As I begin these jottings the house is empty. It is the middle of November. June is away for the weekend. She has since Thursday night been at “Via de Cristo”. I’ll pick her up on Sunday evening after the final service. I made the ‘renewal-excursion’ last weekend. We both thought the idea of having two or three days by ourselves would be a welcome change. Boy, were we mistaken! The words “empty house” were never more meaningful. June’s response was similar. She said she never knew the house made so many noises. It made sleeping even tougher. I wait with anxious anticipation to see if her weekend’s lessons result in the same peace and joy that mine did. I pray it will.
“Via de Cristo” is Spanish for “The way of Christ”. It is same as the Cursillo (pronounced Cur-see-oo) program of the Roman Catholic Church. The original founder was a Spanish priest. He began the idea in the 40’s in Spain and it spread to U.S. in the SO’s. I had heard about the program from by Brother-in-law, Dan Walsh. It was offered here under the latter name and both June and I decided to try it. It was also I should add enthusiastically endorsed by a number of our friends. The Lutheran Church took part in it in the early 70’s and a number of members here took it when it was still called Cursillo. I am not sure why the name was changed but it is an identical program. At my weekend some 29 denominations were represented including Roman Catholics. It is a not a sect, or doctrinally oriented study. “It is a short course in Christianity and a method for renewing Christian life. It is designed to strengthen and renew the faith of Christian people and through them families, congregations, and the environment in which they live, work, and play. It is not part of the ‘Charismatic Movement’, nor does it actively promote a ‘specific conversion experience’. The three-day renewal is a lay movement, involving laity and clergy in the renewal of the church” (Excerpt from an information pamphlet).
I can happily report that June’s reaction was equal, if not surpassing mine. She broke up the entire church, when she spoke of her reaction to the weekend, by saying, “I’m so high I ought to be arrested!” I offered to serve the warrant myself and carry out that arrest immediately by bringing her home. We are both extremely elated with the
Lord having moved so strongly and sanely into our lives. The program last three days and the fourth day is the rest of your life. We look forward to living the fourth day together with Christ. These words partially explain the feeling after via, “When you are set free you will celebrate and travel home in peace. Mountains and hills will sing as you pass by…(ls. 55, 12)”
The date November 15th passed with prayers to and for Winnie and Mom. Both who went to heaven on that day and we remembered that granddaughter Katie Cosgrove (Mom’s maiden name) Baker was born on that date. We heard via Linda McSorley, with whom we chatted on line via instant messages, that Katie had a grand party on the 14th with lots of gifts.
Part of the program of Via de Cristo is to solicit letters from your immediate family. It was done in our case and we received great letters. I promise to respond to each and every one of them over the next few weeks! I also received letters from Sr. Rosemary, Anne, and Marge and learned for the first time that they too had take a “Cursillo” and wished us Godspeed.
Earlier in November I went to work. Yes, I actually got paid for going to a polling Place. Election day was November 2nd. I was appointed a “Deputy”. I had a badge. It was however really just a picture of a star on plastic with the words “SHERIFF DEPUTY” printed across the star. No six-shooter was provided. My job was to greet the voters and if necessary keep order. I had phone numbers to use if the ‘keeping order duties’ had to be carried out. I had to place the “Solicitation Area Only” sign-cones some fifty feet from the polling place. It is the only area in which one could solicit votes. There being no candidates running for office, it seemed to be a bit of overkill. The area was designated on a map sent with the voting material including a rope fifty feet long in order to properly measure the distance from the Polling place door to the designated spot! I also had to help set up the voting machines and help close the polling place. I had a long day. It started at home at 4:45 AM and ended when I arrived back there about 8 PM. The polling place I served in was located in a mobile home development called “Pinewood’s Mobile Homes”. The development’s community hall, or center, was where we were situated. The election concerned two referendum questions regarding the County Commissioner’s charter and nothing else! No candidates, no other issues were involved. We had a total of 73 votes cast by the voters, most of who lived in the development. The total registered voters in that precinct are 2000 or so. There were 18 machines, 6 women, a chief clerk (male) and myself. It was tough to stay awake sometimes since no newspapers, radio or TV was permitted. One thing did help. There was a piano at the other end of the hall. I happened to notice it when I visited a few days prior to see where I would be on Election Day, so I had a songbook with me. The other workers received it with elation, only I had to cool it whenever a voter appeared heading down towards our door. I expect, come March 14,2000 and the Presidential Primary, we will be a bit more active and the music will need to wait.
I had an essay I wrote published. It sounds complimentary to say, “published” but really it was more like “filler”. It was an essay on some twists in American History. It appeared in the Shore Acres Newsletter. The Shore Acres Civic Association in which I have been semi active issues it. It appeared under the pseudonym “Paulus Advocatus”. In substance what it reported was that most of us remember the ride of Paul Revere when actually there were two other more heroic and successful such rides. One of them was Caesar Rodney’s ride from New Castle Delaware to Philly to arrive in time to have Delaware vote in favor of the motion to declare our independence from the Crown. He is now memorialized on the new quarter. The other was Jack Jouett who saved Thomas Jefferson with a forty-mile overnight ride to warn him of the approaching British troops. Paul never finished his ride. He was captured. Contrary to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow inferences, Paul was carrying out orders. When it was learned that the British were getting organized to move out he was sent ahead to warn Sam Adams. Paul was one of the Sons of Liberty soldiers. His ride was completed by a friend he met while enroute who was returning from a bit of courting. He was captured by the British and thus never finished his ride. Paul however thanks to Longfellow will always be remembered otherwise. It is fitting since he was a great supporter and soldier, and later one of best silversmiths in the Colonies. His name is further remembered in “Revere-ware”.
We will miss you all on Thanksgiving. We are going out for the dinner with a friend who is single and who would probably have spent Thanksgiving alone. We look around and find much to be thankful for so we will do so. We are having a dinner party on Saturday night of the Thanksgiving weekend with some of our favorite friends. There will be three couples to help us offer our thanks with the great cooking of June. We know that her cooking on that day will be missed since we have heard the regrets from all who participated over the past years in her Thanksgiving Feasts.
November 22nd reminds us of John F. Kennedy. It is 36 years since that day of killing. A St. Petersburg museum has opened an exhibition entitled “John F. Kennedy”. In its promotional material is says, “Despite well-publicized blemishes in recent years, this ‘bright shining moment’ in history lives on in people’s hearts and minds” And so it does in mine.
I hopefully will add a note to each but wish you all the best of the Thanksgiving season.