WYD in 17103 - Part 12 - Question, questions, questions? Answers!

Are you going with Ann?

You are leaving your wife go to Europe alone?

Why don't you want to go?

Will you survive at home without Ann around?

The sun has set and night has blanketed Madrid and the ones closet to me. My day started out with a call from Ann. She indeed figured it all out. That plus her inate ability to touch people by using her 'Holy Boldness' as Fr Hauf used to call it. She indeed figured it out.

Ann decided that in order to protect those with her she would get up early and leave for the final destination long before anyone else did. Now here is where the 'Holy Boldness' comes in. Ann wasn't only satisified with beating the crowd she want to get as close as she could without walking several miles in the late summer Spain heat. So, she employed her talent of talking with total strangers and making them fell like family and found a way to not only get close to the venue but she got dropped of at the main gate. Prayer and 'Holy Boldness' do indeed work. Not only did Ann, Rebecca and Micah benefit from this but the entire St Margaret Mary contingent followed along once the leader of the group saw the plan unfold and develop before her eyes. Doing this was extremely wise because when Ann called to tell me of the successful mission she said the afternoon temperature there was 45-degree Celcius. A quick math computation later reveals that it was 113-degrees there. ONE-HUNDRED-THIRTEEN, sweat producing, skin burning, strength zapping, clothes soaking, rash creating, uncomfortable, down right nasty and unbearable degrees. The people in charge were spraying the crowd with fire hoses. In less than an hours time everyone was dry and looking for more. Ann et el took their umbrellas with them in case of rain. She said they were using them to create shade. For those of you who thought I married her just for her beauty, think again!

Back to the questions that to this time I have not answered. It's obvious that I am not did not and never wanted to go with Ann to WYD. Travel like that just isn't me. Nor for me. Doesn't mean I wouldn't or couldn't do it some time in the future, I just can't imagine the circumstance that would stir me to do it.

Yes and no to the leaving Ann go alone. Yes because I know how much she wanted to go to something like this. Ann never asked to go nor did she say, "I'm going." When I heard the youth group was going via the diocese, I said, "If you ever want to do something like this, now is the time." The rest as they say is history. So she wouldn't be alone I saw to it that Rebecca and Micah were along also.

Why don't you want to go? I have a real tough time being strapped inside a cylindrical tube and sent zipping through the upper levels of the Earth's atmosphere at hundreds of miles per hour to get anywhere. The only exception I'll make to that is if God says that's how He's transporting me to Heaven then I'm in. Until then I'll blog from 17103. When my brother heard about the trip he deadpanned, "That's along way to go just to go to church." He also reminded us that there is a KFC and a Burger King within 2-miles of our house. They did not have to go to Madrid for a leg, a wing, a breast and two sides or a Whooper with fries. Sort of how I feel too.

I did survive without Ann being home. It wasn't easy. All those things that she does that were left for me to do or were left to go undone are more meaningful, more noticeable and more appreciated than ever before. Seth and I have gotten along wonderfully these past two weeks. Even at that he is showing signs of missing Micah and Ann. The thing I missed most was her presence. Just being there. That feeling of closeness when she'll just come in and sit while we watch a ball game. The joy of sharing a trip for coffee, trekking to the grocery store or mowing a lawn together.

As mentioned before I have come to understand the perfect plan God has for us within the marriage covennent. The labor required to have a home, raise a family or parent your parents is greatly reduced and much easier to share when there are two of you pulling together. Not just two random people but a man and a woman committed to each other and to each others dreams and desires.

I am glad she went but gladder still that she's coming home. - DD

WYD in 17103 - Part 11 - A Routine Day and Three Sleeps to Go

The boys got home from the Phillies game at 1:15 this morning. Thought I'd be Super Dad by letting Seth sleep in. I got up and went to walk Duke-the-dog. That's two times in a row for those keeping score at home. So after completing my dog duties I went to Mickey D's for my senior coffee. A stop for donuts and then back home to wait for Seth to get up. Surprise, surprise, surprise! Seth is up and greets me with, "Where were you?"

