Fat Tuesday

 Young at Heart Luncheon at Spirit of Christ Catholic Community took place on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. A great turn out of about 150 persons were present with masks, feathers, and beads. The meal was fried chicken and a variety of side dishes witch included different kinds of salads, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, baked beans, fruit, vegetable dishes, and many other delicious plates. The dessert table had cakes, pies, cookies, fruit cobblers, and anything sweet that our hearts desired!

Our entertainment was Cary Johnson of District Attorney Office who spoke about scammers and how they attack senior citizens. An informative talk on what to look out for and how to stay safe. It's a scary world we live in!

The evening was fun looking at the Mardi Gras decorations, the many masked people, welcoming new members and talking to friends!

It was fun taking photos of the Mardi Gras celebration and the next day I received a picture of me that some kind soul took. Photographers are usually not in pictures unless someone else photographs them!

February birthdays and the King and Queen of Mardi Gras were fun pictures to take!

I was disappointed that I did not have my picture taken with my mask until the next morning when a friend sent me a picture she took!

Mardi Gras is a fun time for celebrating right before Lent begins. Then, for forty days we will fast, pray, give up things we enjoy, and try to become better persons as we prepare for Easter.

"It's a great party, and anyone

who doesn't enjoy Mardi Gras

is not of this world!"

Franklin Alvarado

Ash Wednesday Begins Lent

 

Today I braved cold, slippery streets, and snow to get to church for Ash Wednesday. I usually do not drive in the snow but I felt it was important to go get ashes on my forehead to remind me that "to dust I shall return." The hymns were beautiful and seemed to have written just for me. 

When it was time for me to stand before the deacon so he could place the ashes in the sign of a cross on my forehead, he whispered something to me. I did not hear what he said, and I frantically searched my brain for a response. Was there something I should say as ashes are placed on my forehead, I wondered? Then, he repeated, "Move your hair so I can see your forehead." At that point I knew there is no response when the ashes go on a forehead. I swiped my bangs to the side and with his thumb he placed a cross on my forehead, but I must have been off balance because I felt myself falling to the side. I managed to come out of my wobble and straighten up as I walked back to my seat.

Somehow, the mass seemed extra special and now I hope that I can begin my Lent with more devotion. Eighty some years of receiving ashes on my forehead and this one touched me more than any of the other Ash Wednesday services.

A good explanation of Ash Wednesday, for me, was listening to Fr. Mike Schmitz on a video. The ashes represent my sin and the cross made with the ashes on my forehead are Jesus claiming me as his own and that He was willing to die on the cross for my sins. Ashes mean I am a sinner while the cross represents the person God believes I can be.

"Ash Wednesday is a time to reflect

and share our thanks, for this is the time

we remember the greatest sacrifice."

Quotement.com

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

 I have often wondered what NAACP stood for, yet I did know it was an organization to help Blacks, Negros, African Americans, or Colored. I am not sure what the proper term is today so I will use what my generation has used; Blacks. The NAACP has used colored since it began in 1909.

Today, on February 19, 2023, I attended "Sounds of Freedom" featuring the Nashville African American Wind Symphony Orchestra at Macky Auditorium at the University of Colorado Boulder. When I was invited to the concert, I had no idea what it would be like and was impressed by the speakers and the fifty-two-piece orchestra. The conductors were interesting to watch and one reminded me of a bird as he spread his arms into the air like wings!

The orchestra had an amazing sound that was interesting, exciting and moving as they played Lift Every Voice and Sing. The other pieces were: Entrance of the Porteuses, On A Hymnsong of Phillip Bliss, Forever Climbing, Requiem of the Unarmed, Heroes, and Amazing Grace. If we closed our eyes and did not see the pictures flashing on the screen, we sensed the music with our hearts but if you watched the pictures, our minds also became involved. Life for Blacks seem so difficult and the many killings by police is unfair and sad. Most of the pieces were written depicting the violent end of many. The list of names of those killed surprised me! There seemed to many more than I recalled. In spite of the difficult and unfair times, many Blacks have made it to become professionals, scientists, educators, musicians, performers, judges, engineers, politicians, doctors, lawyers, etc.

An impressive symphony and an eye opener for me. There were many tributes to the different people involved in trying to make life better for Blacks. I liked President Obama's picture in front of the flag! A 102-year-old man, who was the first black to be in the orchestra, stood up to a standing ovation. 

Someday, but probably not in my lifetime, the human race will be treated equally. 

"Meant to be a memorial 

to those lives lost and is my

 plea and prayer, 

may this happen no more..."

Kevin Day

A Package of Love

 

Yesterday I received a package from my sister-in-law and found some items belonging to my brother who passed away about nine months ago. There was a small pill container with my brother's religious medals. I remember he always wore St. Christopher around his neck. In the container there was a key chain with St. Anthony, a tiny gold crucifix and a St. Marc medal. My brother's middle name was Marcus. When my father passed away my brother was given the crucifix from the coffin and now I have it.  It joined my wall of crosses! A painting he did many years ago of a woman in a large hat was one of his favorites and now I have it on my wall.  A denim shirt that he wore came with a note from my sister-in-law: "Wear it and be wrapped in his love."

