Hodgepodge Madness

 Joyce asks the questions, and we provide the answers. See how others answered at From This Side of the Pond.

1.What do you love about your life right now? 

My life is fairly stress-free at the moment. I've managed to get some things done around the house (or make plans to get some things done) that should have been done a long time ago. I have the freedom to spend my day doing what I want to do.

2. March 26th is National Spinach Day...are you a fan? If so, how do you like yours prepared/served? 

I'm not a big cooked vegetable person, so if I eat spinach it's in a salad or on a sandwich in lieu of lettuce.

3. In this current season would you say you need to spend more time looking inward or that you need to get out of your head? Tell us why. 

Inward. I'm newly retired, newly widowed, and trying to figure out what the heck I'm supposed to be doing with my life now. I'm planning on taking the time to rediscover myself and what my purpose is.

4. Are you following the 'March Madness' madness? (That's US college basketball in case you're out of the loop) What's something that feels like actual madness to you right now? 

I'm mainly following UT...that's the real UT...University of Tennessee. The campus is 15 minutes from where I live. The Lady Vols are out but the men are still in. I don't know if I'll keep watching or not.

I need to keep what feels like actual madness to myself but believe me, it is utter madness!

5. How will you celebrate the Easter/Passover holiday this year? 

The Triduum is a very holy and sacred time of the year in the Catholic Church. We begin on Holy Thursday with an evening Mass. 12 parishioners will have their feet washed by the priests. I've had the honor to be one of the 12 and it is quite humbling.  Mass doesn't end on Thursday; it's "open-ended" until the Easter Vigil on Saturday night after the sun sets. Good Friday will be the Stations of the Cross by the youth at 3:00 pm, then Good Friday Service that evening. As I said, the Easter Vigil Mass begins at 8:15 pm and will last around 3 hours. Those who have prepared to enter the Catholic Church since September will finally be admitted! I will be playing my flute for Easter Sunday Mass. After that, I plan to just relax and maybe have the boys over for dinner if they're around. 

This is what the altar will look like on Good Friday. Completely stripped with the tabernacle (I've circled it) open and empty.

I have to add that the Easter Vigil Mass is my favorite Mass of the year. It doesn't seem like it's as long as it is; the time goes by very quickly. There are a lot more readings than a usual Mass and then there's the rite for the new Catholics. It's all just quite beautiful.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

This is a picture of my MIL as she was being sworn in as a US Citizen in 2008 (I think it was).  She passed away last Friday at home following a prolonged illness. 

She was an incredible, feisty, little Danish woman who spoke her mind. Like CH, she lived a good life. She was the best MIL I could have asked for. She never meddled and only gave advice when I asked for it. She will be missed.