TrulyGrace

Friday, June 11, 2010

Mass, June 2010

Mom, Dad, and I will go to Mass this morning---Sacred Heart of Jesus is the celebration.
~~~
9.07
Fr. Breier celebrated the Mass, Matt H lectored, John DeF. served, Dad provided the television ministry, and Don provided the music ministry. It was a Mass for Grandma.

Labels: Birthday, celebration, Grandma, Mass, music, St. Paul Cathedral, TV

Friday, April 02, 2010

Auntie Chi and Kelly for Easter 2010

Auntie Chi and Kelly arrived Tuesday afternoon and evening, respectively, at Pittsburgh International (PIT). I did not see Auntie Chi until Wednesday night over dinner and fleurs of yellow Asian lilies and of blue lilies of the Nile ("it's not what you know, it's whom you know!") chez Mom and Dad's. Kelly and I caught up Thursday, as she was out with William Wednesday night.

Auntie Chi and I went out shopping in Oakland Thursday on the 71A line after my work Thursday afternoon. It was a glorious day of about 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. I walked parallel to Tiffany on her way home to Squirrel Hill as we passed St. Paul Cathedral, and we enjoyed the weather while chatting about how we are not that different from students, despite what they may think. Mom, Auntie Chi, and I chatted briefly until Auntie Chi and I went to Giant Eagle Market District for probiotic yogurt for my upset gut, bananas, and rice cakes.

to explain:
I've had an intestinal flu since Sunday. I think it's a flu, perhaps, because it started with aches, but I'm not convinced it isn't from something I ate. I'm just glad and thankful that it wasn't food poisoning (I got to explain the CBD to students and the vomit reflex in class this week, being animal anatomy and physiology week). It is NOT fun. Mom intoned Tuesday night, "You shouldn't eat much...No dairy nor fatty foods," etc. "have some tea, stay hydrated."

Next we took the bus (meeting Cassie, a former stock room person from work) to CVS, where we picked up Mom's prescription and I a double pack of electrolyte solution (fruity flavored this time!!)

Needless to say, we arrived home at about 19.30, well after when the Holy Thursday Mass had started. I was weak from working through this bug this week and from not eating regularly because of it, as well. Plus, I don't want to make my choir mates sick.

We had dinner (me, those lovely items I had purchased, plus sotanghon noodles). I hazarded a small taste of dark chocolate matzo that Kelly had brought from New York ("What makes this evening different from all other evenings...we have sweet chocolate matzo?") I drove William home and then Kelly, Mom, Auntie Chi and I stayed up to chat about Grandma, her stories she told and songs she sang to us, and Kelly's excellent memory of them...The real reason Kelly can't fit any more into her brain (Freedom Rock commercials, man!), radio play shows from the Philippines when Mom and Auntie Chi were young, in which the whole family and the hired help would sit around the radio, and how moms really don't get fun until the grandkids arrive.

So, I'm up early due to my gut's shenanigans, though the frequency and intensity of the urge and the quality/duration (well, you get the picture...)

I'm so fortunate it's not the upper GI flu my coworker S had earlier this week. She intoned, "My boyfriend gave me the Plague."

Labels: biology, celebration, family, flowers, Grandma, health, Holy Thursday, radio, shopping, singing, St. Paul Cathedral, tea, thankfulness, transportation, visitor, work

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Education and State of the Union 2010

Just got off the phone with Maureen. We spoke about motivating students in the classroom. Especially those who are not motivated to do well academically, whose parents may not be supportive of the educational process.

We spoke about tonight's State of the Union Address in which President Obama states, "one of the best anti-poverty programs is a world-class education."

We spoke about the Pittsburgh Promise, and how, if students graduate from Pittsburgh Public Schools that there are all these checks written for various schools--colleges and universities---in Pennsylvania: They just need to take responsibility to ensure that their name is in the memo line of a check for four years of education.

We spoke about Charlie Batch, the Pittsburgh Steeler from Homestead, Pennsylvania, who believes so much in education that he gives back to the community in the form of the Charlie Batch Foundation. His mom is involved as well in the Toys for Tots Literacy program which provides students "access to books and educational resources that will enhance their ability to read, communicate effectively, and succeed in life."

We spoke about the movie/poem "Invictus," which ends in the couplet
I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my soul
Which my mom invokes when we are feeling that the world is too much.

And I quoted what Grandma had said to me
Bahala ako sa sarili ko OR
"I am responsible for myself," useful for the student who will not even take on the responsibility of opening a textbook in the context of a classroom.

We bid each other good night, and will see each other Friday again.

Labels: economy, friends, games, Grandma, humor, Pittsburgh, poetry, read, school, sports

Thursday, January 07, 2010

(The Earlier) Grandma? post

5.37 am

So, Mom and I were discussing late last night---after I had finished typing, editing, and proofreading missives from Mom and Dad---the presence of Grandma. Mom said that she received a cell phone call from my phone yesterday early evening...she returned the call to my cell phone, and found that the phone was sitting there in her house.

me: Yeah, I left my cell phone at your home because I didn't want to bring it to my meeting [at pastoral council]. Did Dad use the phone?

Dad: I didn't pick up your phone.

me (in unison): It's Grandma!
Mom (in unison): Grandma!

me: WoooOOOooo! [taking a breath] Mom, did I tell you about the time at work----?

Mom: ----about the flowers?

me: Yeah! [at which point I launch into a recounting of the tale which included my coworker, who also detected flowers, but neither of us had found flowers, despite looking for several days...]

This we discussed briefly, then...

me: Do you know who's really scared of ghosts?

Mom guesses, then gives up.

At which point I tell her my cousin's name, and then launch into the story of how the cousin slept with a knife next to her bed, she was so afraid of ghosts after Grandma died. Mom had one response for that...

Mom: It's Grandma!

me {without a beat}:...and she's dead!
~ ~
So, the upshot of this conversation was that we still didn't know how the phone call originated from my phone at 7:22 pm yesterday, when I was in the midst of pastoral council meeting. Hmmmmmmm.

Labels: dreams, Grandma, phone, St. Paul Cathedral

Grandma?

So, Mom and I were discussing late last night---after I had finished typing, editing, and proofreading missives from Mom and Dad---the presence of Grandma. Mom said that she received a cell phone call from my cell phone yesterday early evening...she returned the call to my cell phone, and found that the phone was sitting there, ringing, in her house.

me: Yeah, I left my cell phone at your home because I didn't want to bring it to my meeting [at pastoral council]. Did Dad use the phone?

Dad: I didn't pick up your phone.

(Here I check her handset for incoming calls--there was one from my cell phone at 7.22pm!)

me: Yeah, there was one from my cell phone at 7.22 tonight...

[Pause]

me (in unison): It's Grandma!
Mom (in unison): Grandma!

me: WoooOOOooo! [taking a breath] Mom, did I tell you about the time at work----?

Mom: ----about the flowers?

me: Yeah! [at which point I launch into a recounting of the tale which included my coworker, who also detected flowers, but neither of us had found flowers, despite looking for several days...]

This we discussed briefly,
I said that "This is freaking me out"
then...

me: Do you know who's really scared of ghosts?

Mom guesses, then gives up.

At which point I tell her my cousin's name, and then launch into the story of how the cousin slept with a knife next to her bed, she was so afraid of ghosts after Grandma died. Mom had one response for that...

Mom: It's Grandma!

me {without a beat}:...and she's dead!
~ ~
So, the upshot of this conversation was that we still didn't know how the phone call originated from my phone at 7:22 pm yesterday, when I was in the midst of pastoral council meeting. Hmmmmmmm.
~~~~~
10.15am
Mom also told me in the same exchange about a dream she had with Grandma in it yesterday. Didn't seem like a warning dream, but like a comforting dream, instead.