So we eat breakfast, read the paper and did two loads of wash. Then it was off to continue the yard cleanup I started yesterday. Cut, drag, load and its off to the dump. After dropping Seth off at home I went to the farmers market for fresh corn, followed by a stop at the bank.

Then the August thunderstorms rolled in. At 5 o'clock I went to the flea market. Dropped off five bags brought home one.

Because I stopped for pizza on the way home I missed Ann's call. I have been concerned because the daytime temps have been close to 100-degrees each day. Tomorrow they have to hike 8-miles to where the closing Mass will take place. Ann did assuage my fears when she called back by telling me they could get within two miles by taking the Metro. This then became a problem because both Becca and Micah have been minding the crush of the crowds, especially in the Metro. Just like their dad does. Prayer is answered because Ann figured out that the three of them would go on the Metro hours before everyone else and be there early. Since she has a special pass and not because she is related to me, even though she could mention my name if need be, she can get on the grounds early. This will all work out for them, I know.

Friday night, Saturday night, the Sunday night. Three sleeps until the day comes when they will be returned to us here in 17103. - DD

WYD in 17103 - Part 10 - Tempus Fugit!

I'm supposed to be in Philadelphia at a Phillie's game right now but I'm not. The replacement for our dog watching duties is at the Phillie's game and the replacement's replacement is in western Pennsylvania. So two different people benefited from this snafu. First my son Mark got to go in my place. Second, Duke had the privilege of having me take him for his walk. I actually picked up after him which is an amazing feat. Each time I had to stoop to pick up, I just imagined I was gathering Spanish doubloons in the white sands of Bermuda. Additionally it's nice to see my boys all get together and enjoy the company of each other at a ball game.

The game just went to a delay because of sever thunder storms in Philadelphia. Possibly 3 inches of rain per hour. Stay dry guys.

Got grandpop's drivers license renewed today. Everything went smoothly for us. He was as happy as a pig in mud. His license is good for four years. He said he'll be 94-years old when we have to do this again. That's the 'tude, dude!

Seth went to McDevitt orientation today. Came home with a detention. What a start to high school. He was supposed to be done at 11:15. I was running late coming home from PennDOT and when I hadn't heard from him by 11:30 and since he wasn't waiting for me at home I called him. His phone rang in one of their late running activities and he got a detention. They were just toying with him and Seth laughed about it.

Picked up a very substantial yard clean-up from a former client this afternoon. Spent 3-hours there this afternoon and only scratched the surface. I'll have plenty to do on this for several days.

The hours between now and Monday evening are still many but are dwindling rapidly. I can tell that all are having a great time but like the cool evenings, painted skys, and shorter days of September that whispers that autumn is on it's way, I can tell they are all looking forward to the return trip home.

My prayer is to have them return safely from Europe, the Phillie's fans return home safely from the ballgame and to be here myself to take Grandpop for his next drivers license picture. - DD

WYD in 17103 Part 9 - Takin' It Easy (by choice)

Woke up this morning to an ample amount of sunshine peeking through my curtains. This was even before my alarm sounded. Feeling somewhat refreshed after along day yesterday, I thought I'd ease into Wednesday instead of going full throttle as I have been doing. Gonna back it down a little and try not to do to much or better yet try to make myself believe that it doesn't all have to be done right away.

My birds have been missing now for several days. Probably has something to do with the fact that the birdseed I bought on Monday is locked securely in the trunk of my mothers automobile which is locked securely in the garage at her house. My first victory of the day was that instead of feeling that I had to go get it immediately, I planned to get it as time allowed. It's still there as I write this. Victory!

