20060423 :::
 

Haven’t blogged or really kept up with my email over the last month due to illness: I got something that knocked me down more than anything else has been able to in years, & I was just to tired to do much writing or reading. I’m back to about 90% of full strength now, but I’m just starting to get around to a lot of things I’ve been neglecting.

First off, RCIA is all over, & most of the class is now in the Church. One of the girls, Marguerite, will be going to upstate New York for the next year where she will be working with school children (& occasionally some collegians) at a retreat-camp setting. She leaves in September, & returns late summer next year. She is scared about going, as she’s never been this far from home for so long, but she said the vibes were just right. She’ll be around the City for a few months more, so hopefully we can get together & keep in touch. The Novitiate has been dragging his legs regarding his romantic interest in her, & finally asked her out on a date during Holy Week. Unfortunately for him, there’s not much time to work on the relationship, & he’ll be moving out of the City in about a fortnight (although he plans to come back & visit).

I’ve gotten this idea about organizing a group to go to the next World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. Have been in communication with a women in Minnesota who has expertise in this area, having taken a group to the Paris WYD back in the ‘90s. It’s not been an easy sell, although most of the adults who work with kids think it’s a great idea.

Moving on to other things: not everyone has a bank account. For whatever reason, there are scores of people who don’t have formal accounts or credit cards out there, & in our little corner of the world, the Fat Man helps them with their dilemma. He personally cashes their cheques for them. The Fat Man’s not a banker, but rather runs a pub. He’s discriminating about who he does this service for, & generally there’s no problem. Well, he’s been dealing with Big Al for decades now; Al’s an “artist,” & therefore doesn’t have a bank account, a credit card, a phone, & sometimes even lacks a fixed address. Al’s just an old hippie, who started trekking around the world some 3+ decades ago, & wound up here. He’s from small town Midwestern America, volunteered for Vietnam, blew out his knee, & was declared 4-F. That’s his version. He’s been around here much longer than I have. Well, a few weeks ago, Al took over some cashier’s cheques to the Fat Man, who cashed them. Not a novel occurrence. If you read my last post, I’ve cashed them for him—although I don’t have the capacity to handle sums as big as the cheques Al took to the Fat Man. However, these particular cheques turned out to be worthless, & the Fat Man is quite upset: he’s been putting out his feelers, looking for Al, who apparently has relocated to a very nearby area (he doesn’t own a car, either). Al’s totally avoiding his old haunts, which seems quite suspicious. I’ve got a feeling this won’t end prettily. Al, if you’re reading this (& you know I read your blog) get in touch with the Fat Man now or leave & never, ever come back.
My Girl is leaving. She put in her 2- (or3- or 4-) week notice…she’s a little vague on her last day, exactly. She wants to come back & help me out again, but she’s got to go now. For at least the summer. Looks like a long, hot, lonely summer.

::: at 19:07