~ ~ ~
I just checked my handset, and there is NO RECORD of an outgoing call from my CELL phone at 7.22 pm last night--where it should be is bracketed by a call to William and a call to VoiceMail. OOOooOO-creepy!

Labels: dreams, Grandma, phone, St. Paul Cathedral

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Like a Steel Trap!

My mom's brain is like a steel trap. For example, this week, we were watching a historical movie about Alexander the Great, which included Angelina Jolie as one of the actresses in the movie. Mom asked if Brad Pitt were her partner, if she has adopted and natural children...if her father is Jon Voigt,...etc.
Please look it [the information] up online, she gently requested of me.

It never ceases to amaze me that Mom knows the medical conditions of so many celebrities. If a condition arises, she can quote the celebrities who have/had that condition, as well as other conditions of the same celebrities, living or dead.

A daily Jeopardy fan since its inception, Mom can name many of the questions for the show.

I never cease to be astounded, amazed, and in awe of my Mom's recall. I imagine that there may come a time when that may fade gradually, but she has taken after Grandma in that her mind is sharp as a tack.

Labels: cinema, family, Grandma, health, politics, surprise

Friday, June 27, 2008

Grandma's Memorial Mass 2008

This morning Mom, Dad, and I braved city repairs on Craig Street to go to Grandma's Memorial Mass. Fr. Donald Breier celebrated, John was the altar server, Ed S. lectored, and Don provided music ministry. Fr. Breier talked about how Jesus provides us with the grace to deal with our bad habits, like the leper in the reading ("Heal me Lord.") The Mass was for St. Cyril of Alexandria. How fitting that a reasonable scholar and doctor of the Church from Alexandria was the Saint for Grandma's Mass.
It drizzled/rained on our way home, and Dad is waiting to use the computer now, so I now defer.

