The Pope arrived in Philadelphia yesterday. For many years I lived in Philly. I was working in center city Philadelphia when Pope John Paul visited in 1979. Hundreds of thousands turned out to see Pope John Paul on that spring day in 1979. I don't remember security holding me back from going out at lunch. My only delay was the shoulder to shoulder people.
Today, I understand that Philadelphia is in lockdown. Everyone who enters Philly is searched, more thorough than airport security. Wow. Am I ever glad I don't live in Philly now. The world has changed folks. On days like this I am glad I live in LSD, also known as Lower Slower Delaware (Sussex County). Oh we have our crowds. Check us out at the height of the summertime season when a tsunami of tourists descend on our welcoming shores. Thankfully the tourists have left and the parking meters are turned off. We have our sunny, sandy, windy shores back.
Yesterday, while watching Pope Francis deliver an address to a somewhat sparse crowd at Independence crowd, I amused when his cape blew up over his head. For an instant I thought the Pope was celebrating Halloween early as a ghost. I'm sorry, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. And oh, who was THAT who was helping him to keep his cape under control on that windy day? Ah ha! That was his ever present interpreter. I want to know more about HIM. He could follow me around anytime.
So you see folks, I'm not all that serious about the Pope. I think he's delivering a good message of kindness and inclusiveness but I can also see the humor. And there were times when the Pope saw the humor too but maybe not with his cape covering his face.
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| A little early for Halloween ghosts |
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| I don't know, was God sending a message? Mother Teresa? |