I had a series of random thoughts as I was on my way from Illinois to MO to pick up my step-son, Barry. He's 22 and lives on his own. He makes a living as a plasterer, which is a dying trade. He makes $15.00 an hour now, and when he finishes his apprentice school, will make $18.00. His dad can charge $40.00 an hour for outside jobs and that's low balling it. Anyway,
I was driving back from MO, through the snow on Christmas Eve, thinking about the thread concerning Dubs hoping we didn't have a white Christmas. I got to thinking, in some ways, wishing off the snow was good for Chistmas celebraters as it made traveling to see family MUCH easier. But I also noticed that the two active dubs and the two active Catholics in the Car were each just as excited as the other about the snow.
The two dubs more than willingly accepted the gifts offered them today too, and ate the food. They had the full benefit of the secular part of the holiday, they just didn't go to Church.
My step son passed off to me a handful of WT and Awake Rags when I got to his apartment, along with a few of the latest and greatest propoganda films by the WTBTS. I wonder if I'll get counted for placement and time.
My wife and I went to Mass on Sunday after dropping off the 15 year old at the KH here in my home town (Sparta, Il). After mass we went and joined him for the last half hour or so. There were only like 50 people there (it hadn't started snowing yet). The last time I'd been there the attendance seemed to hover just above 70, something ain't right in the state of Denmark. Me wonders if DateLine had anything to do with it. The WT Study conductor we walked in on kept emphasizing the nearness of the end, broken record style. Service was announced for immediately following the meeting, it looked like MAYBE 10 people stayed.
This was my wife's old congregation as well. She saw a few of the people she knew. EVERY SINGLE ONE stared dead on at the Star of David she proudly wears DAILY (though she ain't Jewish, and some in NYC thinks she's a Latin King (the Star of David for some reason has been adopted by this Hispanic Street gang). Liza actually did pretty good, she didn't bat an eyelash while folks looked at it, though no one commented on it either. Several of her closes associates even hugged her. All in all though it was too much for her, she suffers from panic attacks quite easily now, and became very jittery after just a few minutes and told me it was time to go. God Bless Adavan (or however this anxiety drug is spelled).
Sean REALLY enjoyed Mass this morning. He opted NOT to join us when we went to the KH after mass Sunday (yea). At mass this morning (Christmas Morning) Sean couldn't stop looking at all the decorations in the church, the trees and holly and garlands were eye catching, but the center of his attention was on the Nativity Scene. It makes me feel good knowing that Sean gets it, the reason for the season.
We sang "What Child Is This" after communion today. I almost always cry when I sing this, GreenSleeves is such a melancholy tune anyhow, add to that the words that in one stanza speak of the poor infant Jesus, and the next speak of the nails and spears and pain...OK I'm a big sap, but it brings me to tears for love of Him who gave himself for me [I will resolutely ignore all banal comments from scoffers and unbeleivers on this thread]
The meal at my brother's was great. The fellowship was great. Barry the step son took an extra day off work, and then on Friday I'm off on a weekend trip to see my 8 year old daughter in Indiana.
I'm rambling now, but that's ok.
Oh, I almost forgot. YUCK! Barry and Sean's Grandma, Liza's former in-laws, is where I normally pick up the 15 year old step son at. Garry, his wife, his brother, and the mom and dad were there, the brother and Mom and Dad did a timy bit of preaching at me. I mentioned something about having graduated on of the classes I teaching and not picking up another until Mid January and Mom starts in on how Witnesses always go to school. I almost started to ask about the TMS, but decided just to nod politely. When asked how long I had to retirement (dad was in WWII before becoming a witness) and my plans after retirement I mentioned I wanted to be a history teacher. The Brother starts in on how he loves history, especially bible history, and turns to Sean and asks about the 4 powers represented in Daniel's prophecy by the beasts (sound familiar Yadrif, yall are tudying this right now, which is why you brought it up. It just so happened that Sean and I were discussing this on the ride from SC to IL and I mentioned that fact, which suprised brother who apparently thought as a Catholic I didn't know the bible, and that since Sean was converting, no longer studied scripture either (silly man). He questioned Sean as to whom the final world power would be. Sean readily said he didn't know. Brother was feigning aggravation that Sean didn't recall it was THE UNITED NATIONS...OHHHH how I wanted to ask him about the Society's membership as an NGO. It wasn't the time or place for that though, they were being backhandedly friendly. I did announce it was time to go as soon as brother said he needed to "discuss" these matters with Sean.
Dad actually had little at all to say to Sean. Though he did turn over Sean's SSI money in total, about $1600. Sean went out and spent $400. on an XBOX and games for himself and my two younger ones. He's going to buy his two JW brothers one tomorrow. The rest he's using for college plans.
Ok, I've rambled enough, thanks for listening.
MERRY CHRISTMAS (the season of Christmas BEGAN today for us Catholics, not ended.)