Way of the Cross--Lourdes Shrine in Euclid

The Sepulchre Scene

Linda by the Crucifixion Scene

One of the Stations of the Cross, on the Hillside overlooking Euclid Ave.

Today is Good Friday and so we made a little pilgrimage to a holy place in Euclid, Ohio--the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Shrine is located off Chardon Road (US Rt.6), on a hill above Euclid Avenue (US 20).

I started going there with my Mom and Dad, my sister Mary Ellen and brothers Denny, Kevin, and Jimmy, back in the late 1950s and early '60s. In the summer I attend the outside mass by the Grotto every Sunday. If a place can be holy, this is the place. Here are some photos from today's visit:

The Grotto

Beautiful Morning in Glacier National Park

Here's the webcam picture of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park, from Apgar Village--one of the world's most beautiful places:

Carolan will cross country ski not far from here today--at Marias Pass.

What Chardon Looks Like on March 22, 2013

This is what the early-spring lake-effect snow has brought to Chardon and Hambden Township:

Looking out the front door. Hambden Township, Ohio. 22 March 2013.

Penniman Drive backyard, Hambden Township, Ohio, 22 March 2013

Snow on the deck, Hambden Township, Ohio, 22 March 2013

Broken Hearts in Chardon

Yesterday was a sad day in Chardon, in Geauga County, in Northeast Ohio. Thomas ("TJ") Lane was sentenced for his murder of three innocent Chardon High School students, the crippling of another one, and the wounding of two others.

At the sentencing Lane proceeded to unbutton his dress shirt, revealing an undershirt with the word "Killer" scrawled on it. And then he uttered a disgusting obscenity to the families of the dead and wounded, while giving them the finger.

It appeared that those in the courtroom were too stunned to believe their ears and eyes. And it all seemed to happen too quickly to usher Lane out of the courtroom and back to the jail.

The effect was absolutely stunning. It was a slap in the face to those already deeply mourning. Some family members of the victims made statements after TJ Lane's display, and he sat there smirking at them, almost mocking them. I don't know how Dina Parmetor (mother of the murdered Danny Parmetor) held up.

We want Mr. and Mrs. Parmetor, and the parents, relatives, and friends of all the victims to know: we honor you, we honor your dead and wounded children. We will always mourn the loss. We will help you restore your lives.

Wonderful Poem by David Ignatow

Kaddish

Mother of my birth, for how long were we together
in your love and my adoration of your self?
For the shadow of a moment as I breathed your pain
and you breathed my suffering, as we knew
of shadows in lit rooms that would swallow the light.

Your face beneath the oxygen tent was alive
but your eyes were closed.  Your breathing was hoarse
but your sleep was with death.  I was alone with you
as it was when I was young but only alone now
and now with you.  I was to be alone forever
as I was learning, watching you become alone.

Earth is your mother as you were mine, my earth,
my sustenance, my comfort and my strength
and now without you I turn to your mother
and seek from her that I may meet you again
in rock and stone: whisper to the stone,
I love you; whisper to the rock, I found you;
whisper to earth, Mother, I have found my mother
and I am safe and always have been.

~ David Ignatow ~

(New and Collected Poems 1970-1985)

For H.T. on the passing of her mother, Myrtle Johnson Thomas

St. Patrick's Day--A Great Day in Cleveland, Ohio

This morning Linda and I, along with Julia, Ed, and Colin, attended the St. Patrick's Day mass at St. William's in Euclid (officially now Sts. Robert and William). It was a wonderful mass, a thousand people in attendance, featuring the Irish American Club Fife and Drum Corps along with the Club's women marchers and two bagpipers. Mary Ann Ratchko-Gamez played her extraordinary Irish whistle and flute, and Jack McGarry sang "Our Lady of Knock." I saw many  old friends there and was so happy to be there with part of my family.

We didn't go to the parade this year, but I'm sure it was spectacular as usual. One highlight of every parade is the St. Edwards' High School Trashtalkers, a percussion band unlike any other. I have a short youtube video of it from last year's parade (when it was 79 degrees, versus 29 with 4 inches of snow this year!):

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Shona Duit!

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Shona Duit!