I also decided I would take time to prepare a breakfast for Seth and me. Pancakes for Seth. Eggs for me. But wait, there is no pancake mix. Instead of running to the store to get some and changed the menu to waffles for Seth. As I was cracking my eggs the phone rings. It was 9 o'clock and Aunt Maria was calling to say the lawn mower repair man was there and was I coming over? Panic was squashed as I decided to beat, fry and eat my eggs. If I missed him I missed him. As it turns out the mower was OK, Grandpop got to have a nice visit with someone his age and I claimed the second victory of the day. As I was leaving Grandpop told me the vacuum I fixed several weeks ago was no longer working. No panic. I just determinedly got off the swing strode to the basement and fixed yet another sweeper malady again.

Upon arriving at home I proceeded to mill the next batch of tomato sauce. Then I began to cook it down yet some more. I wrote some checks and prepared two text books for shipping that I sold on Half.com. The urge was to take them directly to the Post Office but I delivered on my self-imposed promise of backing it down and laid them aside.

Seth had a friend over for a visit and I had another BLT sandwich minus the hot peppers. Used the last ones last sandwich and I didn't feel like going to look for more so I didn't. Victory Number Three!

Aaron then stopped in and we bought as many books as we could on-line for the coming semester. Saved hundred of dollars. Also save another $39.90 when I applied Amazon.com bonus points to our purchases. Victory #4.

Seth and I ten mowed the lawn and worked up a rolling sweat in doing so. Came in and just relaxed until the magic 5 o'clock hour. No we did not go to Margaritaville, we went to walk the dog we are tending this week. The plan was to walk Duke and go to Taco Bell. However I forgot my wallet and until I got home to get it we would have been cutting it close getting Seth to band. On another day I would have tried it, Not Today however. I have a new attitude. Twenty piece McNuggets for me, Seth and the marching band. Seth said he'd be mobbed when he got there and was savoring that thought as much as I was savoring victory Number 5.

By the way while I was out I went to the Post Office and mailed my books and stopped at the grocery store for milk (it was free, had a coupon for a free gallon) and bread. Guess I failed to mention that the BLT I had at lunch was made between the two end crusts of the loaf of bread we no longer had. I usually give those to the birds but not today. Instead of going for a new loaf of bread I ate the crusts. Bad day for the birds so far. good day for me as I celebrate victories Numbers 6 (Postal trip) and 7 (bread trip).

The Phillies were just beginning today's game when I sat down to watch them. Switched back and forth between them and My CSI DVD until I involuntarily decided to switch back and forth between being consciences and unconsciousness. Luckily I reenter the world of the living at 8:45. After clearing the cobwebs I went and sat along Market Street wait for Seth's call to pick him up. The call came during the 8th inning which also happened to be 9:30. I didn't have to run to get him when he called because I decided to relax and be there when he was finished. One can do this when the game is on the radio and when one has decided to back it down. Victory #8.

I have more to say now like what we did when we came home and how much I enjoyed my call from Ann this evening and how my trip to see the Phillies tomorrow has literally gone to the dogs and how the swimming apparel from yesterday is dry but still hanging in the basement but I am choosing to end it all here, claim Victory Number 9 for the day and go to bed. - DD

WYD in 17103 Part 8 - Sometimes He Comes in the Clouds

Modern day Jews still await their Messiah. The ancient Israelites were looking for a messiah, one who would come with strength and courage. A mighty warrior. One who would drive the Romans from their land and restore peace to their people. But in God's plan he was more concerned about the heart. He sent the Messiah to win hearts and drive the evil one from their lives. God is still working that way today. Doing the unexpected. Doing things perfectly through is mind.

The bus carrying about 50 servants from church encountered rain shortly after starting up route 81 this morning on it's way to Camel Beach in Tannersville, PA. Not exactly what one desires when going to a water park for the day. Alon with the rain the air temperature hovered in the low sixties. By the time the bus arrived at Camel Beach the temperature had dropped to 59 goose-flesh causing degrees. A heavy mist and rolling fog only made all present feel like true Londoners.

At the gate opening hour of 10 a.m. our group comprised about 90 percent of the folks entering the park. We were also told that the park had been closed for the past two days because of heavy rains in the area. Unphased by all this we chose a spot, donned our suits and headed for the slides.

