New Year Surprise!

My friends that got married this summer called me yesterday. I assumed it was the typical 'happy holiday' call since they live out West now, but they called to tell me they are expecting a baby this summer!!!

When I told a friend who knows them, she was horrified. She said something along the lines of the woman's life being over. Really, that's what my generation thinks? That your life simply ends when you have kids? Things change when you have kids, I've babysat for too many families to deny that! But life ending? That just makes it sound like the child is some unwanted, unexpected, dreaded curse. Having a child is not life ending, but life changing. They planned this new addition, and knew full well the things that lay ahead (both are from large families). They both have college degrees and are capable people. They are young, but they are married and committed. They'll make excellent parents. I'm so excited and happy for them!

Later Note: They are no longer expecting. Sometimes life takes unusual turns. I pray things work out for the best. May their unborn little one rest in peace.

April 1, 2011 They're expecting again!

To You, Uptight Orthodox

If the world upheld every religious rule and regulation perfectly, and if we stuck solely to a very legalist interpretation of doctrine, well, none of us would be practicing the religions we currently are. Religions grow and change, as everything does in this world. So, please radically conservative orthodox Catholic acquaintance, stop getting terribly heated over minor things you think everyone should agree with. If only the people that agree with you on all such points were considered "Catholic", then you'd only be counting less than 5% of the current church. Oh, and also please stop thinking you know how to translate Sanskrit...because you don't.

"According to ancient Catholic tradition and teaching, explicitly confirmed in 1965 by the Second Vatican Council, known as Vatican II, the church is not its hierarchy. The church is the flock."

("The Pill" By Bernard p245)

Wisdom Teeth

My first semester of college did not go as planned. I had had my wisdom teeth removed that summer, but a few weeks into the semester my gums missed my wisdom teeth so much they decided to become infected. The university health center told me my gums were just fine, so I put them on the phone with the surgeon back home. Yes, that's right health center: swollen, pus filled, achy, sore, and red gums mean there is an infection.

Several weeks of different dosages of antibiotics later, they were still infected. So I jogged over to the local dental clinic at 8AM when it opens in order to get in and out before class at 11AM. At about 11:30AM I finally saw someone and had x-rays taken. Then finally the doctor and her assistant came in. Both were short, dark haired, and spoke with a heavy Eastern European accent. A few moments later she said something about a piece of my jaw bone causing the infection (while pointing to a speck on the x-ray) and proceeded to pull out a syringe and knife.

There is nothing like being nine hours from home, in a new state, missing all your morning classes, being a college freshman, and having an Eastern European woman perform surprise oral surgery to remove part of your jaw bone. Thankfully, after a few visits I was as good as new.

Dream (December 7)

We stood impatiently waiting for our names to appear on the aged yellow office envelopes that contained our scores or grades. I read Priscilla's name and gave her her envelope. I bent over to look at more and was crushed by a girl next to me. I was upset at her for being so rude, and made a face. She was all dressed up and had curls in her hair as if she was going to prom or was a bridesmaid in a wedding.

Suddenly some of us and others are on a school bus. Now I'm dress in a dark dress ans shawl and my hair is long and curled also. The guy I had a crush on not long ago is sitting a few seats in front of me and the mean girl is sitting directly in front of me. I don't recall who else was there but I was comfortable and seemed to know most of them. The bus was winding fast down curving, bumpy, country roads. We were going too fast for comfort, and downhill around turns. My stomach and mind did not agree with it. I sensed a friendly warmth from the mean girl and we talked about something. Finally the bus pulled into a lot, similar I'd stopped before on a bus.

I got out still dressed up and went into a tourist shop. There were mountains, fish, etc. style things. and middle aged heavy set ladies that worked there. I walked through, and found the door to the recreation and tourist area, which was filled with people, mostly women dressed in long, older style dresses that reminded me of modern day conservative religious women. I wandered to the other side of the huge room and found my youth minister from back home. Her hair was in two braids. Behind her were people from that group.

Dream (December 4)

There was a white wedding dress and slip hanging from the back of my dorm room door. It wasn't a traditional wedding dress but one of those cotton, lace, slip-like dresses that are popular in film & music lately. My marriage was either that night or the next day, though I was unsure about it, since it was very last minute.

I enjoyed dancing (a step/clog type of dance) in a parade with a friend from the Newman community (the Catholic group on campus).

I showed up last minute for a race near a river and ocean bay that had a bridge across it. I hadn't run in a while and my old high school cross country coach was there. There were buildings off in the distance, but the area around the water was low and had tall yellow & green grass.