Back in TIme
I went to the funeral mass for the mother of a high school friend today. It was pretty weird. For one thing I came face-to-face with half of my high school. It was a definite case of the way-back machine. I think I saw a half dozen people I went to high school with and haven't seen since graduation. It was a bit odd to see these people, remember them as young crazy people, full of dreams and energy, and hear them talk about kids and job troubles.

The other strange bit was being back in the Catholic church of my childhood. For one thing it's amazing how much of the old ritual I recall. For another, it was surprisingly Medieval. The "bells and smells" that haven't changed since back when pope's had mistresses. It was all so 12th century. The sung responses. The candles and incense. The music and flowers. The sermon about resurrection and everlasting life. The communion. I felt like I'd gone back in time to a completely different century, as if I should be veiled and holding a prayer book.

Instead I stood and sat as instructed, admired the stained glass, and wondered (not for the first time) how it is some people have faith and some don't. Me? Not so much.