The cloud cover began to slowly lift as the fog rolled up and off the mountain. Sporadically bright spots of sunshine began to dot the landscape. With and ever increasing regularity the sun spots grew larger and slowly strung themselves together until the whole park was bathed in sunshine. The temperature slowly rose thus increasing the need for SPF 30 sunscreen.

By mid-afternoon we had one beautiful day. Dry, copious sunshine, temperate temperatures and no lines anywhere. There was absolutely no waiting at any of the slides. None! The day that had started out as a spirit-dampener turned into the perfect day.

Perfect because the sun was shining, there was no crowd thus there were no lines. Seventy degrees and low humidity beats 95 degrees and high humidity. Today was the day we for which we had prayed. Only we did not recognize that at 10 a.m.

Then to top the day off, as we drove home on route 81, God sent a rouge storm across the mountains in an otherwise clear and sunny sky, aiming it directly at our bus. As we passed through the downpour headed south, God added a postscript to our day by hanging a huge rainbow in the southeast sky as a gentle reminder that He was still there and had not forgotten us. Wow!

God was with us today. He heard our prayers and provided us the perfect day for us. Not the one we would have maybe drawn up but the perfect one for us. How many other times does He do that for us and we miss out because we are looking for and expecting something else. Just like the Israelites.

Sometimes he comes in the clouds.
- DD

WYD in 17103 Part 7 - Hitting the Wall on Monday. A Coincidence?

Runners or athletes will speak of "hitting the wall". It's a condition where there is a depletion of glycogen stores in the liver and muscles. This manifests itself by sudden fatigue and loss of energy.

Today I hit the wall. The twins Fatigue and Tiredness moved their gear in mid-morning and have remained here throughout the day. They seem very content on staying regardless of how hard I tried to show them the door. It's just been run here and run there all day. The tomatoes so anticipated have arrived with an abundance. This means there is a continuing cycle of pick, cut, boil, mill, boil some more and pack.

The laundry was wrapped around a trip to the pharmacy, trying to fix a riding mower, a trip to the grocery store, and back to the pharmacy. Even at that the laundry was finally delegated to the dryer when the August humidity that sent forth thunderstorms this evening refused to allow waist bands to air dry.

The two high points of the day were receiving a call from Ann this morning and being with Seth. Ann said it's 100-degrees in Madrid. More of the same is in store for them this week. Seth has just rolled with everything going on around here. For that his treat was Choc-o-Tacos. Won't talk to her tomorrow as Seth and I are off the Camel Beach in the Poconos. Altar server trip.

I am finding solace in the fact that with tomorrow's sun rise the half way point will be reached. There is still plenty of excitement ahead both in Madrid and here in 17103. God be with us. Help us to not only bounce off the wall but vault over it with new found strength and vitality.

Now my two friends named Michael, Card and Talbot, are charged with the task of revitalizing me this evening. - DD

WYD in 17103 Part 6 - Phones, Tacos and Missing U.

The new phones are in and there is a problem. I don't know if they are working properly. I cannot determine if caller-id works. I don't know if the missed call feature works. Call waiting? Who knows? The problem is that since 4 pm ESDST on Wednesday 8/10/2011, no one has called. Years ago I stopped answering the phone because it is never for me unless it's a salesman, a political question or the PSU alumni society try to get me to part with some of my green backs. I don't even know what the new ring tone is or if I even have one. Hopefully it will be different than what my smoke alarm sounds like in case I get a wrong number from some drunk calling for a cab at 2:05 a.m. I don't want to hop out of bed, stop, drop and roll then crawl to the door unnecessarily just because someone had too many Colt .45s. Earlier today I asked Seth how he liked the new phone. He answered, "Don't know. No one has called."

Monumental first today. Grandpops house hosted it's first international Sunday lunch that wasn't Italian. I got up went to the store to get a roast beast, of which there were none, and ended up with freshly ground, buck-ninety-nine a pound ground chuck. My mind snapped. Tacos! Yes, I made two pounds of tacos for lunch. Hard shells? Got'em. Soft ones? In the bag. Onions, tomatoes, sour cream, hot sauce, refried beans. Here, here, here, here and HERE! Grandpop just smiled and ate the crab cakes I got him as all the hungry mouths devoured every last bite. I even caught Grandpop eating a fork full of the taco meat out of the pot. He said he like it and asked me if it was spicy. Didn't know where to go with that one so I said it was taco seasoned.

