4 years

It's been four years already. The Discover channel had a great documentary on the flight that rebelled. It had actual voice recordings and interviews with family members as well as the images ingrained in our memories. The weeks following constituted of a steady diet of news channels...day and night. When there was no access to television, it was online news.

Today it's all about Katrina and that chaos. I can't believe how ignorant people are about the number of poor, class differences, and race. No one can claim ignorance, unless they have not hit the age of reason or live in a bubble. The poor have a face we have all seen everyday on the way to work. It's the homeless people avoid or won't look in the eye let alone take out a dollar to put in the cup.

I could not make it to Spanish mass today. I attended English mass just in the nick of time. I was seated at 6:58 PM and mass started at 7 PM. I love going to Spanish mass, it keeps me in tune with the language. If it was not for Spanish mass, I would not be exposed to Spanish in any way. I now speak to my parents in English, so that does not help. I cannot believe the differences. English mass is beautiful, but something in me resists making the change. I shouldn't generalize but I have to note the differences. The following pertains to my observations in mass settings:

1. Americans are so damn organized, Latinos not so much.
2. Could not hear a whimpering child, while in the Spanish mass it's a multitude of crying babies and parents who won't remove them from the church so the rest of us can hear what is being said.
3. English mass starts and ends on time. Spanish mass starts 10 minutes late and lasts 30 minutes extra.
4. Latinos don't sing, while English voices vibrate throughout the church - loud and beautiful.
5. All English speakers receive the eucharist. There are more Latinos who stay seated than those who partake in the feast. (I admit, I don't participate.)

What's swaying me to English mass is the full participation of everyone present, it makes it a more beautiful experience. I'll have to think about this one. Maybe I'll alternate weekends.

Bought curtains for my living room. Haven't found the perfect color for the bedroom. I'm spending too much money on this place. Grrr!