BEST THANKSGIVING EVER

 My thanksgiving began on November 24, 2022, around 5:00 p.m. when my California family arrived in an Uber van! Seeing them getting out of the van, gathering their luggage and heading toward the front door made my heart happy!

I had a pot of chili, cornbread and stuffed sweet peppers waiting for them and they were hungry. We ate dinner, the cots with purple pads were set up in the back bedroom and the sheets and blankets placed on the couch for my granddaughters who would stay with me. My daughter and son-in-law had reservations at the Hilton in Arvada.

Since the sleeping areas had been set up we sat around and chatted. I had purchased my granddaughters some pajamas and when they put them on and came into the room it brought memories of when they were little and they would come running into the front room. Only this time they were young ladies in their new pajamas!

Friday we celebrated thanksgiving with a turkey breast and all the trimmings plus red chili and tamales. My granddaughter is a whiz in the kitchen and she prepared the turkey with a delicious rub that made the breast come out tasty and moist. She chops vegetables like a pro! 

While the turkey was cooking my daughter met a friend for a walk around Lake Arbor and Dad and the girls went for a walk in the neighborhood and ended up at King Soopers on Sheridan Blvd. 

Later that day one went to 24 Hour Fitness for her daily swim and the other one went with me to Boulder where we shopped at Trader Joe's and she bought me goodies with no sugar. We wandered up and down Pearl Street Mall decorated for Christmas and saw a fire juggler, a singer, and many people wandering and looking. We quit our walk because it was getting too cold.

Saturday I dropped my granddaughter at the gym for her swim and I went to mass and saw a mother, (my friend), daughter, (my daughter's friend) and the granddaughter at mass. My daughter and her friend have known each other since elementary school. 

The other family members went to Old Arvada for the tree lighting ceremony, saw a marching band, had a drink at the School House and shopped at the Army Surplus store. Later, we popped popcorn and watched Disney's Encanto.

On Sunday I took my granddaughters to the Olive Garden for some quality time. I love spending time with them and amazed at how much fun they are now as adults. Even in the bathroom at Meow Wolf we had fun and laughed a lot!

And then it was time for my family to return to their home. Five o'clock on Monday morning we hugged and said our goodbyes and away they went. It's great that I could watch on my phone when they turned in the rental car, when they arrived at the airport, when they landed and when they were home. I love that feature on my phone!

My house seems so empty and quiet with them gone, but before long I will get into my usual routine. It's just the first day that my heart feels sad.

"I am blessed to have so many great things

in life -- family, friends and God. 

All will be in my thoughts daily."

Lil' Kim

Psychedelic Art

 On Saturday, November 26, 2022, my two granddaughters, my daughter, my son-in-law and I went to the Meow-Wolf Convergence Station in Denver. No one knew what to expect, though we had been to the one in Santa Fe and I thought it would be similar.  Wrong. This one has weird looking figures, walls covered with different colored lights, a transportation area with cars and buses and room after room of colorful unimaginable figures and shapes. It was like being transported into an alien world or maybe like being on psychedelic drugs! I enjoyed the experience, but it is a one-time thing for me and no need to return to the crazy exhibit!

There are four floors, and I was grateful for the elevators. I am sure I did not see everything but what I did see was enough for me. Workers are dressed in weird, mismatched clothing with flashing lights and neon necklaces. 

My favorite was a castle like building with every color imaginable. I saw it from above and then went down and saw it from below and liked both angles.

Walking along the many walkways no matter which way you looked there was something to see. I was surprised to see people with babies strapped across their chest, couples, teen-agers, pre-teens and very few older people. There were four seniors sitting on a bench and probably I should have also been sitting, but I kept moving because there was a lot to see!

Two hours of feasting my eyes with color, different shapes, odd figures, mirrored rooms, strange caves with unknown "stuff" and alien scenery and I was ready to leave. We went to the gift store to see and get souvenirs of our visit. How would I describe our visit? Weird creativity exploding around us with florescent lights and nothing as we know!

