Just catching up and wishing you every happiness on reaching a special milestone. Time to do some crazy thing you might have thought about, parachute jump, bungee jump, even bouncy castle
The Border Collie always comes in last behind the sheep! Happy Birthyear Padraig, you're not 60 only for a day but a whole year
Padraig, Thanks for thinking of my son, and please add some prayers for him. Fr. Benjamin is doing fine out in Michigan. He's a part-time chaplain at two different Catholic schools and has started up some youth groups not far from Detroit. Safe in the Father's Lap.
Perhaps I am wrong, Terry, but I notice hear in Ireland the young priests coming out of the seminaries seem to of a much, much higher order than they used to when I was young. At times I am a little in awe of them. Very,very holy young men. But then living in our Western Societies they would need to be. When the going gets tough ,the tough get going, as they say.
It depends on where people live. Some of the major cities have decent public transportation systems (NYC, Chicago, DC, etc.). A few smaller ones are building them, like in Portland, Oregon. I used public transportation all the time when I lived in Chicago and it was great, however, my current town only has public transportation to/from train stations during rush hours. So, I am always in car as everything is too far to even ride a bike to get around. It's taken me 1.5 hours to run three errands in a car and I've never left my town's boundaries.
Someone warned me if I took Public Transport I would catch infections. Lo and behold I have caught a heavy chest cold, my first in many , many years. But I find it good, it is more rpayerful, I walk up and down the train platforms and bus stopps praying. It slows me down. I am going to different places for mass. It reminds me of being young again as when I was a child going by bus to school. Yesterday I was walking over to the University to the Catholic Chaplaincy for mass. I had a slight hangover after drinking some of my home brew white wine. I felt the presence of the Lord beside me walking along too. He said, 'How are you feeling today, Padriad?' I said I was feeling a little tired. Then I said to Him that no one ever asked me how I was feeling these days. He smiled and siad, 'Feeling a little sorry for yourself?' Smiling. A little creproachfully. I laughed and told Him no , not really, it was just I was a little touched (I was slightly sorry for myself) We walked on in silence. Then the Lord said to me again, 'How are you feeling today, Padraig?' I was going to say He was repeating Himself, then I realised He was doing it as an expression of love, to show He really cared, that the question was not an idle one. How much God loves us. The young Chaplain looked very, very ill. He said years ago He was starting to take dizzy spells. I prayed for him wondering if he had yet realsied his vocation is to hang on the Cross.....priests these days ned many, many prayers. Sometimes thoguh with the younger ones, I wish they smiled more and had more sense of humour. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. They have many, many years in front of them. At least most of them do. View attachment 3696
Not in Montana. At least not in Billings. There are buses. If you have no car, its useful, I'm sure. I've always had a car, so it was never a problem for me. My daughter used to live downtown Seattle. The bus stops are scary. To many Meth addicts.
exposing yourself to germs builds your immunity, so I think it is better in the long run. You won't get the same chest cold next year! when I lived in Boston I took public transport. but then I discovered cheap places to park, so I drove more often. cheap parking can be found in most cities if you know where to look. I have to drive where I am now. we have buses, but it is easier driving myself. I envy your spiritual experiences Padraig. Perhaps someday I will get to where you are now. better get my rosary out...as that's the only way to get there