This afternoon Seth and I watched the Harrisburg RBI baseball team play for the national championship on MLB-TV from Minneapolis, MN. We are friend with some of the players and I even coached a few of them in the past. They lost but we were no less proud of them for having made it that far.

Uncle tom stopped by to watch the end of the game with us. The we walked the dog and went to Grandma Delp's. After we returned home I finished cleaning up the sauce making then tried to watch CSI through my closed eyelids. Ann posted on Facebook that she was in Burgos, France, which is where she is supposed to be, so I know all is well. Tomorrow, which is now today for them, they go to Madrid where the traveling stops until they depart for home.

Missing you all. Hope you have a special meaningful time but wishing it goes quickly. - DD

WYD in 17103 - Part 5 - Single Parenting 101 or Why God's plan for a one-man one-woman union is perfect.

Not a deck. Nor a new bedroom. It's a new phone system! With the new outlet in the kitchen I am now able to get rid of the crank-phone and the party line. I now have a base unit, sounds Star War-ish doesn't it, a "base unit" and two, count them two satellite cordless phones. Again the satellite reference wreaks of Star Wars.

Today was also Day One of "Walk the Dog Week". Not to be confused with The Food Channel's "Wok the Dog Week". Seth and I have to walk a friends dog while they are on vacation. Not a tough job since the dog to be walked is the last surviving mammal from Noah's Ark. He's old, really old. However he still needs to exercise, poop and pee at least twice a day. So there's where we come in.

Today was also paint the bleachers day at Bishop McDevitt High School. Being a member of the marching band and being in good status, Seth wanted to participate. Little did I know that what they need him for was to be a 'paint roller'. No, not one to roll the paint onto the bleachers, but rather one to be dipped in paint and then rolled on the bleachers. When I went to pick him up he was covered from head to toe in blue paint. He said it was dry but I made him turn his shirt inside out before getting into my vehicle. Band! Teenagers!

Today was also mill yesterdays tomato sauce, pick today's tomatoes, start today's sauce, finish the wiring job from last evening, set up the new phones, answer the new phone that is ringing! Hey, wait, it's my Ann calling from Lourdes, France.

All is well there. Drinking water is some what of a challenge for the group. To solve that problem they found that they could drink the water from the Lourdes Grotto spring. It's spring water, holy, pure and potable. Also it is tied to many miracles of healing. I'm guessing Ann will return home showing no signs of grey hair.

Today was also go to the store for Grandma Delp, fix her light and get her masking tape. Grandpop wasn't left out of the mix as it was take him to church, let him watch Seth walk the dog and go out to eat supper day.

Then it was home again to watch the Phillies beat the Nationals, boil my sauce and sit on my recliner. Didn't get to shred and freeze the zucchini but will do that tomorrow, I promise.

All these things are done routinely around here but normally there are two people handling the responsibilities. I am gaining a greater insight and a greater respect for single parents. God's plan to join two people to share family responsibilities is right on! Never meditated on that fact but now that I think of it, would it be anything less than perfect.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I got 30-gallons of free gas today. Thank you Giant Markets. That's the fifth time this calendar year I've been able to do that. Take that OPC! Take that Obama! Take that Congress! We can and will defeat you all.

By the way, the picture of Seth above has nothing to do with this blog. It was just a good shot from yesterday and thought I'd share it. - DD

WYD 2011 in 17103 - Part 4 "Sink or Swim" or Hershey Park really isn't all that bad when the alternative is ...

