It's been a really busy summer. We got Sarah off to OSU right after school let out, followed immediately by our Orlando trip. Emily and I were at Day Camp for a week after our return, so we were all really looking forward to three weeks of down time before our big Hawaii trip. Lo and behold, out of the blue, came a call from Mama that led me to fit a trip to Mobile into the mix!
It seems that my mother, after 61 years of marriage to my Catholic father, and after having raised four Catholic children, has decided to convert to Catholicism. She's been going to church with Daddy a lot, and has become really comfortable in the parish community and close to a lot of the parishioners. She likes Father Tokarz and his teaching and has decided that this is where she wants to be.
So, a date was set and my plane tickets purchased. Luckily, Mama allowed me to help her choose a date that would fit in with my availability. I'd hate to have missed this occasion...
She asked Ruth Ann to act as her sponsor, a very appropriate choice. Ruth Ann is, after all, probably the most active Catholic of all four children. (An understatement, perhaps?) She chose St. Margaret of Scotland as her confirmation name.
I asked if I could sing the "Ave Maria" during the service. I felt that would be an appropriate gift for my mother, and meaningful to us both. I met with the organist beforehand, and felt comfortable with his accompaniment. Fr. Tokarz placed my song at the Offertory, a last minute change, but appropriate. I was happy overall with my performance. Mama seemed very pleased.
The actual Confirmation was next in the order of the Mass. Fr. Tokarz got a little carried away with the anointing - Mama had oil all over her face - but it was a touching ceremony, and Mama answered all the questions correctly. Whew! Ruth Ann led the recessional hymn, "Amazing Grace", one of Mama's favorite hymns. Kind of a nice way of including her past religious experience with the new.
After Mass, we held a reception at the house. We estimated later that about 40 or so people attended, but it never seemed crowded. Pollman's catered most of the food: meat and cheese platters, rolls, chicken salad, and petit fours. Mama baked her famous chocolate sheet cake, Ruth Ann contributed a cheese ball, Megan made spinach dip, and I prepared a wild rice salad. Rounded off with champagne and mimosas, everything was a big hit. I was surprised at how popular my salad was; I gave away eight recipes before the night was over!
I especially enjoyed seeing and visiting with family members at the reception. Aunt Beverly, Corinne, and Fred, Jr. were there. I've not talked with Fred before, and was especially impressed with his personable and intelligent conversational ability. It was fun to catch up with my cousin, Sharon, too, and with nephews Matthew and Justin. (We bonded over cleaning up spilled wine on the carpet in Nana's room - shh!) It's unusual to have the whole of our family together, so it was the perfect time for a family photo.
While in Mobile, I squeezed in a quick trip to the beach. Susan, always generous with her beach house, arranged her schedule so we could have a full day and two nights at Dauphin Island. It was lovely taking in the sand and warm waters of the Gulf. Perfect conditions at the beach meant bath-water temps, a gentle breeze, a beach practically to ourselves, calm waves, and no undertow. Heaven!
Back at the beach house, we played two games of Scrabble (both of which Susan won!), tasty food, lots of time to catch up, and a dinner at Bailey's for crab claws and West Indies salad. Yum! Having our morning tea on the porch while enjoying the canal view was delightful, too.
A short trip, to be sure, but one I'm glad I made. Next year, we need to get the whole family back for a longer stay.
