Memorial Day

This weekend our country celebrates Memorial day. A day where we as a nation give thanks to those who died fighting for our freedom. In the past, I've taken my boys to the cemetery where their cousin is buried for mass. On Saturday, the boys actually went to the cometary in San Bruno to decorate the graves of men and woman who served in the military with American flags with the Cub/Boy Scout Packs/Troop. Today Patrick watched about 4 hours of Band of Brothers. I guess I can say that the boys do "get" what this weekend is about, and for that I'm grateful.

On Saturday, I had my own Memorial Day. It didn't start out that way, but it ended that way. We decided to go "home" for mass, dinner and dessert. I consider home to be many places besides the house that I share with Steve and the kids. For me home is San Leandro the city I was born and raised in. Home is St.Felicitas Catholic Church, the parish I was raised in, attended 8 years of school, received all of my sacraments except Baptism, including marriage. St. Felicitas is the place where Steve and I not only started our life together as a married couple but the first place we brought each of our boys to (besides the Dr.'s office) after we brought them home from the hospital. They were each baptised there and for 11 years, we were supported and loved by an amazing faith family.

It had been a long time since we had been to St. Felicitas and although the people have changed, so many things about being in that sacred building remain the same. Many of the parishioners I grew up with are still in attendance. They are moving slower and their hair is whiter but I can always count on them sitting in the same spot, I love that! As I was sitting there I couldn't help but think back on how much of an impact this Parish has had on my life. As I mentioned above not only was I married there, received my Sacraments and had my boys baptised there but I graduated from 8th grade in that church, I was in the bell choir in that church, I ran youth ministry programs in that church, I learned public speaking in that church, I said goodbye to my beloved grandparents in that church, Gabriel was introduced to our faith family in that church and at a very difficult point in my life I got up and gave a gratitude testimony in that church. As I sat there amongst my kids, husband and parents, I couldn't help but feel at peace even though I was wrestling with Maria & Gabriel to be quiet. I felt like I had come full circle.

After mass we went up the street to Porky's Pizza. Porky's has been in the Manor forever. I don't have an exact date but I'm thinking since the 60's. Not much about the interior has changed either, talk about a blast from the past. Inevitably every time I go there I run into somebody that I know either from St. Felicitas or softball. Saturday night was no different, I ran into a friend from St. Felicitas who now has three kids of her own. It's so fun going in there with my kids and sending them to look on the wall for the picture of Wito (grandpa) and Tia Sandra (aunt) from when they were on the "Gold Team". Porky's was there softball teams sponsor a few years in a row. I love that after all these years, they are still on the wall, how cool is that? After dinner, we walked across the street to Clancy's ice cream. I'm thinking that Clancy's opened in 1974, I may be wrong. My sister and I and our neighbors would walk down there (I was probably 3, can you believe that my parents let me walk there with my sister and neighbors?) and get our ice cream cones. Clancy's was Irish through and through from the owners to the decor, shamrock wall paper and curtains, pictures of Irish battles and a map of Ireland. Clancy's was sold to an Asian family maybe 5 years after it opened. Everything remained the same, including the quality ice cram and Irish decor. This family had two boys who were always in the shop and as I grew up so did they. It had been years since I had been to Clancy's. The owner hasn't really changed much, just a bit of grey in his beard, but still as personable and chatty as ever. As we sat there enjoying our ice cream (I had pralines and cream) Maria was running back and forth with not a care in the world and the owner looked at Steve and said "I remember her running in here just like she's doing now". He was referring to me. He didn't know me when I was that young but I'm sure he does remember me and my family because we loved Clancy's, I can't tell you how happy that made me! We chatted about my kids and his and his grand kids.

I feel so blessed to have many "homes". After Saturday I came to realize what an impact the Manor had on my life and so happy to know that "home" is only 20 minutes away.