Since he lived so far away from me I sometimes forget that he is no longer with us. The package made me realize he is gone and I will never speak or see him again. That brought tears and a long cry. I feel good seeing the items and many memories popped into my mind. He was one year older than me and in our later life we did not visit but spoke on the phone.  The last time I saw him was for my son's funeral in 2016 and even though it was a sad time, it was nice having the whole family together. Holidays and our birthdays we always talked on the phone and sometimes we would burst into laughter when we recalled our past. Last year, for my birthday, he was gone and I missed getting a phone call from him.

I will wear the denim shirt because it fits me perfectly! Evidently, we were the same size! I love my package of love and send thanks to my sister-in-law for being so thoughtful!

Today while at King Soopers, I happened to see a sailboat and I would have liked to call him and tell him about the boat. My brother loved sailing and he and his wife took many long, beautiful sailing trips on Sea Bear. One of the last conversations I had with him was how he enjoyed watching sailing shows on U-tube.

"A sailor is an artist whose medium is the wind."

Webb Chiles

Live Every Moment As If It Were Your Last

 No one believes that their day of leaving this earth is near. We usually don't do what we want to do because we feel tomorrow will come and then we can do whatever is on our bucket list! On Monday I realized how fragile our life can be and tomorrow is not guaranteed.

I plan trips to other states and usually take about forty persons to see tourist spots. We have visited New Mexico, Missouri, Texas, and South Dakota.  I began advertising the trip to Mt. Rushmore for 2023 and received a call from a lady that was very interested in going. "I have never been to South Dakota and my mother and I travel a lot and would like to sign up to go to Mt. Rushmore." On Sunday, she met me at church and paid her deposit for herself and her mother. I could tell she was excited as she said, "I can hardly wait for this trip because we have never been there, and I am looking forward to seeing Mt. Rushmore."

The next day, early Monday morning, I received an email letting me know that her mother had passed away on Sunday unexpectedly and she needed to cancel the trip. I was shocked so I can imagine how she was feeling. How could that be, I asked myself, that a person planning a trip could die so suddenly? Later when I spoke with the daughter she said, "My mother died in her sleep sometime between midnight and four on Sunday morning. Yesterday when I was paying the deposit, she was already gone." She told me her mother lived in Georgia, and that the service would be on Sunday.

I gave her my condolences and told her I would pray for her and her mother. My thought was that the mother was planning a journey; not to where she thought she would be going, but where God wanted her to go! Sudden death could come to any of us and that is a scary thought!  

    
"This is such a shock.

I can't imagine how

you must be feeling."

Karen Roldan

Difference Between Guilt and Shame

 Today at morning mass our priest talked about the difference between guilt and shame. I have always  globbed them in the same category, but his homily made me realize that there is a difference. I always say I feel guilty if I say or do something I shouldn't have and sometimes I feel a bit ashamed. My wish at that point is that I could undo what I said or did. I do not like feeling guilty and I wish I had never done the act that made me feel guilty.

The priest said, and I will paraphrase, guilt is the holy spirit letting us know that we should straighten up our behavior while shame is the devil trying to make us feel bad about ourselves. He clarified it by letting me know that shame is an accusation while guilt is a conviction.

Convict is "to convince us of the truth, to reprove, to accuse, refute, or cross-examine. The Holy Spirit acts as a prosecuting attorney who exposes evil and convinces us we need a savior." (From the Internet)   Being convicted lets us see how terrible sin is and to experience the awfulness of sin and makes us realize how sin dishonors God. Convicting by the Holy Spirit lets us see our sin and opens our hearts to receive God's grace. 

Whenever I feel guilty for some action, I jokingly say, "It's because I'm Catholic I feel guilty." I have found that there seem to be more restrictions for Catholics to make us feel guilty! When I feel shame for something I have done, I now know it is the feeling of inadequateness, or because there is something wrong with me. I now realize that whether I am feeling guilt or shame, I understand them better after listening to the homily at mass!

"Many people live under 

the burden of guilt and shame.

Guilt says, 'I did something bad,'

and shame says, 'I am bad.'

Christian Quotes

An Expensive Dessert

 What kind of dessert can you eat if you can only eat gluten-free and your friend is diabetic? I looked on the Internet and found a dessert that fit the agenda, but the ingredients were extremely expensive! The almond flour, Monk sugar and Xanthan Gum came to $32.47. I did find the butter and the black berries on sale, so that made me feel a little better!  This pricey dessert had better be good! 

 I probably should have searched for something else to prepare, but the berry dessert sounded so good, especially when served with Rebel Natural Vanilla low-carb-gluten free ice-cream that will cost around $8.00!

"Life is short,

Eat dessert first!"

Internet Quote

Fun at a Moose Lodge

 

On Sunday, February 5, 2023, two friends and I attended a fundraiser for a friend of a friend. A few weeks ago, her friend passed away and money collected would help with his expenses. When we entered the Moose Lodge in Northglenn, loud music was playing.  There was a huge horseshoe shaped bar as we entered the hall and every stool was taken. To the left of the bar there were table and chairs also filled with people, a dance floor and a band playing. On the right side of the bar was a pool table, high round tables and against the wall there were six dart boards, though no one was playing. We felt a bit out of place because it looked like a younger crowd. "I bet we are the oldest ones here," I commented. My friends said, "Maybe not, we saw a few old people with grey hair."