On the internet I read: Meow Wolf Denver's Convergence Station is unforgettable, transformational, and not to be missed. Discover immersive psychedelic mind-bending art...as you take a journey of discovery into surreal, a science-fiction epic." I also learned that the areas have names like C Street, an abandoned city; Numina, underground sea world; Ussuary, television screens and you can be a D.J.; and the Kaleidoscope castle. Evidently in each area there are interactive things to do but it was too crowded for me to play any of the games.

Room after room that a few times I felt lost but knew that workers were around to help. I was grateful to the young lady, who turned out to be a young man, when he helped me find an elevator.

"Four floors of exhibition space, 

with portals transporting them to 

worlds beyond their wildest imaginations."

Meow Wolf

Thanksgiving

 What a special day on November 24, 2022, because my family would arrive from California to spend a few days with me. The parking at the church looked crowded and as I parked my car a friend called out to me and we walked in together. "Oh," she said, "are you going to sit on my side of the church?" Her remark was made because parishioners are creatures of habit, and we usually try to sit in the same place at every mass. My spot is on the other side of where she sits.

I don't know why but the mass was unusually beautiful and nice. Maybe it was because I was sitting with my friend. Two priests, a deacon and a couple of servers entered and mass began. The homily really hit home and for once I knew I was doing the right thing of thanking God. I have always thanked God for everything, even when I am driving and I make a light or getting me somewhere on time. Every morning and every evening he has my thanks. During the day, no matter what happens I thank God and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Lately I lean toward Our Lady of Guadalupe because I would love to have a strong devotion to her. I know life would not happen without God's help, so he constantly gets my thanks. The priest's homily was perfect and funny and I knew many, after hearing his insightful talk of thanksgiving, would also begin thanking God.

We brought food for the needy and the parade of people going to the altar to leave their packages of food was amazing. I enjoyed the Thanksgiving mass, and I thanked God for getting me to church on Thursday at nine in the morning to celebrate the mass!

"If you can't feed 100 people

then feed just one."

Mother Teresa

A Reminder of a Friend

 My first working experience was at the license plate department of the City and County of Denver.  I was nineteen years old and most of the employees were in their forties or older. We became like a family and continued meeting after most of them retired. As I write this blog, I realize that they are all gone, though I still remember Jenetta, Brownie, Elsie, Martha, Dotty and Esther.  Edna and I became friends, and she became like a second mother to me.  I remember wishing that I could be like her; sweet, loving, kind, always positive, a good sense of humor, never getting upset, a good listener, willing to help anyone needing assistance and as far as I could tell, perfect! 

When my parents would leave on vacation, I would stay with her and her husband Bert. When he passed away I remember how much she missed him. At work we ate lunch together every day and I would drive to Northglenn to spend time with her. One thing I remember is that when the "old ladies" would get together and tell off color jokes, I would laugh but I did not understand them. On our break, Edna and I would sit on a bench outside the office and she would explain the jokes to me. Wow, I was so innocent and naive, but she opened my eyes!

She listened to my stories on dating, who I met, what was happening in my life and she never gave me advice or tried to change me, she just listened. She told me about her life and I listened. When I met the man I was going to marry, I recall she asked, "Are you sure he is the one?" She arranged a wedding shower and many of the gifts are long gone. I can't remember who give me gifts or what they gave me though I do recall two gifts. A Betty Crocker cookbook that Smitty, a fellow worker, gave me, and a wastepaper basket filled with canned goods without labels that Edna gave me.  She said, "Whenever you open a can, you will get a surprise!

She was near when I had my children and during my divorce. She was around during my ups and down of my life until she developed Alzheimer's and her son moved her to South Carolina near a Navy Base where he worked. I wrote to her, but she never answered. Then he wrote to me and told me she had passed away.

Once we went to Niwot for lunch and we ordered Margaritas. My daughter, who was with us, remembers that we got tipsy and giggled through lunch! I just remember we could not stop laughing! She attended my daughter's wedding. We had a beautiful friendship and I thank God for sending her into my life!

Every time I empty the trash, I think of her even though she has been gone over 28 years. It's amazing that the wastepaper basket is sixty years old! My mother always said that if someone gave you a gift from the heart, it would last forever!  

Edna is a friend I will never forget. 

