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All Hallows, All Day Long

Wednesday 11/01/2006 9:16 AM

Hallowmas. All Hallows. The festivals of All Saints.

Today.

Echoes of my Catholicness oblige me to inform you that this is a Holy Day of Obligation when:

the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass. Moreover they are to abstain from those works and affairs which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body.

So don't interrupt anyone when you find them deep in prayer. Don't get between someone rushing to confession and the cathedral to which they're headed. Just try to be a little bit more mindful of the holiness inside of others instead of the self-centered spiritualistic crap in your own head for a change.


The rest of today's post is about me and Alex and Herman and things from long ago that maybe aren't so far away.

But before we get to that... Would you believe there was a Saint Herman? Learn more about him by visiting your Link of the Day.


When I was a child, I went through bouts of what some would call make-believe, others delusion. As if it just happened earlier today, I remember being convinced one fall afternoon that I was a wizard with great powers. I cheerfully told all the adults and other kids at Danny Johnson's birthday party. They didn't know what to do with me. So I went outside to summon the rain.

I stood on the asphalt of the road snaking through the trailer park and concentrated until my head shook and my knuckles turned first red then white from clenching so hard.

Just because I remember it raining doesn't mean it actually did.

I was a confused child. I am a confused adult (but in different ways about different things).

But I must confess that I feel a great, smug sense of satisfaction looking at the image of the day. Seeing my old friend Herman watching over Alex, being his friend that won't talk back or find something better to do, it makes me happy in a strange way I haven't felt since maybe I stood on that asphalt road in the rain that probably never came.

Because of me, Alex has someone (or something) to look after him. On my behalf.

And now... for my next trick...

Link of the Day: St. Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America

File Under: Alex; As A Child; Link of the Day; Magic; Me; Religion
Music: Heartless Bastards "All This Time"

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