I went to bed last night knowing that the dawn would bring sorrow and heartache. Sort of like the condemned man who can hear a guy whistling a happy song as he drives nails while building the gallows from which the condemned will hang in the morning. Strike one was another day apart from my Ann. Strike two was I was going to spend a good part of the day at Hershey Park (HP). The final strike and also just as unavoidable was that I would once again have to crawl under the kitchen sink and try to unclog the unclogable.

Note: Merriam-Webster defines "oxymoron" as: a combination of contradictory or incongruous words. I'd like to point out to you that I consider "a good part of the day at Hershey Park" to be very oxymoronic. No part of the day is "good" when at Hershey Park, except for the tram ride from the park to my car.

As is typically the case, Seth and I were up and running behind schedule immediately. We stopped for breakfast, picked up his friend Michael, stopped at Grandpops to abscond with his cell phone and charger and headed to Hershey Park. Walked directly to the voucher exchange line, got our tickets and walked directly into the park. This is too easy. The boys went directly to Storm Runner and rode twice within 20-minutes. Then it was on to the rest of "Hershey Park Happy". After a short while I separated myself from the boys and took off on my own. I had a leisurely stroll through the Boardwalk and Water Park. My feat hurt so I decide to throw caution to the wind remove my shoes and low cut socks which are pretty wild when one considers exactly whose feet they were on and dove feet first into the Wave Pool. I stayed far from any waves being created in this man made sea because I didn't have a swim suit on, the head life guard only let me in because I swore and signed an affidavit stating I would not get wet above my knees because I didn't have "proper swimming attire" on and because I had just finish watching "Shark Week" on the Discovery Channel and who knows what danger lurks beyond the breakers.

After standing in ankle deep, cool water for 15-minutes I work up a powerful thirst. Being who I am and not being able to help myself, I brought along my refillable mug that I either picked up from a trash can at HP or bought for a dime at some yard sale. In past years HP would gladly refill these for 99-cents plus 6-cents for the governor of the Commonwealth. But not this year! This year HP decided that locals who were doing this were costing Hershey Entertainment tens of dollars each year in soda sales and so they upped the ante to $1.69 plus a dime for the governor of the Commonwealth. This is just another reason why I detest HP. Number one on that list is the $10 parking fee but that's another blog.

I did get a refill on my kettle-corn for the $2.25 refill price but I guess they some how knew when they scanned my admission ticket that I had legitimately bought the first fill up four years ago. I linked up with Seth for a few moments before he went to meet more of his friends. With the new found sense of adventure stirring deep with in me, I set out across the park. I jumped on the Dry Gulch Railroad, tramped to the tram and the went to see a show. By this time I was beat so I called Seth and said I was headed home.

Now like the first few moments of the morning when the condemned man awakens, he probably has two things on his mind that aren't connected with ropes or falling. He is thinking wheres the bathroom and what's for breakfast. Me I'm thinking, BLT's for supper and how fast can I get home. Then as unexpectedly and suddenly as a lightning strike a voice in the back of my head located somewhere between my ears whispered, "kitchen sink". So just like the dead man walking, going up the steps to the gallows, I went home, cleared out the stuff beneath the sink and once again attacked the plumbing. My friend Scott stopped in and we are in agreement, so it must be so, that any charges from a plumber are justified and warranted regardless of what they are.

I buried the full length of my heavy duty snake not once but twice and each time I retrieved copious amounts of the blackest, slickest, nastiest stuff this side of a Gulf oil slick. It was so bad that the towels I used to wipe the snake off are still burning with a strange yellow-blue-orange flame in my fire pit. But like the Susquehanna River, my drain is flowing free.

I was so happy and Scott was so happy with my being happy that we immediately knocked a hole in my kitchen wall and installed a new outlet so I can change my house phones. Plumbing, electrical work what does tomorrow hold? Maybe a deck or a new bedroom? One never knows.

So all in all it was almost a perfect day in spite of HP and the sink. Only having Ann here to share in the madness could I have achieved perfection.

