With all due respect to Bl. Andre Bessette and Ven. Solanus Casey...
Martha was none too thrilled to come home from school the other day with the results of her PLAN tests (something about aptitudes/skills, blah blah blah). Despite very high scores in the verbal areas, especially rhetorical skills, she was directed toward some occupational areas that she was not familiar with (ie. porter) or particularly flattered to have suggested (eg ‘amusement ride operator,’ - to which we simultaneously exclaimed, “Carny!?!)
I did ask her to think of the phenomonal good done by some simple porters....and suggested that, as a budding writer, spending some time as a carny could be excellent fodder for stories. Then I suggested we reread the career suggestions in the bulky PLAN booklet and see if perhaps there had been some sort of misinterpretation.

I certainly hope that I have not offended any amusement ride operators. I’ve had my own interesting observations and Martha’s opinion is colored by my sister’s now legendary assessment of Tilt-a-Whirl safety: “It’s nice to know my life depends on a rusty cotter pin and one of my clients.”