"Every nice friend is a gift from God.

It's one of life's best blessings, a 

priceless gift that can never be 

bought, sold or forgotten."

Unknown

The Pie Lady

 For our early Thanksgiving Day Dinner on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at Spirit of Christ Catholic Community, I volunteered to order and pick up the pumpkin pies! Costco carries delicious large pies for $5.99 and I ordered 14 pies to be picked up the day before the dinner. Little did I know that it would turn out to be hard work!

When I went to pick up the pies, I was told they were still warm, and I had to wait about fifteen minutes for the pies to cool down. I waited and I was happy I had preordered them because people were coming directly to the bakery section of Costco. Evidently the display area was empty of pies. While I waited, ten persons must have come up and requested their pies. We all waited and watched the workers as they spread out the container bottoms on a long table, put the pies in the container and placed the lid on top. It was fascinating to see how fast they were able to take care of everyone waiting!

The cheerful baker placed the fourteen pies in my cart. As I pushed the pie laden cart, I was asked by different customers if I was having a party, if I liked pumpkin pie, or "you have enough pies to last a year." A man said, "You must be the pie lady!" One thing for sure, the pies were a conversation piece. I checked out and pushed the cart to my car. Two pies at a time went into the trunk of my car. My back complained when I finished loading the pies. I drove to the church and struggled with the door. It would not stay open until I found a bucket with sand that would hold the door open. I got a cart, dragged it out to my car and loaded the pies. Shoving and pushing the cart I got it into the kitchen and transferred the pies to the refrigerator which meant more bending. My back kept giving me twinges and my hips were beginning to ache. But the job was done!

The following day, I met up with the pies once again as we cut the large pies in slices to be put out on the serving tables.

The work, the aches and pains were all forgotten as the kitchen helpers sampled a pie and all gave the Costco pies a thumbs up. 

"Life is never better

than when you're 

eating pumpkin pie."

From Internet

Turkey Blues

 My family is grown and gone so I have not prepared a turkey for many years. You would think that fixing a turkey is like riding a bike; you never forget! The Young At Heart group of Spirit of Christ is having a Thanksgiving Day Dinner on Thursday, November 17, 2022 and I volunteered to prepare a turkey. I thought it would be simple; buy a turkey, put it in a bag and bake it.

About five days ago I purchased a frozen, fifteen-pound turkey and placed it in my refrigerator to begin a slow thaw. Today I took the thawed turkey out of the refrigerator and thought it felt more like thirty pounds. With shaky arms I put it in my foil lined sink. I cut the net covering and the paper covering but as I lifted the turkey, I could not get a hold on it. Not only was it heavy but it was also slippery! I juggled the turkey a few times before I was able to pull the trussed legs from the skin holding them together. I yanked the neck out and then had to find the opening to grab the small package with the giblets and other stuff. The turkey dropped back into the sink that now was covered with bloody liquid. I rinsed the turkey and placed it on what seemed half a roll of paper towels.* I padded the inside with a paper towel to dry it. I gathered all the paper, body parts, and threw them in the trash. Because I hear so much about contamination from poultry, I kept washing my hands in soapy water and kept wiping the sink area with Clorox wipes.

I made a mixture of butter, salt, pepper, thyme and garlic powder and smeared the turkey with the mixture. Now it was time to get the bag where I would put the turkey for the final step. I put flour in the bag and shook it as instructed. I had the roasting pan ready and after several attempts to get the heavy and slippery turkey in the bag, I managed to get the turkey into the bag after some contortionist moves and into the roasting pan. It did take a few attempts and I almost dropped the turkey twice. I cut a few gashes in the bag and tied the end with a special tie that came with the bag. The turkey went into the 350-degree preheated oven.

Once again, I scrubbed the whole area with hot soap, water and a bit of Clorox. I washed the lid of my trash can, the doorknobs to my pantry, an area on the floor where it may have splattered and any spot I  may have touched while preparing the turkey. I felt good and could now relax.

The house smells like Thanksgiving. The turkey looks golden. Once it cools, I will carve it but since I haven't carved a turkey in a long time, that might become another adventure!

