Monday / 21 June 2004
Moving Day
(Left) Paul unloading the truck. (Right) Mary and Hope setting up the new kitchen.
Tuesday / 22 June 2004
Moving Day (Part 2)
This morning I was catching up on computer work when my sister-in-law called and asked if I would help with their computer. When they lived in the house in Pewee Valley where I am now staying, they had their computer and Internet connections all set up but now they were in their new house while the computer was still at the old place. I disassembled their equipment, took it to the new house, and set it up again, and--thank God--it all worked the first time. The hardest part was running the wires around a huge piece of wooden office furniture which was to hold the equipment.
Wednesday / 23 June 2004
Speaking Day
When visiting a friend in a rehabilitation center last week, I met the director of the program, and after a short conversation, he asked if I would be willing to speak to the residents in the program at one of their weekly "Life Skills" sessions. I agreed and today went to Our Father's House and met with a group of eight or nine men recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. They were an interesting and inquisitive group as I first showed them some pictures of realities in Cambodia and then invited them to compare that with their own situations and opportunities. All the men responded very constructively and positively.
Thursday / 24 June 2004
Preparation Day
• The good news today is that I got my printer working, the small one that I carry with me on trips. The power supply burned out on it so I ordered a new one and installed it, but then the ink cartridge was dry from lack of use. I was ready to buy a new one at Target but saw a refill kit that included some cleaning solution--and the kit was half the price of a new cartridge--so I tried the refill and it worked. I'm back in the printing business again.
• The bad news was that my sister's father-in-law--a really good man--died this morning. My brother-in-law's family lived three houses down from ours so we have known the family very well, both before and after my sister married into the family. I will be officiating at the funeral services Friday and Saturday, and this afternoon I was with the family to see how they were doing and to prepare the services with them.
Friday / 25 June 2004
Preparation Day #2
• This morning I was trying to call the cathedral in Lincoln, Nebraska to arrange my speaking at the masses there next week. I was using my sister's cell phone, and because we are on the edge of a cell area, the phone signal sometimes fades or even disconnects. It helps to go outside to make calls so I was in the backyard with the phone when I spotted this deer back by our pond which is now covered with some sort of green algae.
• Later this morning I went to St. Aloysius Church in Pewee Valley and borrowed a funeral liturgy book from my classmate who is pastor there, and then I typed up two readings which Ray Browne's grandchildren would read at the vigil service tonight and the funeral tomorrow.
Then in the afternoon we went to the funeral home for my sister's father-in-law, Ray Browne. Our mother came out with another sister, and afterwards I took her back to the retirement home. Then at 7:00 PM I went back to the funeral home and led a vigil service for all the gathered family and friends. Adam Browne, Ray's grandson, did one of the scripture readings.
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This evening there was a gathering of the adult cousins and remaining aunts and uncles at Bob Hart's house. I arrived late because of the vigil service and left among the first of the departures to prepare for the funeral tomorrow, but it was a delightful group of really fine people.