Well I really didn’t think there was anything. Let me back up to yesterday. Got up at 6:05, showered, watched half of the pairs free dance, fed Bella then put her in her crate, went to mass and lectored. I always go early to read over the readings in the lectionary then since I was also going to read the prayers of the faithful, I read them over and learned … 
that the husband of a woman that I was friends with when our kids were babies and on into elementary school, passed 
last Thursday and his funeral was today. Normally she attends the 8am mass like I do and sits in the section over from me in approximately the same pew (I sit in either the 3rd, 4th or 5th from the front). She wasn’t sitting in her normal spot yesterday and I was thinking that she likely might have been too overcome to come to mass. When I walked up to the ambole (podium from which the readings are proclaimed and the priest gives the homily) to proclaim the epistle, I looked out over the congregation and spotted her in about the 3rd or 4th pew from the back of the church. (Our church seats approximately 1,200 people). So, when I read the prayers of the faithful and got to the one to pray for the recently deceased, I looked right at her and tried to have a comforting look on my face as I read her husband’s name. After the priest, altar servers and I processed out after mass, I went back in to the church, gave her a hug and expressed my condolences. She said that she was glad that I was the one who read D - - - -'s name and felt it was appropriate. She and I were in La Leche League together, we were Hot Lunch Moms together and worked on other school functions together, and she and her husband were in the Married Couples Club with us back in the 80s, and possibly early 90s; then because our daughter changed schools in 5th grade, we sort of went our separate ways; although I would see her from time to time at Kroger and in church.
Fast forward to today. At first I was going to wear a particular outfit but then decided to go to the auxiliary clothesrack and picked out a different blouse and sort of tunic to wear. You may recall that when I went to the Rosary Rally earlier this month, I couldn’t find my rosary anywhere so Hubs gave me one that a charity had sent to him. Anyway, I reached into the pocket of the tunic and lo and behold, there was my rosary case! Yay, so that was a little spot of happiness.
I wore a layer of merino wool under both the tunic and my pants because I first had to go to work this morning and it was colder than one layer of clothing would be sufficient. I had texted my supervisor last night that I would be coming in early to get the transactions from Thursday-Sunday recorded and that I would need to leave between 9:30-9:40. Amazingly, he beat me there and had already prepared deposits and started the Daily Activity Report for 2 of the days. I was able to complete Thurs-Sat before I had to leave. If the blanking software hadn’t screwed up the credit cards settlement for Friday and it took me extra time to figure it out, I probably would have been able to complete it all but Wednesday is another day. Not going in tomorrow as I have a 9:15 followup with the dermatologist to find out what the biopsy revealed.
Made it in plenty of time for the instate. Wife personally invited me to come to the luncheon afterward. I really liked the readings that were chosen, particularly the one from Ecclesiastes that talks about a season for every activity. I enjoyed singing the songs, particularly On Eagle’s Wings.
Afterward I was able to talk to a couple that we knew from Married Couples Club and various other functions at church. They moved away about 10-15 years ago but still come to our church but attend a different mass than I do; although Hubs sees them from time to time as he goes to the 12:30 mass.
Then I went home, took off the merino wool since it had warmed up significantly and was pondering whether I should go to the luncheon. I was leaning no but then I remembered what one of the sons said in his eulogy and it moved me to go.
I didn’t know anyone there except the wife. So, I just went up to a table with a couple open chairs and asked if they would mind if I sat there. They welcomed me and I had delightful luncheon companions. It was held at a Middle Eastern restaurant. I don’t think anyone there was of middle eastern ancestry. I don’t think they knew what the dish of toum was; which is arabic garlic sauce. I think they thought it was mayonnaise. Nope.
The meal was buffet style and was absolutely delicious: fattoush salad, rice with slivered almonds, hommous, toum, warm puffy medium pita bread loaves, chicken tawook, meat kabob, chicken shawarma, sauteed herbed zucchini and carrots. I had a full plate and don’t think I will need much, if any, dinner.
It was a table of 8 and only the gentleman next to me and I took spoonfuls of the toum so there was a lot left. When the servers were clearing the table, I asked if the leftover was going to be thrown out and after she responded yes, I asked if I could have a small container to take some home. She brought me a pretty big container and put about 3/4 of a cup of the toum in it. SCORE! So, that was another little spot of happiness.
) For reals, Mumpers welcome!
)