5 more shows and then Mark comes home.
It’s easier to think of his business trip in those terms. I think two weeks feels like a lifetime.
I’m happy this week is over.
Rough patches over sleep and work nearly drove me bonkers the other day. I even tried turning to religion. This week, I learned that it’s difficult being Catholic in Topeka.
I decided to give up cursing for Lent. I always try to clean-up my language this time of year. To challenge myself, I’m giving up red meat as well. Chicken and fish are fine. Just no steak, bacon, etc. I’ll have to try outColicchio’s braised fresh bacon after Easter.
Daisy’s getting the best end of my Lent promises. She’s getting the pepperoni and prosciutto pieces from my leftovers. Lucky dog.
I tried going to mass on Ash Wednesday. The latest mass I could find started at 7:00 PM. I couldn’t make it because of my day-time sleep schedule and the deadline to pick up Daisy from day care.
After some digging, I was amazed to find little time flexibility in any of the Catholic masses offered in Topeka. The churches near my home had only three masses - morning, noon and early evening. I even checked out the Catholic group at Washburn University. It only had one service at Noon.
I know I’m not the only Christian working overnight. What about emergency personnel, nurses, firefighters, Walmart employees? Do they miss out on the first day of Lent because of a late shift?
Topeka has a population of approximately 170,000 people.
My home town of Diamond Bar, California, has about 56,300 people. St. Denis offered six masses on Wednesday. The latest one started at 8:00 PM. I could have made that one - even with the Daisy pickup and my sleep schedule. In Berkeley, Newman Hall had four services. The latest one started at 10:00 PM.
According to Religious Congregations & Membership Study 2000, the Catholic population in Shawnee County is a large one in comparison to other faiths.
I’m just frustrated. I alienated by these local congregations. Growing up, St. Denis was like a second home for me. Newman Hall was a sanctuary during my college years at Cal.
In DC, we adopted the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception as our home church. This beautiful Basilica was an inspiring place to worship.
In London, Westminister Cathedral became our home church. Every Sunday, I looked forward to hoping on the Tube and going to mass in this amazing gothic structure. Intense organ music echoed off the walls. I felt close to God in a foreign country, so far from family and friends. That was a comfort for me when things got crazy at work.
In Topeka and in church, I still feel like a visitor.
That’s after living here for more than a year.
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