The Jozen One

Childhood memories are fascinating. I know these events took place and in what order, but my memory of the events are only remembered because at the end of the experience I could then apply knowledge to the whole time, at which point the memory became focused. One particular summer day when I was very small, my Grandmother was telling me about something we were going to do, though I didn't understand at the time I could remember that it was to be special. Following her around the kitchen, she gathered a bowl full of sugar, a paring knife, and a kitchen towel. None of that would have had any impact to form a memory if the next thing hadn't happened. Grandma walked us out to her yard and stopped at a big red and green bush. It looked like celery but it was bigger and it had fluffy leaves. She told me it was called the Rhubarb and it was very sour like the sourgrass or a lemon. She had us sit down in the dirt next to the bush and she started to cut the stalks near the ground and p...

 When I say "Baptism" what come to mind? Do you see fancy baby ceremonies at mass, or a blow up hottub in a gymnasium? Are you picturing a well lit baptismal on a stage or a swimming pool in Deacon Jims backyard? How about a small lake in upstate Minnesota for our setting. Yes. That's where we'll go.  I don't have perfectly detailed memories of the Sunday that I prayed the prayer of Salvation in Sunday school, but I have a distinct memory about how that day felt. I heard the stories of Jesus, understood that we were all sinners, recognized that he'd died for my sins and wanted to thank Him for that gift everyday with the rest of my life.  I was 7 years old. I remember feeling joy, telling my grandmother and her being very excited about it. I don't remember telling anyone else and I believe my grandmother told my mom and stepfather.  I'm not certain how long after that Sunday the Baptisms happened, or even if they happened that very day. I don't rem...

It's one of those nights.  I'm getting ready for bed, my pillows are set, the blanket is waiting and I know that I'm going to hit that mattress and stay WIDE awake for the next 3 hours letting my mind say all the things and fear all the worst. Tonight, I decided to try something different. I ran downstairs and grabbed my laptop because I knew that when my ranting brain started I wanted to catch it all and keep it all.  So what's the topic for tonight on the wide awake brain of the middle aged woman?  Should I start that vegetable garden in our rental house or just wait until we move?  If I start now I could transfer all of the plants in containers and maybe most of them will live and transplant well. But if I just wait then I won't have to spend as much on the materials or double up on anything if some of the plants don't make it. However if I start now then we can start benefiting from the garden, and if unforeseen circumstances have us staying in this house lo...