Readings:  Jonah 3, 1-10, Forty days more and Nineveh will be destroyed; Psalm 25, Teach me your ways, O Lord; 1 Corinthians 7, 29-31, The time is running out; Mark 1, 14-20, I will make you fishers of people.

Jonah: This little book of 4 chapters is a gem and tells a delightful short story.   It is so good I would like to read it all, but will read chapter 1 and all of chapter 3. 

Background: Jonah has been asked by Yahweh to go to Nineveh in Assyria to tell the people & leaders that they are evil and will be punished shortly by Yahweh.  Trouble is, Nineveh is the enemy, like me going to Houston or Philadelphia. 

So he runs away, catches a boat headed for Spain, is blamed by the sailors for causing a big storm on the sea, and is dumped overboard.  The whale swallows him and for three days Jonah is constrained to reflect on what he is doing.  When, after 3 days, the whale dumps him on shore, Jonah is more willing to listen.  We arrive at this point and I will have all of chapter 3 read.

Author: For centuries, while people took this story as factual, Jonah was considered author of his own story.  Once it was seen as a fable or allegory, the story probably has some unknown ancient as the author.

Date of composition: no one really knows, but educated guesses put it ca. 800 BCE.

Note: the story of Jonah and the story of Jesus' interaction with his future apostles are both about The Call. 

A Call Story

    Because the Jonah story and the story about Jesus relating to his future apostles all talk about The Call, I have a short contemporary story.

    The girl’s name is Susan.  Blond hair, green eyes, vivacious, a cheer leader at Skyline and at S.M.U.  In fact, she was the head cheerleader at S.M.U.  She was fun to be around and full of zest for life.  

    While Susan presented herself so positively at school, At this point in her life three horrible events had taken place.   

    First, the summer Susan was 10 she and her mother were at the lake on the 4^th of July.  They were on the boat dock when a man came up and whispered in her mother’s ear that their 18 year old son had just committed suicide back at their home.  Susan watched as her mother was carried off the pier.   

    The suicide drove her parents to drink and eventually divorce.  Susan was left to care take the house and her drunk mother while she finished grade school and high school.  This was the second horrible event. 

    When Susan graduated with honors from high school, no one was there to clap for her or support her.  She went home, raged at her mother, and told her she wished she were dead.   The next morning Susan found her mother dead.  Her mother was 49 when she drank herself to death.  This was the third tragedy.  She was just entering S.M.U.

    Some years later one more tragedy struck her.  Her older sister Kathy, upon whom she depended, died of cancer at the same age as their mom, 49, on the same holiday as her mom, Memorial Day. 

    This final event did it.  Despite having kids and a career as a special ed coordinator, Susan entered the world of drug addiction.  Within about a year CPS had taken her kids away and Susan went to prison.  

    In about a year Susan came out of the belly of the prison and two things happened.  First, she heard The Call.  Secondly, and interconnected with The Call she watched two parents react to the tragic death of their child.  The parents inspired her and she answered The Call to come back to life.  Today Susan gives talks about her life to strengthen others.

    If you are like me, you think that The Call is to do something usually significant.  Maybe it is, but it can be simply an invitation to come back to life or to be more fully alive.  

    Today the Mass is all about Call.  What is yours today?

Resource, Dallas Morning News, 1-21-12, Kristie Smith, Viewpoints section, Educator Fell far but found God.

Picture 1:    Offertory, Mary Ellen & Grace

Picture 2:    Brooklyn with Joanie & Erin

Picture 3:    Ray & Claire celebrating 41 years

Picture 4:    Tom, Bill, & Ron

Picture 5:    Someone has come to visit, no fear!

Picture 6:    It's Sienna!

Readings:

 1 Kings  19, 16-21,  You shall anoint Elisha as prophet to succeed you.

Psalm 16,  You are my inheritance, O Lord

Galatians 5, 1, 13-18,  You are all called for freedom.

Luke 9, 51-62,  I will follow you, Lord, but first…

People come in every way during the summer, Doug and Grace arriving via their bikes.

1 Kings observations

What

A continuation of a larger work, 1 & 2 Samuel, plus 2 Kings. 
This is presented as history, but it is a joining together of legends, fables, folktales, and miracle stories.  I see this called theological history.

Date

After the Babylonian captivity, therefore around 555 before Christ.

