7-Quick Takes

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1. One of the funniest things I read on Facebook last week:

“Wow! Andrew Jackson, a racist populist who has for generations been honored as a founding father of the Democratic Party, will be replaced on the Twenty Dollar Bill by Harriet Tubman, a black, gun-toting, evangelical Christian, Republican woman. There is some justice in the world after all!” — Robby George

2. Today I am going to my sister-in-law’s funeral. Mr. Pete is cantoring and I am playing my flute. We had to learn the Mass of Creation for this event. We sort of knew it, but our parish hasn’t played it since the new translation came out in 2010 – so it’s familiar, but just different enough to throw us off – frustrating!! and of course the Eucharistic responses are brand new.

3. We are also playing with an unknown organist – we haven’t met her, but she plays for the church where the funeral is being held. This too is a source of anxiety for me. This person could be truly great – or not.

One time I was hired for a wedding and had to play with an organist who worked for that particular church. She had been in that position for over 40 years and I had been told that she was great. It turned out that she was rather hard to work with. It wasn’t that her technique was bad, but rather that she believed she was a soloist instead of an accompanist and so she altered the tempo at will, replayed phrases just for the heck of it, and then stopped one song abruptly and without warning. By the end of that event I pretty much just let her do her own thing – can’t fight a pipe organ with a flute!

4. This is not the first time Mr. Pete and I have done a difficult funeral together. At my mother’s funeral he and I played the Celtic Farewell for the final commendation. It was a very emotional time anyway, but to play at the end was particularly hard. I kept it together by remembering all of the flute lessons my mother had payed for and how I didn’t want to let her down now! That was enough to hold it together.

5. Because of the funeral, I am unable to be at Noah’s Senior Night for track – UGGGHHH!!! Long time readers might remember that Noah couldn’t run track his senior year because at the time it was illegal for homeschoolers to participate in school sports. His sophomore year, Noah got a stress fracture in his shin and missed the second half of the year. Then last year, he broke his clavicle! This year, it looks like he might just letter (if he doesn’t break anything else) but I am a little disappointed that I can’t be there for his Senior recognition. My sister is filling in for me, and I have another mom on the track team to be backup in case she can’t make it – so Noah will not be motherless for this event!

6. The best part of any funeral? Catching up with family and friends that we have not seen for years. This is the case this time as well – especially with some of Mr. Pete’s siblings that we have not seen in years. Rosie is particularly happy to get reacquainted with her God parents!

7. Please pray for the repose of my sister-in-law’s soul

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