from Regina Doman's "Black as Night"
Sometimes, it amazes me
How strong the power of love can be
Sometimes it just takes my breath away.
You watched my love grow like a child,
Sometimes gentle and sometimes wild,
Sometimes you just take my breath away.
And it's too good to slip by,
It's too good to lose,
It's too good to be there just to use
I'm going to stand on a mountaintop and tell the good nws
That you take my breath away.
Your beauty is there in all I see
And when I feel your eyes on me
Sometimes you just take my breath away.
Since my life is yours, my heart will be
Singing for you eternally
Sometimes you just take my breath away.
And it's too good to slip by,
It's too good to lose,
It's too good to be there just to use.
I'm going to stand on a mountaintop and tell the good news
That you take my breath away.
At last he receded, and let his picking linger to a stop. When the last string had stopped vibrating and stillness filled the closet again, he looked up to find he had a live audience as well. Brother Herman and Nora were leaning against the wall of the sacristy, listening.
"Beautiful," Brother Herman said. He glanced at Nora, who still hadn't moved.
"Yes," she said at last. She took a deep breath. "Is that a religious song?"
"It's just a folk song from the 70's I learned growing up," Brother Leon said. "No, it's not really religious."
"But it's a true love song," Brother Herman said, patting Nora's shoulder. "And hence, deeply religious."
31 May 2008
29 May 2008
Birthday fun!
Yesterday was my birthday! I definitely don't feel my age. I always thought people who had lived this long would have acquired some great wisdom or knowledge. Maybe they do and I'm just exceptionally immature.
The day started out in the best way possible - Mass! We were going to leave right after and chill at home, but Deacon Bob had other plans. My brother, who is one of the senior altar servers at our parish, needed to be trained alongside the other senior altar server in how to use the incense. So, I had an "accidental" Holy Hour. But it was really, really nice. I mean, it is only fitting that I spend an hour with the person who caused and is causing me to be in existence. :)
At 11:30 we got home. Mom insisted that I open my presents. The one from my parents was awesome - "The Sound of Music" on dvd. You may find it funny that someone my age would get that movie for her birthday, but it is seriously one of my favorite movies of all time. It might even be my favorite movie of all time.
Mum took me out to lunch with my little brother. The place where we ate has awesome food, but what we did after was even better. Right next door to the restaurant is a grocery store that has intensely good frozen desserts. You just stick 'em out on the counter for a couple of hours to defrost and you have a masterpiece to eat. So we got one. Along with a week's worth of groceries.
The afternoon was filled with watching "The Sound of Music." Like I said before, I love that movie! At about five o'clock I started warming up for my voice lesson. I usually don't warm up for that long, but I had not had a lesson in such a long time, that I needed to get myself back in gear. My lesson went from six to almost seven (we ran quite a bit longer than normal) and from seven to eight-thirty we had choir practice. Now, some people think I'm insane to go to choir on my birthday, but I love all the people and I love to sing. The combination of the two made it the perfect way to spend the evening.
At about nine pm we did cake and ice cream. After that, most of the house went to bed. I normally go to sleep fairly early, but I figured that you only have one eighteenth birthday, so I was going to enjoy every minute of it. My brother volunteered to stay up with me until eleven - after that we had strict parental orders to go straight to bed.
It as a fantabulous day, and I had a blast. Oh, and I got flowers for the first time ever. Dad got me a dozen yellow roses! They're so pretty and sunshiny . . . if the day was a package, the flowers were the neat bow that tied it all up. :D
The day started out in the best way possible - Mass! We were going to leave right after and chill at home, but Deacon Bob had other plans. My brother, who is one of the senior altar servers at our parish, needed to be trained alongside the other senior altar server in how to use the incense. So, I had an "accidental" Holy Hour. But it was really, really nice. I mean, it is only fitting that I spend an hour with the person who caused and is causing me to be in existence. :)
At 11:30 we got home. Mom insisted that I open my presents. The one from my parents was awesome - "The Sound of Music" on dvd. You may find it funny that someone my age would get that movie for her birthday, but it is seriously one of my favorite movies of all time. It might even be my favorite movie of all time.
Mum took me out to lunch with my little brother. The place where we ate has awesome food, but what we did after was even better. Right next door to the restaurant is a grocery store that has intensely good frozen desserts. You just stick 'em out on the counter for a couple of hours to defrost and you have a masterpiece to eat. So we got one. Along with a week's worth of groceries.
The afternoon was filled with watching "The Sound of Music." Like I said before, I love that movie! At about five o'clock I started warming up for my voice lesson. I usually don't warm up for that long, but I had not had a lesson in such a long time, that I needed to get myself back in gear. My lesson went from six to almost seven (we ran quite a bit longer than normal) and from seven to eight-thirty we had choir practice. Now, some people think I'm insane to go to choir on my birthday, but I love all the people and I love to sing. The combination of the two made it the perfect way to spend the evening.
