Mood:
party time!Topic: Pastoral Year '04 - '05
This weekend I went to the Bocktober Fest with a priest friend of mine--you've met him, Fr. Rodney from Midland--and my brother, Troy. It was a wonderful fun-filled afternoon and night. We met up with two friends of Fr. Rodney and mine, Kim Patek and Lisa Stock (sp?), both Shinerites now living in Victoria. Kim kept the "party" going as she tried to trip every single person that passed by her. Surprisingly, no one turned to hit her, but those that she actually succeeded in tripping turned and excused themselves for tripping over her as if it were their fault.
The afternoon did start off a little scary, because my name wasn't on the list. You see, I was one of the lucky people to receive a V.I.P. pass, which entitled me to access a special area where the beer ran FREEly and the dinner for that matter. We will get to this later in the story. When I got to the table where the V.I.P.'s checked in they informed me that my name wasn't on the list. I thought that my address may have been put as Shiner so I calmly told the gentleman that though my driver's license said Palacios, I was probably the Michael from Shiner. He replied that there was no Michael Rother on the list. Panic began to rush through my body; however, I had the presence of mind to think that my name may have been put under Fr. Bob's and quickly told them so. When they, evidently people not from Shiner, finally found his name under "Kn" not "N," my name wasn't there but there was a two next to his name meaning he had a guest...me. They asked where Fr. Bob was, which sent more panic through my body because he had already come and gone and we didn't know that I was "his guest." Lady luck did smile upon me though because they did remember him, how I don't know, and allowed me a coveted V.I.P. bracelet to adorn my wrist.
Now in the venue, I set out to find the rest of the gang not stopping for a free beer just yet, because what I thought was the beer line was too long. Finally, together and after all the "Oh, your special, Mr. V.I.P." comments we sat down to begin our afternoon of music, beer, fun, food, and fellowship. The music was at the perfect level that facilitated conversation as we listened. This changed when the band I think was the best came on stage. "Staind" rock the stage up and down with the speaker volume magically raised to a level to wake the dead who happened to be laying "at rest" a short two minute stroll away. Though the music was wonderful, we could no longer relax and joke with each other, we had to resort to yelling at each other...surprisingly I was not horse the next day.
Even if I did have a V.I.P. bracelet, I didn't want to appear snobbish so I minimized my trips to the "special area;" however, I did us it much of the night for the shorter port-a-potty lines. Every time I used my "water park bracelet" that said Shiner Bock on it, I would get a beer while I waited in line and then another to bring back to the group for a lucky friend. My first trip I also wanted to share my spoils with the rest of the group so I smuggled some brisket out for the guys to scarf down. I figured I may have the bracelet, but unlike Biblo and his precious ring, I was willing to share the powers and the benefits presented by my preciousss. The fest ended with a good time had by all as we watched the fireworks show from Kim's sister's van window as she drove us home safely.
I had only one item of my weekend in College Station "set in stone" as they say. I was going to the 100th year celebration gala for St. Mary's Catholic Center. The place that deepened my faith and further opened my ears to God's call. I also had the esteemed pleasure of digging through the archives earlier this year to research St. Mary's rich history for an American Catholicism history paper. It was an enjoyable and educational 6 hours of digging. I was happy this weekend to be attending the gala in celebration of a place that had given me so much. An added bonus would be to see a "sister" of mine that I hadn't seen in almost the 5 years since I graduated, especially since she join the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia (a.k.a the Nashville Dominicans since that is where the mother house is). The evening turned out to be very enjoyable as the great Msgr. Elmer (the first resident priest), a married couple, and Sis. Mary Rebecca (known previously as Grace) each gave a talk of their perception of St. Mary's and what it has meant to them.
FRIDAY WAS MY LAST DAY OF CPE! Can you tell I am a little excited? Right after the appreciation lunch, Michael Earthman and I set out for the long trip to College Station, arriving there at 9:30 pm with one stop for gas along the way. We both were ready to get back down south for good and wet our gills in the humid air. This weekend was planned to be a relaxing weekend with my nephew...oh, and Troy and Shannon. 
Blaise remembered me from the trip down here the previous week and immediately became my shadow. I couldn't go anywhere without Blaise right there. He also wanted to be like his Parrain, so he wanted to do everything I did even lying on the pillow in the living room. I was his new play buddy. He had worn out the old models...not that the old models are old as in age but the ones that he has had longer. :-) It was a great weekend, where I showed Blaise some great things like how to clean the table after dinner. We (Blaise, Troy, and I) even went on a trail south of town on bikes. The weekend was great but ended to quick. Today I will be driving home and getting ready to move some of my stuff on Wednesday to Shiner, where I will be for the next year in the parish.
