Hardly a shocker!! I’m on my last day in Rockville Centre and the rain is pelting down. Garth Brooks’ “Thunder Rolls” is also playing its part and I hear it now as I type.
As time here draws to a close, I am happy to have been here again and it was good to meet some people that I look forward to meeting each year as well as a few I’d not met before. I sometimes question myself in coming to the same place each year. I know there are many who like to travel and explore far-flung and diverse places and cultures. Sometimes I envy their courage and spirit of adventure but for more than twenty years now I have done more or less the same thing by way of holidays each year. It sees me based in a parish where I do some work (not killed out by any means) and this gives me the chance to visit people and do a few bits and pieces I enjoy. Among these, maybe looking at gadgets in electronics stores, going to a play or show on Broadway but more than anything, I enjoy catching up with people. When I mentioned this to a friend the other day – that this is the type of holiday I enjoy, she replied “each to his own” and that is the truth of it. Others like to go to the sun, relax on the beach, go for a swim while more, as I mentioned above, like to explore places that they have heard about. I’m reminded of the add for Denny’s when the young lad asks his father to spin the globe so that he can find a destination to visit and we find him on the bus for Ballyhaunis!
In any case, as I set out for Kilmovee, I’m glad to have had the time here and to have met my aunt again in Richmond, where also I met Pat, Wayne and Alicia, Robyn, Lisa, Michael and his wife (name escapes me) as well as Corky and Jeannie with whom I spent a night in “Fairfax County”. I met Carrie, Guillermo and Beatrice and it was great to see them. For the first time I met “Luna” a spirited and welcoming dog! I had the chance to catch up with Noelle, Kay and John, Denis, John and Diane Gaffney, their daughters Sara and Lauren, their husbands and children. I spent some lovely time with Joe and Elizabeth on Sunday evening and, before meeting them, some enjoyable time in Central Park. Though it has not happened yet, I hope to meet Michael Grady, Nancy and Caroline in New Hyde Park. In addition, I was happy to spend time with the staff here at St Agnes’ Rectory and to work with the resident priests and some, like me, who are on temporary placement – especially Joe and Vian. Great to be fed by Paul and Lucy and I’m grateful for all the work done for me by the house team and office staff. I was delighted to celebrate Mass on numerous occasions and to meet such lovely people afterwards.
There were a few I hoped to meet but it didn’t always work out and time can catch up a bit but overall, I think I met a lot of good people along the way.
This year I had the chance to attend a play on Broadway – “To Kill A Mockingbird” and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The enjoyment was only increased by the circumstances around my being there. I had other plans that did not work out so was at a loose end and walked into the theatre two hours before the show and got a ticket for $49.00 in a very good position. Tickets on-line went from $150 to more than $500! The play was excellent and I’m glad to have been able to see it.
I had two long bus rides – one more than seven hours and the other about four and a few train rides into the city. I drove a little – not as much as home and am happy to report, walked a fair bit as well. Touched nearly 20,000 steps one day. Just one day!!
All the while, I kept in touch with home and something I’ve noticed over the years is that communications have improved so much. It’s very easy now to chat with people and distance is not an issue. My chats with people at home are important to me and I’m always happy that I am happy to go home!! That speaks to me about being content where I am and I don’t take that for granted. Sadly one parishioner died while I was away and I felt sorry to be away as I’d like to have been there to remember him and support his family but I hope to catch up with them soon. He was a lovely old man and there was a wonderful photo taken of him, just over a year ago on that Sunday that Pope Francis travelled the N17 from Knock Airport to Knock Shrine. Passing near this man’s house, his family took him in his chair to the end of the road where he waved to the passing Pontiff!! I’d like to think Francis waved back. Two good men!!
So that’s it!! A few memories made, conversations had, friendships acknowledged, things seen and done – life! I’m lucky.
Thanks be to God!