Subject

The book covers 3 events:

        – The end of the life of the Great King David,

        – The story of his glorious son, Solomon, and his building of
the temple in Jerusalem,

        – The famous division of the state into north and south,
Israel and Judah, after Solomon’s death and his weak successors.

Emma and her buddy.

Our passage

Coming in chapter 17 you can guess it talks about the third event, the division of the state. 
One prophet Elijah is anointing his successor.  The presence of prophets signals what?  Times are bad and Yahweh is not pleased with the people and leadership for allowing the division.

Sources: Good News Bible, Wikipedia.

Beginning with Kevin and Georgie.

The Samaritans

This morning I would like to talk about 2 subjects.  

First, the Samaritans.  Who were they and why hostility between Jews and them?

Secondly, I have to tell you about an amazing event that happened to me this week.

The Samaritans.  These people were and are Jews.  They claim to be descendents of some of those 10 lost tribes.  Remember the lost tribes?

Zoe, The Queen.

Take the date 700 years before Christ.  There are the two states, Israel in the north and Judah in the south, going back to the time after Solomon when weak kings lost the unity.

700 is the date that the Assyrians (the famous Syria, still in the news because of continued fighting) defeated the state of Israel and scattered the Jewish people, intermarrying with many of them.   Some of these Jews survived mostly in Judah. 

Leo the Knight defending us from the bad guys.

During the Babylonian Captivity, 555 before Christ, descendents of some of these people did not go to Babylon.  They were there when the descendents of those Jews taken from Jerusalem returned. 

Hostility developed between the two groups.   Each group had developed unique religious customs and each group considered the other to be heretical or bad.   

A victorious Leo putting away his sword and shield for the moment.

The group supposedly descended from one or more of the 10 lost tribes was called Samaritan.  It is also suspected that some of these Jews intermarried with the conquering Assyrians.  See why Jesus’ followers often act as if the Samaritans are bad.  Remember the story of Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman at the well?  

We have a similar situation today.  Look at all the Christian sects, Catholic, Baptist, Episcopalian, and others.  Each of these probably considers the others bad.   As Catholic kids we were certainly not allowed into a non-Catholic church. 

Torri arriving in her Sunday Best.

Now for the story.  I am a member of Dallas North Rotary, as many of you know.  I don’t eat and I miss a lot of meetings, but I love the other members and have known some of them for 20 years.

Tuesday I walked into our meeting and was going around greeting everyone already there.  I greeted a lady named Cheryl, who is one of our most active members.  After moving around the room, I was passing her again.   She says to me, “John, wait.” I stop and she sticks a piece of paper in my hand. 

Brent receiving our $2000 for Soul's Harbor.

I look and it is a check.  I open it and made out to John Stack Ministries is $1000.  I am stunned and say something like, “What is this?”  She says, “It is for whatever you & your community want.”  She says she has had a good month.  She is a vivacious real estate agent. 

She is not a Catholic and in the old days she probably would have considered us to be Samaritans, bad. 

I am humbled by this gift and I will say it again, I am proud to be a member of you people, this community.  It is you who are catching the attention of good people. 

Carol's friend, Zoey

We will have to put this thousand to work in a special way.  I’ve been thinking about Habitat in Granbury, where they are rebuilding 61 Habitat homes destroyed by the May tornado.  I would even like to spend a few days working there.  Anyone want to go? 

So this is the background on Samaritans, the bad folks.  Who are the Samaritans in your life?

Readings:                          

Isaiah   66,  10-14,  Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad.  

Psalm 66,  Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Galatians 6, 14-18,     Peace and mercy be all who follow.

Luke 10, 1-12, 17-20,  The kingdom of God is at hand.

Says Dana, "Good Morning, Everybody, welcome in."
 

Readings observations: 

Isaiah 66:  This is the very last chapter of  The Great Isaiah, so you can guess it is upbeat and hopeful for the future.  The Israeli people have just returned from the Babylonian Captivity to discover a totally destroyed Jerusalem.  It will get better, he says, rejoice.

Psalm 66:  66 seems to be the number this week.  

Also, these two readings talking about joy and rejoicing are so apt for our July 4 celebration.  I want to talk about July 4.

Our Community mascot Mr. Gorilla, likewise, says, "Come in, You All."

Happy July 4

It is July 4 time and I would like to talk this morning about why I am happy to be an American.  I was sharing my ideas with Rosemary, an advantage to being a married priest (or maybe not), and she said, “Can’t you find reasons a little more dramatic, a little more universal?”  So, my reasons are just my own homey variety. 