I let the cooked turkey rest for about an hour and began to cut the meat off the bone. In my head I pictured neatly sliced turkey but in reality, it was more like chunks of meat. Finally, when most of the meat was off the bone, I suctioned off the juice and put it in a container. On Thursday someone will make gravy. I would never attempt to make gravy because my gravy never turns out. In the past it would turn out lumpy or sticky like glue!

One thing I know for sure is that I will never volunteer to prepare another turkey!

"Most turkeys taste better the day after.

My mother's tasted better the day before."

Rita Rudner 

* Talking with a friend she told me that on a cooking show it was mentioned that a turkey should not be washed or rinsed. It should be taken out of the wrapping and padded dry with a paper towel because running water over it could spread the contamination. I guess finding out is better late than never!

Celebration for St. Cecilia

 St. Cecilia is the patron saint of music and musicians. Her feast day is November 22 and she is shown in pictures sitting in front of an organ or holding a harp. "She sang in her heart to the Lord," is often written in explaining her love of music. She died a horrible death by being sentenced to die by fire but the flames did not burn her, so she was beheaded. Her body which had not decomposed is buried in Rome. "It was as if she were sleeping," was a comment on the Internet though I wonder how the head was attached to her body.

On November 12, 2022, Spirit of Christ Catholic Community celebrated a mass for St. Ceclia. I arrived early and even though there were many cars in the parking lot, there weren't many people at mass. There were about 70-80 singers from different parishes dressed in red and when they sang, harmonizing and in sync, the church filled with beautiful music. I felt my heart swell as I listened to the different hymns. The two conductors, directing different groups, moved their arms, hands and sometimes body, as they directed the voices from loud and soft, to high and low! Amazing and thrilling to listen to the large choir!  

The priest, also in red, celebrated the mass and I felt as if the music had moved me closer to God! The song that moved me the most was God save Ukraine, God give us strength. Even though I could not read the words on the screen or understand what was sung it touched me. How happy I was that I had attended the mass with about ninety parishioners, and I wished that the church had been filled to capacity to listen the beautiful music.

"Music gives a soul to the universe,

wings to the mind, 

flight to the imagination

a charm to sadness,

gaiety and life to everything."

Plato

Seat Cushion Miracle

I have a large, almost an antique, office chair in my house. The only thing lacking is a cushion and I have tried finding a large cushion but either they were too expensive, not big enough or I didn't like the color. On the Internet I found one, yet I was afraid to order it because I did not recognize the seller. In the past I had been burned by items coming from China and I either never get the item or the quality was terrible.  I hesitated on ordering the cushion.

My intention was to attend Mass at 11:00 a.m. and then begin my search for a cushion I could afford, I liked the color and it would fit on my chair. I saw a friend at mass and we decided to go to lunch. I explained my frustration of not finding a cushion and she said, "I may have one you might be able to use, why don't you stop by the house and take a look at it."

I followed her to her house and what a surprise. It looked large enough, I liked the pattern and it was free. It felt like a miracle to me. What were the chances that she would be at the same mass I had decided to attend and that she had a cushion she no longer needed or used. I brought the cushion home and it was perfect. Some would say it was a coincidence but to me it was a miracle!

"We're just passing time

and occupy our

 chair very briefly."

John Hurt

Where Are The Car Keys

After mass, ten persons drove to Breadwinner's in Old Town Arvada for breakfast. Because of our large group, we had to wait to be seated. It was a fun gathering and I met two persons that I had seen around the church but did not know their names. Our conversations covered many subjects, and the food was outstanding.  When we finished eating and paid our bills, we all said our goodbyes and I headed to my car. I had struggled to park in the tight space, but I managed to squeeze between two cars by putting my right-hand tires on the curb. I had already moved forward and backward about five times, and I knew that my lopsided car was the best that I could do.

Arriving at my badly parked car I looked for my keys, but they were not in my purse or in my pockets. I rushed back to the restaurant and no keys had been found. I went to where I had been sitting and there were no keys, either on the table or on the floor. Luckily, two from the group were still around and they said, "We will stay with you until you find your keys or drive you home to pick up an extra set." I was thankful for the two good Samaritans because it felt good having someone sharing my anxiety. I tried to call AAA but did not have my card for the roadside assistance, so they let me use their card to call for help. While waiting on the line for a response, they suggested taking me home to pick up an extra set of keys and then they would drive me back to my car. I was so grateful to have them help me and while he went to get their car, she and I walked to my car.