At about nine pm we did cake and ice cream. After that, most of the house went to bed. I normally go to sleep fairly early, but I figured that you only have one eighteenth birthday, so I was going to enjoy every minute of it. My brother volunteered to stay up with me until eleven - after that we had strict parental orders to go straight to bed.
It as a fantabulous day, and I had a blast. Oh, and I got flowers for the first time ever. Dad got me a dozen yellow roses! They're so pretty and sunshiny . . . if the day was a package, the flowers were the neat bow that tied it all up. :D
26 May 2008
Memorial Day!
This weekend is supposed to signify the official beginning of summer. However, the sun seems to be having a hiatus in this part of the country. It has been cloudy and pretty chilly for the past week. Hopefully we'll get some sunshine soon. But, living where I do, that really is not a concern. It will warm up...probably too much for comfort...very soon :D
24 May 2008
"What, silent still? and silent all?"
"Ah, no - the voices of the dead/Sound like a distant torrent's fall."
Trouble was afoot in the Mesa last night. A rich man, by the name of Rupert Sheinhardt, was hosting a party to celebrate his many accomplishments and marvel at his good fortune. He is the wealthiest man to ever hail from, visit, or even look upon Muncie, Indiana. But, before he could make his appearance, he was murdered!
Since I was invited to this "Murder Mystery Dinner", I was able to take part in the fun and spectacle involved in solving this mystery. Everyone was given a character. Every character (besides the detective - he was there to moderate) had a grudge against Rupert. He had afflicted everyone in attendance by his greed and selfishness. His offense towards myself was that he was inheriting my aunt's estate. An estate that should legally have been MINE. I was a nasty, rich, aristocratic snob. I was terribly mean to everybody. . . for about thirty seconds at a time. I couldn't keep it up much longer than that. Everyone else was much better at staying in character. I guess it comes from attending a media school. . . you witness a lot of theatrics so you feel more comfortable with them. Whatever the reason, the other people were absolutely fantastic in their roles. My raspberry was a stupendous Texan. . . accent and all. My sister was the victim/host's sister, and was married to "the short one." I was unfailingly and consistently nasty to both my sister and her "honey-bunny". (Isn't it funny that it is easier to be mean to people that you know? You think it would be easier to insult people that you weren't friends with. Another phenomenon of the human psyche I suppose)
The evening was stupendously fun. I, being the snob, spent a lot of time with the jerk in the room. We got to insult each other all night. But, in the fun, we let the murderer win. Somehow, and this remains a mystery to me, I was the last one left with the murderer. I had the opportunity to kill him, but I killed the short one instead. Granted, the short one was acting suspiciously and, like Mofia, there isn't much real evidence to go off, but I still feel terrible! I could've killed the murderer! But I didn't! He got away with murdering 30 people! Horror of horrors!
But it was ETMF, and I'd do it again. I want to send out a big "thank-you" to "Effie" the maid, the mother of the host (whose character name I can't remember!), and the cowgirl who didn't officially have a character as far as I could tell.
Trouble was afoot in the Mesa last night. A rich man, by the name of Rupert Sheinhardt, was hosting a party to celebrate his many accomplishments and marvel at his good fortune. He is the wealthiest man to ever hail from, visit, or even look upon Muncie, Indiana. But, before he could make his appearance, he was murdered!
Since I was invited to this "Murder Mystery Dinner", I was able to take part in the fun and spectacle involved in solving this mystery. Everyone was given a character. Every character (besides the detective - he was there to moderate) had a grudge against Rupert. He had afflicted everyone in attendance by his greed and selfishness. His offense towards myself was that he was inheriting my aunt's estate. An estate that should legally have been MINE. I was a nasty, rich, aristocratic snob. I was terribly mean to everybody. . . for about thirty seconds at a time. I couldn't keep it up much longer than that. Everyone else was much better at staying in character. I guess it comes from attending a media school. . . you witness a lot of theatrics so you feel more comfortable with them. Whatever the reason, the other people were absolutely fantastic in their roles. My raspberry was a stupendous Texan. . . accent and all. My sister was the victim/host's sister, and was married to "the short one." I was unfailingly and consistently nasty to both my sister and her "honey-bunny". (Isn't it funny that it is easier to be mean to people that you know? You think it would be easier to insult people that you weren't friends with. Another phenomenon of the human psyche I suppose)
The evening was stupendously fun. I, being the snob, spent a lot of time with the jerk in the room. We got to insult each other all night. But, in the fun, we let the murderer win. Somehow, and this remains a mystery to me, I was the last one left with the murderer. I had the opportunity to kill him, but I killed the short one instead. Granted, the short one was acting suspiciously and, like Mofia, there isn't much real evidence to go off, but I still feel terrible! I could've killed the murderer! But I didn't! He got away with murdering 30 people! Horror of horrors!