I do claim a certain unique perspective because of living in East Africa for about 10 years.  I admit there were a few occasions when I was grateful I had the American embassy as a refuge in case I got into some trouble.  I can certainly remember looking at the American flag flying over the embassy in Nairobi, Kenya and being grateful and thinking, ‘Yes, that’s my country.”

Sez Sir Charlie to Kevin, "Kevin, wouldn't you like to buy cheap my almost  new, beautiful, smooth running Studebaker?"

So, here are 3 reasons why I am delighted to be an American this summer.   Natural beauty and people beauty with two parts.

First, the natural beauty.  There certainly are beautiful places in East Africa, for instance.  Like Kilimanjaro, which I climbed 5 times & the Serengeti game park.  Likewise, in Italy, the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, even Rome. 

The Best Music, Bethany and David.

In the States we have the Rockies of CO, Grand Canyon, the beaches, like Gulf Shores, AL.  For me, there is nothing better than Yosemite.   But, you say, I live in Dallas.  Beware there is natural beauty here, too.  Try White Rock Lake, try the White Rock Creek trail.  I ride this trail and wonder sometimes, ‘Am I truly in Dallas,’ it is so wild and wooded. 

A few weeks ago, thanks to the Collin Classic bike rally, I just discovered in Plano the Oak Point Park.  Is this really Dallas?

I love the natural beauty we have in America.

The Offertory Crew, Laura (whom I knew when she was a nice little girl), Sandra, and Ann.

Then there is the people beauty.   Don’t laugh.  I propose the trustworthiness of people. 

Want to see an amazing phenomenon?   Park yourself on a corner of one of the small towns we will pass through in three weeks on the bike rally through Iowa.  You will see maybe more than a thousand bikes hitched to parking cables and lying on the ground, not one with a lock. 

I park in front of a grocery store, put my helmet on the handle bar, walk in, get what I want, and return to my unlocked bike. 

Today's community.

Want to see another phenomenon?  The hospitality of people.  Join me to ride the Hotter ‘n Hell Hundred the end of August.   There are 10 rest stops, like every 10 miles.  Each stop is loaded with bushels of volunteers overflowing with hospitality. 

I have my two favorites, 30 and 75.  At the 30 mile there is a group of elderly ladies (maybe many younger than I) who personally bake dozens of 6 varieties of cookies.  They positively blow me away and every year I tell them they are my favorite stop of all. 

Richard, this Bellvita goes to Carol with an abundance of love and powerful karma on her birthday, that she does well with the chemo beginning Friday.

What are you proud about this year?

Happy July 4.

Today's team.  All the world is on vacation this week, and certainly all our kids.  

Readings:

Acts 4,  8-12,  In his name this man stands before you healed.

Psalm 118,    The stone rejected by the builders has become the corner stone.

1 John 3, 1-2,   See what love the Father has bestowed on us.

 John  10, 11-18,  I am the good shepherd.

Genevieve says, "Hi, Everybody, Welcome. Nice to see you for the first time."

Acts reminders:

Author: Luke, the same who wrote the gospel.  He was an educated, urbane Jew.

Date: the years 75-80 

Subject: This is a travel log, detailing the spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to Rome and the Mediterranean in between.

Today: Peter is talking to the elders and leaders of the people, aiming to convince them about Jesus.

Genevieve welcomes the Whole Community, and, in turn, the Whole Community welcomes Genevieve.

The Good Shepherd

I would like to talk this morning about the good shepherd.  Two proposals.  

First, we have shepherds all around us.

Secondly, the good shepherd has three characteristics.

1. The shepherd gathers people.
2. The people the shepherd gathers are richer and happier because of being called.
3. The shepherd, likewise, is richer and happier because of inviting all these people. 

Vivian says, "In two more weeks I will get to say hi to everybody, too."  Hey,  is there something in the water around here?

Four examples.

I mentioned that this past weekend Rosemary & I attended both a Jesuit class reunion and an alumni reunion of 50 years at Spring Hill College in Mobile.  The shepherd who called us together and made all the arrangements was my classmate and good friend, Bill Dowie.  To me this was extraordinary because the last time we all met two years ago, over twenty of us, Bill was still mourning the love of his life, whom he had cared for the last years of her life.