When we got to the car, I pulled the car door handle and the door opened and the keys were in the ignition. I felt like a silly fool, but thankful that somehow my prayers had been answered! I could not believe that I left my keys in the car and the door unlocked because I have never done that in all the years I have been driving. I do remember a few times when I left the keys inside my locked car, but the modern cars now have bells for everything, so I am puzzled as to how I left the keys and did not lock my car. I also felt sort of stupid that I had not tried to open the car door. I guess I was so sure I had locked the car I didn't try the door before panicking! My friend said, "You must have really been hungry!" The only reason I can think of is that nothing was on my mind except parking my car!

All's well that ends well and I thank God for my two friends who hung around to see the end of my story!

"St. Anthony, 

please

help me find my car keys!"

E. Moscoso

Beautiful Sky

 Today when I went out to get my mail, I was surprised at how bright the evening sky shone. It was as if heaven had turned on a 500 Watt light. The sky toward the west was a deep blue but the clouds above it had turned an orangy-pink-salmon color. I grabbed my phone and took a picture, yet a picture is not as wonderful as the real thing!

When I see a sunset or a sunrise with wonderful colors, I thank God that I have been given the chance to see and enjoy it. He is a master of how to use color in the sky!

"Now, she's lit by the

warm orange spreading 

from the horizon as

not-quite-day becomes

not-quite night."

David Levithan

Material or Spiritual

"The question of what you

want to know is actually

the question of how you

want to live your life."

Marie Kono (Interior Designer)

Every day for the past five (or longer) years I look at my couch and loveseat and think about purchasing a new set. Somehow, the years go by, and I still have my same furniture! This year, 2022, I decided to visit some furniture stores to see what I liked and what I could afford. It is overwhelming to see rows and rows of furniture, so I continue with my old set. Yesterday I decided to search in earnest and found three that I liked.  But before I can purchase anything I have to find someone to move my old furniture to make room for the new. 

I came home and was able to find John, of a hauling company, to move my old furniture. My plan was to purchase the new couch the following day.

And then I read the church bulletin where our priest is sponsoring a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. A tiny flame began to burn in my heart. I knew that the tiny flame would grow into a fire because I love to travel, I have never been to the Holy Land and it would be with my parish. Could I afford it? That was my question! I knew I could not do both; new couch or travel. Or could I even travel with my sore knees? I know that some mornings it is difficult to get myself moving. Would I be able to travel that far? I thought of the old saying, if you want to do so something, do it now because tomorrow may be too late!

I went to bed balancing the new couch with a pilgrimage. The couch would be great for my comfort in my old age, but the pilgrimage would be good for my soul. I do not know what I am going to do until I get the full information regarding the pilgrimage so right now I will sit on the fence. God's will be done.

"The world is a book

and those who do not

travel, read only one page."

St. Augustine

Saints and Souls

Yesterday was all Saints Day and today is All Soul's Day so I have been to mass on both days for two different reasons. All Saints is a Holy Day of Obligation making it mandatory, but today's mass was not a day of obligation. It is for our loved ones who have passed away. The mass was bittersweet because so many of my loved ones are gone.  My family; mother, father, two brothers, son. Then, there are my many friends. Two who died this year were my brother who passed away in May and my friend who left us in August. I wrote their name in the large book with names of those that have gone before us so they can be remembered at all the masses.

Candles were brought from home and placed in front of the Ambo. I saw many persons lighting their candles and my thought was, each one of those persons has an aching heart.  Many hearts hurting in unison at the loss of a loved one. The Deacon read the names of persons from Spirit of Christ who died from October, until 2021 until now. There were many names, yet it was comforting to know that we pray for all the deceased at all the masses. 

"May God hear our prayers

for all those people whom

we remember this day,

and fulfill all our prayers for them."

Quote from the Internet