We found a high, round table toward the rear of the hall, but even then, we had to shout to be heard. Our friend who was sponsoring the fund raiser greeted us with hugs and kisses and introduced us to her grown children and a granddaughter. A man came over to our table and we found out he was 84 years old, had helped build the club in Northglenn, and that he got his drinks for free! We thought he said his name was Dan, but we weren't sure! He told us he has a girl friend who lives in Arvada and that he is still young. Since I am also the same age as he is, I had to agree with his comment!

He wanders through the hall greeting people and on his second stop by our table, I mentioned the trip going to Mt. Rushmore. He said, "I saw at church where there is a busload going to Mt. Rushmore." I asked, "Who is sponsoring the trip because I do not know of another church taking people to Mt. Rushmore." His reply was, "It's through Spirit of Christ Church in Arvada!" What a laugh we got when I told him that was the same trip I was telling him about." He then told us he sometimes goes to the 8:30 mass on Sunday and knows our priests.  The saying, It's a Small World, is so true! For me, it was one of those serendipity moments.

After a few hours, two $5 margaritas, and a $2.50 virgin bloody Mary, we decided to leave, but felt good that we had attended the fundraiser.

"We make a living by what we get,

but we make a life by what we give."

Winston Churchill

A Friend Is Gone

A few years ago, when I was planning to take a group to South Dakota, a lady called me and told me that she and her husband would like to travel with the group. I signed them up and got to know them on the trip. Before the trip I would see them at mass or at luncheons or dinners but I did not know them.

Since that first trip, they joined me to travel to San Antonio, Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Each time I would see them I would get reports on his health. He had cancer and had chemotherapy sessions, but that did not stop him from traveling. I admired how normal he looked and seemed to feel great on our trips. At some of our lunches and dinners I would chat with them. He seemed like a quiet fellow until he found a topic he liked and then he would join in the conversation.

In December they celebrated 50 years of marriage and I heard they had a fabulous party.  I had to miss it, because I was in California on the evening of the celebration. When I returned, I heard reports on how beautifully the area was decorated, how beautiful they looked, and the delicious food they served. I loved the invitation because the picture of the two of them was gorgeous, and they reminded me of two glamorous movie stars! 

The last time I spoke with them he was not feeling well because he had fallen, his toe had been amputated, and after that day I never saw him again. Her reports on his health were not good. She spent a lot of time with him at doctor's appointment. And then she told me that the cancer was now in his brain and operating was not recommended. On January 19, 2023, he entered eternal rest.

His funeral mass was on February 3, 2023, and I marveled at his wife's composure. She looked sad, yet she greeted people, hugged many, and managed to speak to many of those attending.  I was surprised that he was born in 1937 in Alzak, Yugoslavia. He was a handsome man and loved working on classic cars. His home has nine garages to keep his vehicles. A video shown at the reception showed him as a young man, always had friends around and I noticed he was pictured surrounded by dogs. I remembered the saying that you can tell the goodness of a man by how he treats animals. He and his wife seemed to have had a good life as they traveled, had family gatherings, and by the pictures, I could tell they enjoyed life!  It made me wish I had known him better and learned more about his life. Someone mentioned that he had been a prisoner of war so I will ask his wife to tell me that story.

It will be a hard time for his wife because she told me they did everything together. I wonder how she will be able to function after losing half of her heart! She has a large family and friends that will sustain her, though it will never be the same for her.

"To live in hearts

we leave behind

is not to die."

Thomas Campbell

Could This Be True?

 On the Internet there is always some kind of advice about how to do things better, faster, safer or easier. Today I thought I would try doing something that I read a few days ago. Instead of buying sheets of softener to put in your dryer to make clothes smell fresh, it was suggested to use the cheaper coffee filters and dab some aromatherapy oil on the filter. Your clothes will come out smelling wonderful depending on what oil you use. I do not use any softener but thought this was a good idea.

I am not a coffee drinker and do not own a coffee pot. In the past I had a Mr. Coffee for when friends  came over. The majority of my friends are coffee drinkers! The suggestion on the Internet was that instead of buying Bounce or some name brand clothes softener that makes your clothes smell great, to buy coffee filters and save some money. Bounce sheets run between eight and ten dollars and the coffee filters cost $1.39. Plus, I got 100 filters to try this experiment!

When I do my laundry, I will try it to see if what the Internet suggested works. If not, I'm only out $1.39 and I may have to begin drinking coffee to use the filters up!

"Fabric softeners are one of the most unnecessary, 

dangerous chemicals that you may be using in your home,

and it's important that you stop right away.

There are better, safer, all natural alternatives

that will keep you, your family and the environment safe."

From the Internet

Saturday, doing my laundry and tried the coffee filter with peppermint oil and nothing happened. No pepperminty smell, clothes did not seem any softer, and I worried that my clothes might end up with an oil stain. My question today is: Does anyone want some coffee filters?