I pray your days in Lourdes are as near perfect as mine in 17103. - DD

WYD 2011 in 17103 - Part 3 "Do Nothing Day"

Woke up late this morning after a night of fitful sleep. Immediately checked the flight tracker and saw that BAW flight 28 had safely landed in London and that BAW flight 374 to Toulouse was soon to depart. Did the wii, ate breakfast and got Seth up. My do nothing day will consist of submitting pictures for prints, filling the bird feeders, reading the sports and going to get said prints.

Left just before 11 A.M. for Sams. Got the prints and remembered Grandma Delp needed a new phone chord. Ding, ding. That's not the phone but the LOW-Fuel-Level indicator in our Equinox. So It's over to the gas pumps for a quick refresher. Now on the Mifflin Avenue to deliver one chord and several WYD pictures. Lawn needs mowed. Counter light isn't working. Started to look at the light but got sidetracked by something and it was completely gone.

Let Mifflin for Feeser. Delivered pictures at Feeser and was told that the sink I fixed last week was now unfixed and a plumber was to be called. I nixed that idea as I said I'd revisit my non-guaranteed work from last week. Like the light I completely forgot about the sink as Grandpop had Seth and me take him to the bank. We not only went to one bank but to two. Mission accomplished. Stopped at Giant for TP, garlic, milk, etc. Delivered Grandpop back home and returned to Boas. Picked tomatoes, made sauce, called Aaron, pattied burgers, cut pork roll, fired up the grill, ate supper and began the clean-up when I decided to mow two front lawns, one full lawn, look at a light I forgot earlier and return to do sink warranty work.

Then a giant wrench was thrown into the works. The kitchen sink refused to let water drain away. So I tore everything apart, cupboard, plumbing, you name it, I tore it up. I buried two snakes down the drain and fixed the problem. I washed the dishes and set off to accomplish my planned after supper missions with only about 95-minutes of day light. Without Seth it couldn't have been done. He performed like a champ. Mission accomplished.

We returned home and I put the cupboard back together while Seth showered. I then tried to do several rouge dishes and ... the sink backed up again. Ugh! That's going to wait until tomorrow.

This may seem hectic and somewhat busy but a call from Lourdes, France from my Ann made the entire day one of joy. All is well there and all are enjoying the pilgrimage. If they are happy I am happy. As I go to bed now I know that tomorrow I face a clogged sink, a day at Hershey Park (please read my past blog on Hershey Park, another day without my love and what ever else life decides to throw at me. Bring it on! - DD

WYD 2011 in 17103 - Part 2 "Bark-in-the-Park"

I made it through the night. Immediately upon wake-up I checked flight tracker to find that prayer is answered and the plane made it. That's not unlike the hundreds of other planes that crossed the Atlantic yesterday but British Airway Flight 228 carried the most important cargo in the world, to me any ways. I guess that my view of 35,000 foot vapor trails has changed as I now fully under stand the value and importance of the contents of the aircraft creating those trails. Maybe not so directly to me but to someone else who cares as much about the contents as I did about the contents of BAW Flight 228. My next mission, and I have chosen to accept it, is to safely get BAW Flight 374 from London to Toulouse. As I write this it is less than an hour to take off so I must hurry as I'll be really busy very soon.

And now a note about what going on with Seth and me at 17103. After the departure we came home and I milled the tomato sauce I'd started to cook down yesterday. It smelled wonderful! It has become a tradition to make enough sauce to last until it's all gone. Making it fills our house with the incense of love, of late summer, of the coming Autumn, of family times gathered around a bowl of Angel Hair pasta and of good eating. After watching the Phillies overcome a six run deficit, through both open and shut eyelids, we went went to the Senators game using some gift tickets. I enjoy going to see the team but this year so far has been the pits as far as having a good experience at the ballpark.

