorney collapsing, and the the judge presiding over the case as to where she should be buried, breaking down in tears.  Some days it is a trip just to check out the Drudge.  One wonders if there is any sanity in the world.  (Do you think things happen just for bloggers to blog about?)

My email is down, I have 30 some emails waiting for me, but I can’t get in.  I’ll have to call Chipheads back.  I’ll get Regina Falange to get them over here.  In the meantime, if you want to get a hold of me, post comments on the blog.

So anyway, I was reading some other blogs, people I like but who do not post me in their links, and they are just now writing about things I posted last week.  So read me first, then read them for the commentary.

As far as blogging goes, I’m torn between writing true confessions and spirituality or social commentary.  I sometimes like to post about stuff that annoys me, and occasionally, that annoys others  - I know - it’s neither charitable or humble - but I often take them down around 3AM when I get up to go to the bathroom.  Obviously I don’t know what to post about tonight.  After all, it is Lent - still, I have this urge to start a fight…it’s a temptation I deal with.  (See what fasting does.)

These crazy traits stem from the fact I come from an alcoholic family where there was a lot of fighting and nutty behavior.  Now that my parents are dead, life has become sort of boring.  I miss the nights my mom would telephone, out of the blue, “What the hell were you trying to prove?” - which had no relationship to anything.  She was such a sweet instigator.  I so have her to thank for my way-off-the-wall humor, not to mention the wit to recognize the craziness in others.

As regards people from alcoholic families, the traits and symptoms can easily pass through generations.  (Thank God I never had children!)  Not necessarily the drinking, but elements of the dysfunction.  Passive aggressive behavior, dissimulation, co-dependant exploitation of others, paranoia, suspicion of everyone, etc.  It makes for a crazy world.  Life can be one big tilt-a-whirl, or a cyclical experience of crises and drama.  I doubt these folks are aware of these tendencies, having created an aura of respectability around themselves, I think they function in a sort of denial.  But I digress. 

Onto another topic: I spoke on the phone with a friend in Europe the other day.  Somehow the “Motu Proprio” thing came up.  He said it will be released soon.  Everyone says that.  In the course of the conversation, the subject of Masons came up.  There are indeed elements in the Vatican, who may or may not be Masons, putting up resistance to the Motu.  My friend told me that.  I never believed that stuff until he told me.  (He is so not a conspiracy theorist!)

In Europe, Masonry is said to be different from what it is in the U.S. - or so they want us to believe.  As I understand it, in Italy, Masons are very strong politically, hence the intertwining of the Hierarchy - or members of it.  I was surprised to hear that.  Whatever, supposedly these people are the opposition to the Motu.  Of all days, it should have been released today on the feast of the Chair of St. Peter.  Benedict should be a bit more Germanic in his rule I think.

Which brings to mind the rumors of Anglican reunion.  Don’t hold your breath - if the Church can’t get the liturgical reforms together, much less the Motu, how does anyone expect a reunion of the Anglican Church is going to happen anytime soon?

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday of course, and I posted about the ashes on the forehead thing.  (Thanks for all the response on that BTW.)  Today two women came in to the store and they still had their ash crosses, perfectly intact on their forehead.  I was kind of impressed.  Another fellow still had the ashes embedded in the creases of his brow.  Impressed?  Not so much.  I realized he hadn’t bathed.

Since we are on the subject of Lent, I hear everyone talking about what they gave up.  So what merit is there in that?  “I gave up caffeine for Lent.”  Oh really, you had to tell me?  Yet it gets me to thinking.  What did I give up?  Not so much.  Although, no one will ever know.

Well that’s it, if I think of something fun to post about, you will be the first to know.  (And with this post, you know something of what I’m thinking - it’s like the snapshot of Brittney.  No more drama!  Good album with the same title by Mary J.Blige by the way.  Andrew thinks I’m a black man in a white man’s body because I only like black music.) 

I’m down with that.