TOP: Inside of a catholic church by Lumpy. The lightning hit minutes later.
2nd: Weird coincidence, Arusha is where we hiked Mt Kilimanjaro last fall. It is the town this lilly-white church has adopted as it's mission. Go figure.
3rd: the happy family and some guy in a robe. Godchild is middle, in the natty suit...grandad is a tailor
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As many of you know, I'm a devout athiest and not a big fan of little kids, so, becoming a godchild to one of our good friends children was quite a stretch. Fran and Joel must have been on the sauce or something when they asked me. But, I took it as a significant honor, and gladly accepted. They're great people (I've known Joel for probably 35 years now!), and my godchild Alex is a great little kid, full of hell (as I heavily promote), and predestined to be married to my niece. Plus, Fran promised me that I wouldn't have to raise him if they died in a fiery crash. Worked for me....
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Last weekend he made his first communion. For those non-catholics in the reading audience, this is an interesting ritual in which cannabilism is heavily promoted. You apparently drink blood and eat flesh in memory of their god, jesus. I think he was part of the jewish donner party at some point before being crucified. It's a very symbolic ritual, and the church makes a big deal of it with little kids, as it's really the first one that they consciously participate in. Then they're hooked.
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As kathy and I are driving to the church, from what was a sunny day, huge dark clouds roll in, heavy rain starts, and then signficant hail peppers the car and roadways. Then the wind picks up and tree limbs are coming down all over. Basically, we were just waiting for the plague of locust and the river to turn to blood. At that point, I was going back home. Maybe there is something to this god thing after all!
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The mass was interesting, as it's been probably 35 years since I've been at one (except weddings). Lot's of aerobics (stand, sit, kneel, walk, sit, stand, jumping jacks), singing (need a black choir), preaching (where's rev wright when you need him?), and my favorite, some priest doing stand-up comedy from the pulpit. Now THAT was funny...a priest, a rabbi, and a minister go into a turkish bath....! I can see why people get into this ritual thing, irrespective of the reality of the actual ideology.
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Anyhow, the weekend ended great with a huge italian meal, cake all around, and making a new friend in a ballooning pilot. I'll feel bad for him if he's with me when we fly over a church....lighting inbound!!!
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"Role model" Lumpy out
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