But it was ETMF, and I'd do it again. I want to send out a big "thank-you" to "Effie" the maid, the mother of the host (whose character name I can't remember!), and the cowgirl who didn't officially have a character as far as I could tell.
21 May 2008
'Tis the Season...
...for American Idol to be over. The finale is tonight...we'll see which David wins. One of them sings everything but specializes in rock. The other sings lots of stuff...but it all sounds the same. Tonight the winner will be drowned in confetti and paparazzi, but here is a song meant just for the loser. Enjoy!
The Terrors of Anticipation
I have a job interview tomorrow. It's actually the second one I've had. And it's the second one at the same place. If tomorrow goes as well as last Monday (not the nineteenth . . . the Monday before) I should have a job. If it doesn't go well . . . I don't really want to go there.
I'm nervous and terrified and happy and excited. There is one thought that has given me consolation, though: I'm in good company. No matter how terrible or boring or horrendous or (imagine this) fantastic this job is, all the other TACers will be out there, too. I know that summer jobs are a common thing, but that doesn't make me feel much better. But the thought that my schoolmates are all in the same boat with me is of great comfort. I hope August comes quickly!
I'm nervous and terrified and happy and excited. There is one thought that has given me consolation, though: I'm in good company. No matter how terrible or boring or horrendous or (imagine this) fantastic this job is, all the other TACers will be out there, too. I know that summer jobs are a common thing, but that doesn't make me feel much better. But the thought that my schoolmates are all in the same boat with me is of great comfort. I hope August comes quickly!
20 May 2008
MK's Visit
We have had the privilege of having a very old family friend in town from Oklahoma for the past couple of weeks. Technically speaking, I haven't seen her except for the past few days, but she has been local rather than halfway across the country.
Yesterday involved surprising my sister with MK's appearance. My sister's roommate helped plan the whole thing. JP has a strict visitor policy which involves paperwork. Generally this is done by the individual hosting the guest, but since we wanted to surprise the host, we were allowed to have the paperwork done by her roomie. Mrs. C was kind enough to drive MK and I over to my sister's apartment before she came home from class. When we spied the truck pulling into the garage, I hid in the closet (to keep her from getting suspicious) and MK hid behind the bedroom door. She placed her purse on the desk as a means of diverting attention.When Andrea walked in, she tiptoed up behind her and placed her hands over Andrea's eyes and said, "guess who?" Surprisingly, Andrea guessed on the first try! The general happenings of hugging and exclaiming and wondering followed.
After MK spent the night at the apartments, we picked her up after she had sat through half of one of Andrea's classes. We then took her over to a fish taco place where another friend met us and we enjoyed a nice lunch together. MK and 3/5 of my family went over to the Museum of Art downtown and we enjoyed the Renaissance/Baroque era art work which was mostly religious in nature. This was more enjoyable than the Museum of Man which I found to be a bit disturbing. Rather strange.
We just dropped her off at her aunt and uncle's house. Tomorrow she starts on her way to the launch pad of the "Crossroads" which is a pro-life event in which young adults walk across the country. We've enjoyed having her...I don't know exactly when I will see her again. But, I am sure that there will be ETMF going on the next time I do. :-)
Yesterday involved surprising my sister with MK's appearance. My sister's roommate helped plan the whole thing. JP has a strict visitor policy which involves paperwork. Generally this is done by the individual hosting the guest, but since we wanted to surprise the host, we were allowed to have the paperwork done by her roomie. Mrs. C was kind enough to drive MK and I over to my sister's apartment before she came home from class. When we spied the truck pulling into the garage, I hid in the closet (to keep her from getting suspicious) and MK hid behind the bedroom door. She placed her purse on the desk as a means of diverting attention.When Andrea walked in, she tiptoed up behind her and placed her hands over Andrea's eyes and said, "guess who?" Surprisingly, Andrea guessed on the first try! The general happenings of hugging and exclaiming and wondering followed.
After MK spent the night at the apartments, we picked her up after she had sat through half of one of Andrea's classes. We then took her over to a fish taco place where another friend met us and we enjoyed a nice lunch together. MK and 3/5 of my family went over to the Museum of Art downtown and we enjoyed the Renaissance/Baroque era art work which was mostly religious in nature. This was more enjoyable than the Museum of Man which I found to be a bit disturbing. Rather strange.
We just dropped her off at her aunt and uncle's house. Tomorrow she starts on her way to the launch pad of the "Crossroads" which is a pro-life event in which young adults walk across the country. We've enjoyed having her...I don't know exactly when I will see her again. But, I am sure that there will be ETMF going on the next time I do. :-)
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