Not only did he gather those who could make it somewhat at the last moment, but he shared with us that he was introduced to someone with whom he sees a special relationship developing.  Rosemary & I were most touched, doubly so by the charming woman he brought.

I left that reunion richer and happier.

The Spring Hill Jesuit reunion group on the Fairhope pier, eastern shore, Mobile Bay.   Bill is third from left, Keqi is first on the left. Others, (l-r), Jim Raymond, Rosemary, an Old Geezer, Carl Castille, and Jack Podsiadlo. Joe Reardon taking the picture.

The second shepherd is in our very midst.  This guy invites with open arms and open heart guys who have hit bottom.  We, too, have accepted his invitation to nurture these men by our help with Souls Harbor, of which he is the director, a 24/7 job. 

Brent, Thanks for being a good shepherd for over 60 men and a shepherd for me and the community.

Our class in '65 in front of Assumption Hall.

The third shepherd, every Thursday at least, loads up 16 meals.  With her friend, Barbara, they deliver Meals on Wheels to homebound men and women, whites and a rainbow of races.

Rosemary and Barbara gather their people by bringing meals to their door.  The people are richer and happier because of their visit, as I am by their example.

Over 100 of us Jesuits lived in Assumption Hall, Spring Hill College, Mobile in the 60's. After expecting that the building would be finally designated as a historical monument, how deflating to find the building demolished and in its hallowed place two student residences. No appreciation for old age!

Finally, there is a lady in our neighborhood named Patty Cody.  She is our neighborhood shepherd.  She organized the neighborhood association.  She has set up a security patrol for us, and a neighborhood communication network.  You can find your lost dog or cat and you can put on line a picture of a lost dog you find in your yard.  All this, plus other conveniences.  But her biggest bringing together takes place on July 4, when everyone is invited to a neighborhood parade, a picnic at the playground of a grade school, and a time when we see each other, maybe the first time since last July 4.

Rosemary & I are the refreshment Czars and each year I come home richer and happier with what Patty has helped us celebrate.

Guess what, Victoria. You were once little, too, just like Genevieve.

Let me add an extra and a special Good Shepherd, Genevieve.  Does she not call us all together?  Do we not feel richer and happier just be in her marvelous presence.  And from my vantage point, I think she, too, is richer and happier because we are all responding to her.

Harper is pretending to be sleeping through another masterpiece homily.

Good shepherds are all around us.  

Who is a good shepherd in your life and for whom are you a good shepherd?

Cupcake of The Week to Paul and Carrie for acing the Boston Marathon last week.

Readings: 1 Kings 19, 9-13 (or 1-15); Psalm 85; Romans 9, 1-5; Matthew 14, 22-33.

1 Kings:  Even though 1 Kings focuses mostly on King Solomon & his accomplishments, the latter half of the work shows how at Solomon's death the kingdom split into two hostile & petty states, Israel in the north & Judah in the south around Jerusalem. 

As I have pointed out concerning prophets, Elijah condemns the behavior, especially of the rulers, and promises punishment.  I am going to have all of chapter 19 read, because it is an interesting story.

In chapter 18 Elijah has had a faith duel with 450 prophets of another god, Baal, a god whom the  king of Judah, Ahab honored.  Elijah not only triumphs over the 450, he also kills them all.  Ahab is impressed and spooked.  But not his wife, the famous Jezebel.  She wants to kill Elijah and tells him so. 

Elijah is so afraid he runs away and wants to die.  Along the way Yahweh meets up with him and invites hims to hike up the mountain of Sinai (Horeb).  Here is what happens on the mountain.

The Whispering Sound

Just like Elijah and just like Jesus in the Gospel,  7 of us have been to the mountain the past two weeks.  We have felt the wind, felt the earthquake, and felt the fire.

On our first day in we had to go about 6 miles from a place called Rowell Meadow to a camp area called Comanche Meadow.  There was a bear box at the campsite.  It was a long, hot uphill hike all day.  We were carrying food for 8 days in packs that ranged from fifty plus pounds to seventy.  The wind was what we did not have in our lungs. 

We spent two nights at Comanche, a third night at Roaring River, and the fourth night at Upper Ranger Meadow, one of the most beautiful campsites, beautiful because it was a lush moraine with groves of pine & fir surrounded by a cirque at the head, cliffs on two sides, and the valley we had climbed out of behind.  We camped as usual by a mountain stream.