Our first trip there was a mid-week day game in May. It happened to be the day that 137,289 school kids cut class (legally under the ruse of an educational field trip) to sit in the row behind me and scream non-stop at the top of their little 'nails-on-a-blackboard' adolescence voices. My second trip was a night game in June which was actually very pleasant until the sun went down and the mayflies from the Susquehanna River filled the air as snowflakes due during a January blizzard. It was so bad that the next day I found may flies in my armpits and under my toe nails. Game three was once again a freebie for me as a friend gave me four seats for a July afternoon game. The seats were on the left field foul line, unshaded and close to baseball most exciting minor league player Bryce Harper. Have I mentioned that at the noon start time it was already 93-degrees. Did mention that Bryce Harper did not play. Did I mention that the temperature rose to as high as 97-degrees. Did I mention that Hershey's ice cream make a really good icepop.

So, last night Seth and I go to the Metro Bank park once again. School is out so there should be no screamers or foot stompers. It's mid-August so the mayflies should be gone for the summer. It's a night game, game time temp is 77. Delightful! Only, it's "Bark-in-the-Park" night! And bark they did. Only those of you who truly know me can share in the excitement I had to be there. As the pet owners paraded around the stadium struttin' their stuff I was 'entertained' by countless outbreaks of alpha-dogs claiming their territories by snarling, barking wildly and stretching their leashes to the snapping point. During the game the Senators kept promoting a game in early September when "Cowboy Monkeys on Dogs" would be their for our entertainment. Guess I'm destined to be there. - DD

WYD 2011 in 17103

The day that was close to two years away finally arrived today, August 10, 2011. It seems like a life time ago that Ann said "St Margaret Mary's Youth group wants to take kids to WYD in Madrid in August 2011. Wouldn't it be nice if we could go." To which I replied, "Why not. Start saving and I'm sure there will be fund raisers."

I knew Ann wanted to go and in short order Rebecca and Micah joined the pilgrimage. Things started slowly at first but over the past 18-months we have been involved with many fund raisers. We took on possibly the most successful one when we agreed to make peanut butter fudge to sell. We made close to a thousand pounds of fudge and talked about the trip each time we made it. Today as the buses were loading I thought I could still smell peanut butter in the air.

To say the last week leading up to today was hectic is the same as saying that the ocean between here and there is wide. Packing for one is tough, packing for three is challenging especially when one of the three lives in the 19123 zip code. Of course having raised seven children Ann took it all in stride. Instead of needing three pairs of shoes, three capris, four blouses (short, long and sleeveless), two pair of shorts, sweaters, jackets, ponchos, umbrella, toiletries, eight undies, two bras, endless socks, bed rolls, ground covers, passports, licenses, ids, and on and on ad infinitum, we need all that times three. Except for the bras and undies, Micah passed on the bras and would only say that he need less because "One pair last three day, rightside-in, inside out and commando."

Then due to some misinformation, everyone was told that Euros could be purchased at AAA auto club by anyone but that reality was different, we gladly made multiple trips to triple-A to purchase them for all those non-members. I am not saying we were in and out of there a lot but we are on a first name basis with the desk ladies, on the Christmas card list of the Euro seller and have been asked to host a trip to Europe next fall.

"Chaos" was the word that best describes the final five hours before boarding the bus for BWI. I'll let it at that. No one person is to blame, it was just the situation. To have teens and recently teens just stand and jump up and down shouting "We're going to Spain!" and breakout out into uncontrolled singing and shouting, pretty much paints an accurate picture of the energy and adrenalin generated by the moment. Those times and those moments are over for me as I much prefer a more pedestrian pace and a 'let's just get-on-with-it' attitude. I have been stressed many times since 1975 and today jumped into the Top Ten for me. I had several friends who do not imbibe offer to meet me afterwards with a case or a couple of fifths. From this I was assured that what I was experiencing was not only me.

And then the engines roared to life, the doors were closed, and exhaust fumes filled the air with the fragrance of departure. They were gone. Rather, Ann was gone.

The only way I can describe the feeling I had and still have is that I feel like one of those chocolate bunnies found in your Easter basket. Nice on the outside but a hollow feeling on the inside. I guess thirty-six years of living and loving someone elicits feelings like that at times like these.

Father God, guide their steps, surround them with angels and let them feel your presence. Be with Seth and me here in 17103 and spin that hour hand hastening them home. - DD