OCTOBER TIME

Our beloved Uncle Bud

October is the birthday month for so many special people in my life – my brother Bud ( also known as Father Joe); our oldest grandchild, Emily and her husband David; our grandson Josh; my godson, Brian; Maura ‘s mother-in-law, Betty; our dear friend Dot Peters; and our daughter-in-law Teresa. All these incredible folks have played such an important part in my life but I want to start off this blog by focusing on my brother Bud.

From an early age Bud felt a calling to the priesthood. And fairly soon after he graduated from St Francis Xavier High School- where my brother Pete also went- a Jesuit school in Manhattan – he left home to join the Jesuits and begin the long process toward ordination. The morning he left he had to catch a very early bus. It was such an early bus that we said our goodbyes the night before. I was still asleep when he left and did not realize his plan was to give me his high school ring. He came into my bedroom before he left and slid the ring on my finger. I was overcome when I found the ring on my finger when I awoke and always cherished Bud’s gift.

As he progressed in his studies Bud was in the seminary in Pennsylvania and New York. He also spent several years in Latin America. His final job was as a chaplain at Gonzaga High school in Washington DC.

When I graduated from Cornell’s nursing school and came to Washington to work as a public health nurse for Arlington County, it was an easy move for me. I liked the girls I was living with and moreover, my priestly brother and my brother Pete and his bride were near by.

When I met Jerry I was so proud introducing him to my brothers. And when Jerry and I got engaged and were planning our wedding I wished the Jesuit road to ordination was not so lengthy because it would have been very special to have Bud officiate at our weddeing. But at least he was able to be on the altar. Our ceremony was officiated by the Catholic chaplain from Cornell who had become a good friend during my student nurse days.

Jerry and I have lived in thee different houses in our married life and three different apartments – the apartment we are in now being number three. The first house was in Kensington, Maryland where four of our children were born. At that time Bud was working in Latin America. Georgetown Prep invited us to use their ham radio setup to talk with Bud. Though we would write and use our own phone to stay in touch, the Georgetown set up was the best.

When Bud was back and working in southen Virginia it was easy to scoot down Route 301 to visit him and he was a frequent visitor to our second home which was in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. We lived there for twenty plus years. Home number three was in Fairfax, Virginia and it was our home for thirty-five years.. Such a blessing to have Bud’s home masses, to have him be part of weddings, baptisms and First Communions.

Bud was and is muchly loved. When he died on March 2 of 2016 we were moved by the many people who shared their love of him and their sorrow at his passing. I was very touched this year to get messages from our children on October 24. ” Happy Bud’s Birthday”. It was hard to accept when he died. I miss him.

And now Jerry and I are again experiencing apartment living and we are starting to feel more and more at home in our new abode. But it certaiinly has been an adjustment. The apartment management with its various activities is very skilled at promoting a sense of community among the tenants. About once a month there is some fun gathering. October’s activity was a early Halloween Party. It was lots of fun.

An unexpected pleasure of our apartment building is the very big and well maintained exercise room. This is nothing I ever had on my list of “needs to have ” when we started looking for the home we were going to downsize into but it’s great. We cerainly get our money’s worth from it as we strive to stay in shape. And we thoroughly enjoy the diversity and the friendliness of our fellow tennants. There is such a good mix of age and ethnicity and no one age dominates. And best of all, two of our precious children and their families live near by.

October golf weather can be ideal or it can be a pointed reminder that cold weather is on its way. We try to golf several times a week. October is a mix of beautiful days and cold weather reminder days. Last time we golfed neither Jerry or I was pleased with our games. As I have said many times before golf is a very humbling game. Just when you think you have mastered its idiosyncrasies it lets you know who is boss.

Meg and the boys came from Media on Saturday, the 19th. They joined us for the gala that is sponsored by LSNV ( Legal Services of Northern Virginia), the amazing organization that Jim heads. This gala is a once a year fundraiser and Jerry and I always feel so proud of the work done by Jim and his organization. All family members who could attended the gala.

The next day we golfed with Brian and Liam – before they headed back home with Meg to Pennsylvania. Brian is a very good golfer and Liam, more and more, is showing the potential to be very competent at this amazing and frustrating and very fun sport.

Today is Sunday. We attended mass at our Lady Queen of Peace. Feeling grateful to have found a parish we like as much as St John Neumann, our church home of about thirty years when we lived on Tolman Road, That was followed by scrabble and a yummy dinner with Maura, Jim and Lisa and Josh. Paul is in Argentina on business.

We are so blessed in our family!!!