Next morning we got up before dark at 5:00 and started a 2 thousand foot climb up 11 thousand foot Elizabeth Pass.  We left early to take advantage of the cool early hours and to get to our next campsite in the middle of the afternoon instead of night.  It was on the ascent of Elizabeth that we felt the fire, in our legs.  There were steps four feet high in the trail and always up, up, and up some more.   The legs & hips would scream, "Enough."  But up we went steadily to the top, arriving around 11:00. 

At this point one thinks, "I got it made now."  No way.  We had to descend 3 thousand feet in 3 miles.  This is the dangerous part because it is easier to slip on a loose rock or gravel and fall down.  Our packs were lighter, but here we felt the earthquake when we stepped off a step so high we had to turn sideways.  Boom, you land on one foot and the earth quakes right through the bones.

Finally, about 5:00 we all reached an unplanned campsite beside a mountain stream and decided to go no further.  We were all gassed and ready to set down for a two nighter in the same campsite.

This was how we felt in our bodies the wind, the fire, and the earthquake.  Unlike Elijah, for me, God was in all three.  Connected to all was beauty, exhilaration, and the awareness of the privilege it is to be able to hike through such remote high sierra spectacle. 

For me also there was the whispering sound, the small voice.  Almost every day we would hear the sound of a jet flying overhead, perhaps heading to or from Oakland-San Francisco.  Frequently, I would search the sky, following the sound trail to find the tiny silver tube hurtling through the heavens.  Almost never did I see them  When I did see one, it was so small, so insignificant.  Yet, I knew that inside that little dart people like me were snoozing, reading, looking at the mountains below them, and totally unaware of me.  I had been in those darts and would be in one again in a few days.  I had such a feeling of smallness in the universe.  A blessing.

The blessing was doubled Thursday when I got into one of the little darts, which at Fresno looked pretty big.  I ended up in row 19 and in row 17 was a young family with a little boy about 4 or 5 and a little girl just learning to walk.  The little boy busied himself with stuff in his seat next to his father.  But the girl needed to move around, which the parents allowed.  She walked up the aisle, she crawled down the aisle.  And the parents watched over her, as did we all.  The gentleness of the parents juxtaposed upon my reflection that I was in the little insignificant dart moved me.  I could see me from below searching for this little dart by following its sound and I could likewise view the treasure of the family. 

Once I told the husband and once I told them both that I admired they way they played with their kids. 

Jesus went up the mountain to pray.  Elijah went up to meet the lord.  We 7 went up the mountain.  Unlike Elijah I found him in all the elements, the wind, the fire, the earthquake, and the whispering sound.

Where do you find him?

AUDIO:  http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-08-10.mp3

Theme Today: July 4th, Why I'm proud to be an American

Readings:

 Ezekiel  2,  2-5  Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels.

Psalm 123,    Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

2 Corinthians 12, 7-10, A thorn in the flesh was given to me.

 Mark  6, 1-6, A prophet is not without honor except in his native place.

Emma says, "Welcome in, Everybody, and meet my friend, Teddy, my dad's old special friend."

Ezekiel observations:

Who:  Ezekiel is one of the Big 3 prophets.  Why?  48 chapters.  The other 2: Isaiah & Jeremiah.  These 3 have lots of chapters & material.

Ezekiel was born into the priest class.  He later was considered a prophet.  He got The Call from God.  When he was about 25 he was swept up in the Babylonian captivity, around 590. 

When: It covers the period of the Captivity, 600-550 before Christ, which Ezekiel lived personally.  But the work is composed toward the end of the Captivity, around 550.  This is Ezekiel’s material, but it has been saved and edited by his fellow priests.

The special magic lady of our neighborhood who puts together our July 4th parade and party every year, Patty Cody.  It is also her birthday.  Her helpers Aviana, The Queen Mother, and Larry.

Message:

1. Ezekiel criticises the people and warns them that their bad ways will be punished, for example, by being defeated and led into slavery and the Captivity.
2. He promises comfort and a brighter future for the captive people, especially envisioning a restored temple (which then lasted until when?  The year 70, when the Romans finally destroyed the temple & the priestly cast ceased to function, to this day).
3. An amusing vision: The Dry Bones, chapter 37.

Today’s selection:   Ezekiel gets The Call or invitation from God to go tell the Israelite people that God sees what is going on.  Which means, tell them they are behaving horribly and they will pay dearly for their misbehavior. 