Labels: Church, family, Grandma, Mass, St. Paul Cathedral, weather

Thursday, March 13, 2008

my current work

My current work has echoes of what I thought I would do as a seventeen year old. I recall from an interview in high school that I said I would like to be a lawyer or a scientist.

When asked as a chemistry major in college what I would like to do, I said that I would like to be a professor at a small women's college.

When queried by Bob, my graduate advisor, before starting my graduate program about what I would like to do with my graduate degree, I said that I would like to teach--not necessarily in a traditional environment, but maybe at a science museum.

I have done all but be a lawyer and a tenure-track professor at a small women's college.

It's funny how life brings you to places. I've become the woman I used to informational interview. I am the exception to the rule. I've come full circle to review the dreams, live the dreams, and revel in the dreams of that young seventeen-year-old student in the Mid-Ohio Valley. I am blessed to have those dreams---to have lived those dreams.

Mom has said to her siblings at Grandma's funeral that "if [grandma] didn't have all [eight] of us kids, she would have been a Supreme Court justice." My grandma definitely had it in her to have lived that dream. So, part of me smiles inside and part of me cheers my brother on when he shares his dreams for Beatrice with us.

Labels: Beatrice, dreams, Grandma, Marietta, science, thankfulness, Wellesley, work

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Family Tree I

Later this morning William will stop by to enter data into our VERY LARGE family tree/banyan. He purchased a software program at the end of last year to do this project.

Back in the early 1980's I took a class at Marietta College in the English Department with Mr. Owen Hawley. The final project for this class was a family tree, a genealogical project. I had interviewed both Grandma and Lalang by letter, and had quite a bit of oral history as part of the project. There were photos, too, including one from 1978 of my Grandpa's funeral.

About a dozen years ago, I had lent the document to one of my relatives, who currently cannot locate it. This fact, when brought up, makes some in our family livid.

So, needless to say, William, starting last week, has recommenced to interview Dad and Mom about genealogical matters. He started with an overview of the siblings of Dad and their children last week.

Today, he and I will take a document brought by Uncle Aling from the Philippines which traces the Alba line back a few generations and enter the data into his database.

Labels: family, family-Marissa, genealogy, Grandma, Grandpa, Lalang, neighbors, Philippines, Pilipino culture

Friday, January 04, 2008

First Friday 2008

Mom, Dad, and I went to first Friday Mass this morning, celebrating the memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. She founded the Sisters of Charity, as well as the parochial school system in the United States. Fr. Tom mentioned that "it's the little things that matter." Much of the Mass reminded me of Grandma. What a nice return to morning Mass after a brief respite over break.

Labels: Church, Grandma, Mass, St. Paul Cathedral

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Louis' Funeral Mass

About a dozen choir members, Ken at the organ, Daphne as cantor, and Don as our director provided music ministry for our fellow chorister and lector, Louis, who had passed away this week. The Mass was solemn, with sung pieces in Latin (Panis Angelicus) and in English. Frs. Tom Burke and Leo Vanyo concelebrated the Mass of Christian Burial.

The processional was "My Soul is Longing for Your Peace" (L. Deiss)
Psalm 23 (D. Wood) was sung
Chant Alleluia (#164) was sung before the Gospel
we sang Ave Maria (J. Biery)
Acclamations were from the Community Mass, with an Agnus Dei (plainsong)
we sang Panis Angelicus (Franck)
The Rite of Commendation was "Saints of God" (R. Proulx, #175)
Dismissal was chanted as "In Paradisum.")

Lou would have been happy to hear us sing Ave Maria, Biery's rendition.

The last funeral I had attended was Grandma's. After Louis' Mass, Nancy C. and I had a discussion about the grief process, and how one can feel close to those who have passed away...I hope that we can be the community Betty needs in her grief.

Labels: Choir, Church, farewell, Grandma, honor, music, singing, St. Paul Cathedral

Sunday, October 07, 2007

Grandma's Memorial Mass 2007, Thinking of Grandpa

This Friday was Grandma's memorial Mass. I had asked Ed S. if I could lector for him that day. Fr. John Kelly, a Redemptorist priest, said the last of three Masses for the soul of Blessed Fr. Francis Xavier Seelos, who is being considered for sainthood. (Fr. Seelos worked in the Pittsburgh area for many years and Fr. Kelly had brought a relic [os] for veneration, as well as tracts about his life.) I wore Grandma's blouse and John served, with Don at music ministry.

