When our sacristan and music director was hired on at the church, we promised him the church had a slow season. As time went on, he asked us with desperation filling his eyes, “When???!!!” The truth is, the Catholic church has something for every season, and constants such baptisms, funerals, and the occasional wedding. There are youth groups and VBS programs and just when you think you’re going to get a break, the new religious education year starts once again.
But still, I’m breathing a big sigh at the moment (while doing my weekly laundry at the relaxing laundromat) because we just made it through the Confirmation Mass, which officially ends much of the stress for everyone in the office — not 100%, as we still have a couple more religious education classes, with an end-of-year Mass, and then will come May crownings. Crowning the Mary statues are happy events because they involve flowers, many pretty, colorful flowers.
Because I was a part-time catechist last year for the adult religious education program, I was invited to the catechist dinner last night. It was peaceful, the relief of the priest evident. We had this dinner at a nearby restaurant, Los Cerritos. Los Cerritos might be the first restaurant I went to in Roswell…unless you count visiting here when my now twenty-two-year-old daughter was a baby. Back then, we went to a local place called Farley’s, and I have zero recollection of the food eaten. Maybe pizza. These were the days before we’d discovered the kids had allergies to wheat — not gluten intolerance or celiac, but actual allergies in the old-fashioned sense. For example, I accidentally ingested a wheat host at the Confirmation Mass the other night and had an instant asthma attack and developed hives on my knees of all the places. It was ridiculous. I was only there to sing, and my priest had prepared a low-gluten host for me. But instead of my priest, the bishop was suddenly in front of me holding out a host– and what was I to do?
Anyway, that diversion aside, Los Cerritos was the first restaurant I experienced of Roswell in the more recent past ten or eleven years instead of twenty-plus. I know what to eat there that doesn’t bother me, and I order it every time, the camarones a la diabla. If you don’t like spicy food, I don’t recommend this dish, especially at this restaurant. I’m addicted to the thrill of endorphins produced by the heat. I also like that it’s served with rice and a simple salad.
Don’t take me wrong; life has a way of throwing multiple stressors your way just when you think you can relax with a cold drink and spicy shrimp. I already know of some of these that are coming my way. Others are unknown, and for good reason. Humans might want to give up if they knew what was headed their way. In fact, Roswell has had a series of deadly car accidents lately. When I was driving to the laundromat, I passed an accident involving a motorcycle that was crushed. That can’t be good. One accident in the past few months was caused by sheer the recklessness of someone I know, and he injured numerous people, killing one. Talk about stress.
God protect us when we drive or consider being aggressive or reckless on the road.
Another diversion aside, this is the post in which I encourage you not to take breaks for granted. Rest and relax when you can because you can’t look forward to a nebulous future that doesn’t exist, in which you will finally be caught up and can enjoy the joyous riot of flowers surrounding Mary. You have to take that moment now. There are no guarantees on life. In fact, evwn though I like to believe I will publish my next book soon, the Amazon empire could could crumbling down, leaving self-publishers without a good way to publish and get their works out there without spending even more money than they’ve already spent.
Peace out. Currently, I’m enjoying one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite singers: Concédeme by El Coyote. By the way, I’m pretty sure all my playlists on Spotify are public and accessible if you’re interested: My liked songs. Spotify called it Banda, but it is equal parts Norteño.
Jill Domschot 