Make no mistake, folks who want to see the Ten Commandments taken out of every civil building in the country are not non-religious ; they are anti-religious . And, there's a big difference between the two. Non-religious people do not believe in God. God doesn't exist, He/She/It didn't create the world, nor do they, or have they, ever interceded in history. Obviously not, if they don't exist. But, if people really believe this, then they can be said to have a belief system. We call these belief systems Religion. So, really, they are religious, just not in the way that I am. That's great. Then there are the anti-religious people. These are folks who think that religion is bad and should be destroyed; wiped away from history once and for all. These people, I believe, are, in fact, very religious. We might call them fundamentalist. They believe so strongly in their system that all other systems need to be done away with. Like a Crusade or a Jihad you might say. Well I...
So my step-brother Pete, who I introduced to the wonderful world of restaurants almost ten years ago, is now sous-chef for Butler's Pantry Catering here in St. Louis. He works with a couple of people that I worked with at the 9th Street Abbey. He calls up Emily last week and asks her if she would like to work "this Sunday and next Sunday at 9:00 am?" She says OK not realizing that it's Palm Sunday and Easter! Not only would she miss Church both days, but confirmation class which follows. I was not happy. I could have solved the whole problem for her, but instead I asked her if she would like me to solve the whole problem for her. She said no. So, I just told her that I wasn't happy and let it go at that.
She worked busing tables at the Palm House in Tower Grove Park (they do a brunch there). I picked her up about 2:30; she was bushed. She was on her feet the whole time. Her confirmation teacher was very understanding. He told us that he'd have no problem wi...
For the past couple of days, it's been rather chilly here on the South Side. And this after a spell of very warm weather just last week. We actually had our air-conditioner on last week and tonight the heat is on. It must be spring in St. Louis.
For some reason walking to the alley to take the trash out is a memory-provoking experience for me. It always has been. It's a job my mother gave to me at a very early age, so memories of actual trash-taking-out are included in with miscellaneous reflections of my life.
These overcast skies and chilly spring air for some reason reminded me of mornings on camping trips when I was growing up. For a time, Dad, Mom three sisters and I would pack up and camp for a week every summer. It was always with at least one other family, usually the Bighams. Kim (John) Bigham and his wife Carol and their two girls and one boy were fixtures in my early life. My dad and Kim were best friends from childhood. There was rarely a Friday night when ...