"It is very important that you don't stink today.
Hey, I make no guarantees."
Happy Easter to one and all.
I have survived without mangling things at work. My predecessor in the department of typing and distributing "scripts" for liturgies, etc – my own bete noire of whom I will speak no more at this time – had convinced anyone who would listen (including a small portion of my mind) that the liturgical preparations for Holy Week were brain science rocket surgery for the administrative assistant. (You know, the typist does the hard work, right? The priests and the music director are just along for the ride.) This was not helped by the repeated encouragement of co-workers who kept telling me to ask for help if I needed it.

Up until the last minute, I was sure this, like so many other things, was a tremendous exaggeration. And, as part of the general funk that has been hovering over me, I became vulnerable to last minute doubts. Lines from funny movies would leap out at me in an accusatory way. As I mentioned earlier, I was living in fear of being, “The Idiot Who Ruined Easter.” (If my life were a cartoon – which I am not always too sure it isn't - I should have been visited by a an angel; a cute cuddly adorable angel, not unlike a CareBear, really, who would remind me that Jesus did the real work for Easter and I'd do better to keep that in mind.)

Lent ended the way it began…with a blizzard.

Once I had done all [the damage] possible, I could then try to turn my mind to spiritual affairs. Sort of. Always attending church with a feeling of doom. Double that for the Easter Vigil – the most splendid night of the year, albeit tempered by my distrust of young people and open flames. But no, I couldn't relax until Easter Monday. It wouldn't be until then that I would know the extent of my inadequacy. 'Cause you know, maybe I was really, really stupid and I should have been demonstrably hysterical over the work I had to do.

Everything was OK.
Thank you, Illinois! The Land of Lincoln!

And to the dear priests who put up with me:
You guys look great in black, have I told you that?
You guys look great in gold, have I told you that?
You guys look great in red, have I told you that?