[Pizza for brunch and also at work right before we set up the practical midterm exams. Pratima and I "took" a version of the exam to see how it is.]

[Mom and I babysat for Beatrice yesterday afternoon. Her hair is getting denser, and the slight curl is more evident.]

[I picked up my shoes at Gene and Marc's shop yesterday afternoon. Yeah! Comfortable walking ensues.]
~~~
Last night and early this morning we went to Baby Carla's home for her daughter, Cai's, 30th. There was the usual table with foods, drinks, and desserts; a jewelry party; the watching of taped Pacquiao boxing; and a neighborly gathering all before the actual blowing out of the candles.

I thought of Grandpa when the actual fight out of Las Vegas of Pacquiao v. Barrera started at ~11pm EDT. Someone gave up their seat to me to sit next to Mom. I never watched boxing since Grandpa died while watching a televised fight. But this atmosphere was different--men and women, shrill shrieks punctuated the room, much as it probably was like in Vegas. Body checks by Barrera; Pacquiao whispering, and motioning to Barrera to aim for his head. Fast footwork and quick punches by Pacquiao, powerful punches (but too few, and too few landed) by Barrera. By the last few rounds, Barrera looked sluggish, with slower steps and a cut needing about 10-11 stitches below his right eye. In the end, the fight went to Pacquiao unanimously.

I was telling their neighbors, Bill and Paulette, that this is a Phenomenon. Pacquiao is greeted as a national treasure wheree'er he goes in the Philippines--the mayor of Manila; and the President of the Philippines, Gloria M. Arroyo, have welcomed him back after his fights. There are the usual parades, as well as talk that schoolchildren will be let out Monday (today in the PI). Not your usual sports phenomenon.

Labels: Beatrice, biology, Birthday, children, family, friends, Grandma, Grandpa, Mass, neighbors, Pacquiao, Philippines, Pilipino culture, sports, teaching, work

Friday, December 22, 2006

What's it all about?

So, this Christmas we'll have brunch chez William, Marissa, and Beatrice; and tea chez moi. Which means I need to prepare my home for Christmas guests. I started this morning by organizing some of my travel items and handbags. I need to pick up ALLLLL the papers in the living room...While cleaning I found Bunny sleep-eye, who has got me through summer solstice in Northern Scotland; my new boots (never been worn!); and three homemade DVDs, the earliest one of Grandma's funeral and wake.

Redding up and Grandma--if cleanliness is next to G-dliness, Grandma is currently sweeping Saint Peter IN-to the gates of Heaven. We all remember how Grandma used to sweep the leaves at Uncle Sonny's and then wait for the next leaves to fall from the trees. When she became bored with that, she would sweep the neighbors' driveways. Bless her soul, Grandma was a neat-nik.

I guess I used to be a neat-nik at one time: I suppose I still am (to a certain degree) at work. Forget my house, though. Maybe I should make Grandma my patroness of cleanliness. That would please her to a great extent. I'll have breakfast, watch a little of these DVDs, do some laundry, clean house...say my Thankfulness list.

Everyday I have a Thankfulness list. Part of my prayers. I am most thankful of my family and friends, who have helped to make me who I am today (not too shabby). Down to thankful for seemingly minor concepts in my life, which, when thought about for a while, aren't really minor. An example is my short commute. I have had two-hour-long commutes before on public transit (most notably for my first research job); and also have had ~two-mile walks uphill to work (no, only uphill on the way TO work) during which my coworkers spread a rumor that my car was in the shop...the idea of commuting by foot was foreign to them, even in liberal north central California.

Why do I have a Thankfulness list? Because I feel more than just lucky, I feel blessed. I know it is chance which family you end up in, and that your family determines so much of what happens to you in life, and that's why I'm so thankful for my family. If it has to do with caring properly for each other, I'm blessed. If it has to do with being warm and dry and loved, I'm blessed. If it has to do with being well-fed, I'm especially blessed. And my friends--I have been blessed with friends and family who have ensured that I have made it this far in life, and that I am alive and well today. And I'm lucky to be where I am, who I am today. What more to ask for? I am blessed with a job that allows me to teach in a laboratory, to use my skills and talents. As the year draws to a close, I realize that my daily Thankfulness list is a launching point for me to realize how blessed I am and how I am now best prepared to give back to the greater community. To give back to others everyday in little ways. I guess I need to take responsibility and redd up my little corner of the world so I can give back first to my family this Christmas. As Voltaire wrote:Il faut necessaire cultiver votre jardin.

There! And who said Oprah was the only thank-full woman?

Labels: cleaning, Grandma, thankfulness