                Happy 4th of July and welcome to our party.

2 Corinthians observations

1.  This second letter to Corinth is often called the severe or tearful letter.  Paul was upset with the Corinth, Greece community because of what he thought were false prophets undermining his authority.  These people could have simply been people who disagreed with him.  At points you can almost hear Paul playing his violin & singing 'Poor Paul.'

2.  He talks here about a thorn in his flesh.  So, what is that?  People have speculated for centuries.  Could it have been he was OCD (obsessive compulsive), bi-polar (mood swings from manic & dramatic to depressed), epilepsy, or something else?  Is there evidence in his writing for any of this?  Maybe. No way to really diagnose.  The patient has been dead for a few years.

Sources: Good News Bible, New Interpreter’s Study Bible, St. Louis U. Liturgy Studies, Wikipedia

            Will somebody decorate my bike like that for Iowa?

July 4th : Why I am happy to be an American

One of the nice things about being 75 is that I find myself looking back over the years and counting the special blessings of my life.  This 4^th of July week I it struck me that of my 75 years I had the privilege of living in East Africa for about 10 of those years.  While I was often critical of American foreign policies, I was happy to be an American. 

Why am I happy to be an American?  I have an East African story and two small contemporary stories.

             Engines are warming up.  Patriotic dogs welcomed.

When I lived in East Africa I based out of Tanzania.   I gave seminars and retreats also to priests and nuns living in Kenya and in Uganda.  This was the time of Idi Amin, a rather crazy tyrant who resided in Kampala, the capital.

One time my team & I had a program, probably a month long program in Uganda.  We were just down a dilapidated two lane, main highway going west from Kampala to the most western town, Mbarara.   There was a center run by some sisters on the south side of this highway.  We had probably 20 participants. 

                                   Who's having more fun here, Dad or Kids?

I used to run every day.  When I ran on the road I was in Idi Amin territory with occasional trucks passing with his soldiers.  When I returned to the center I was in the rebels’ territory.  The State dept forbade Americans from entering Uganda because of Idi Amin.  But in we went, anyway.

I never had any trouble with the soldiers on the road and, certainly no trouble with the rebels in the forests behind the center.

                          Away we go, just follow the fire truck.

My one trouble came when I was returning to Kenya & Nairobi, the capital.  I was at the border, Uganda side.  I went up to a Ugandan soldier at a low desk, showed him my passport, and made a mistake.  I spoke Swahili.  The guy went off.  I thought I was going to jail.  Why?  Swahili was the language of Tanzania and Kenya, both against Idi Amin.

I remember getting through, catching a country taxi into Nairobi, and getting out in the middle of the town to see the American flag flying over the embassy. 

                    Larry's favorite toy, and you should hear it.

Seeing the flag and what it stood for was like seeing a friend in a foreign land.  I would see it occasionally in Nairobi and in the capital of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam (which means harbor of peace in Arabic).

That was then.  This past week two special events took place.

Another favorite toy, especially for the kids, but perhaps for a few big kids, too.

Monday Rosemary & I set out on the White Rock Creek Trail to go ride our bikes around White Rock.  Almost at the end of the trial, the south end, just before it goes under Northwest Highway, Rosemary hit a pot hole and had two blow outs.  Both tires at the same time.  A very unusual event.

I came along and we determined that I should ride back to Royal Lane, get the car, and pick her up a point about half way back on the trail.  She would walk the bike back. 

                               Patriotic golf , Anybody?

When I picked her up, she said she was touched.  People kept passing her.  11 men and 5 women.  Of those people 7 men and 4 women asked if they could help her.  One woman even asked Rosemary if she would like her to tow Rosemary’s bike.  I, too, was touched.

Finally, yesterday morning, July 4^th.  We have an annual parade and picnic every July 4^th morning.  Preston Hollow elementary school yard is the scene.  A fire truck leads the parade and police cars are scattered here and there.  The parade circles around the neighborhood, and returns to the school, where there is a petting zoo, face painting, snow cones, a DJ with patriotic music, and refreshments provided by The Queen Mother.  Guess what the biggest treat is: donut holes. 

It is always embarrassing to run into a former Jesuit student.  He knows too much. 

The kids are beautiful, the families are beautiful, and the lady who coordinates all of it is The Best.

Why are you happy to be American?