With only a few more doors to open on the Advent Calendar, I should probably try to shoehorn Thanksgiving into the blog. We like a bustling house for the holiday and invite others that don't have a feast to attend. Our place is on the route for a turkey trot so 6000 runners create a bit of an obstacle in getting to Mass and bringing in guests, however. A reblooming Iris, "Plasma" opened just in time to grace our table. A second rebloomer, "Delta Lady," snuck in a purple surprise to overlap the first Sunday of Advent. We made the most of Alex's break and decorated the tree as the first snowflakes of the season set the scene. Mom and I attended a Cathedral Christmas concert at the Basilica followed by a delicious lunch at Pappy's. Gigi's honor's choir sang in some service concerts and in the high school Christmas concert. St. Nicholas filled shoes and brought the 2025 ornament marking our 25th wedding anniversary and inviting Mrs. Claus to the garland.
Alex was in a play, a senior final project 10 minute show entitled "Annnd Scene of the Crime," where he portrayed an unhinged cop in an improv sketch. The senior got an A and Alex was a hoot.
I attended Gigi's school Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and was so happy to see Fr. Ed as celebrant. He baptized Alex and was the pastor at a pariah in which I taught and attended. The first time we met I had gone into early labor with Ben. He took the chalk out of my hand in my second grade classroom so I could get to the hospital.
Just before Thanksgiving, my friend Sarah suffered a serious medical event. She was granted a few weeks of time with her family and friends before passing away at 48 leaving behind a husband and two daughters. Sarah and I met as nursing mothers 20 years ago in a support group which became a playgroup for our babies-then toddlers-turned preschoolers. We stayed close as the kids grew. She was a tremendous no nonsense light of service and humor and quiet generosity.
Sarah was an excellent and well respected paramedic. She always had a special connection to Ben as a STARS (Special Needs Tracking and Awareness Response System) and MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) kid. Sarah was integral to the STARS program which served pediatric patients with complex medical needs. We could give Ben's STARS number when calling 911 knowing any first responders would have quick access to his most relevant medical information without us having to explain everything in a crisis. She also helped out with MDA camps over the years. The very first time our kids got to attend a Blues game was because Sarah gave us her tickets as a cheer up Ben surprise. The night before Sarah passed I had a Facebook memory pop up of Sarah sending me a message that she would be praying for us the next day (likely for a Ben surgery).
Sarah had a very fitting and beautiful funeral. The Basilica was filled with folks in uniform paying respect. Bag pipes played as the honor guard covered the entire plaza before the church and well over 100 lighted emergency vehicles in procession escorted her in single file to her place of rest. Sarah taught me the importance of celebrating little things and of giving without counting the cost. May the soul of the faithful departed, by the mercy of God, be at peace.
