Soul Highway

Reflections of a 'defector'

My husband calls me a would-be defector. I'm talking about religion here. Easter came and went. Not to say that I'm fiercely religious in the first place, but Sunday turned out to be just another day. This is quite the contrary to what I'm used to. Where I come from, which is predominantly Catholic, a pall of gloom descends on the country, consistent with the somberness of Lent.

In the Philippines though, we take things a notch further. Dozens sign up to be nailed on the cross. I have witnessed two crucifixions which turned out to be nothing more than a curious spectacle. The crucifixion is often preceded by fasting and self-flagellation as a form of penitence. When I was young, I saw people walk on their knees to church and whip their backs with strips of bamboo. Not a pretty sight. I used to detest being forced to wake up at 4 a.m. to join in the Way of the Cross, a procession that takes a minimum of four hours of walking around town. I am not a big believer in rituals and so the process was pure torture for the most part.

Yes, that's a real nail. Yes, we are weird that way.

The husband says I will eventually jump ship and defect to Adventism. He says I complain too much about the Catholic church. However, having been baptized into this religion without my consent, complented by about 18 years of praying the rosary and going to confession, some things are simply hard to shake off. However, I don't feel the compulsion of shopping around for a new religion.

By the way, Pope Benedict XVI will be visiting the US on April 15-20, the highlights of which include a meeting with President Bush at the White House, a mass at the National baseball stadium (some 46,000 tickets have been distributed), a speech before the United Nations General Assembly in New York and a visit to Ground Zero. I read somewhere that the Vatican has already shipped the famous Pope mobile. It will be interesting to see how traffic turns out on the days the Pope will be cruising around the city.

And here's the roundup

Holy guacamole! I didn't mean (well, maybe I did) to be absent this long from the blogosphere. Nope, it is not a case of writer's block either. I had quite a few blogging topics lined up in mind but when it came down to writing, the drive fizzled out. Sometimes there is simply not enough time to squeeze in this blog in a schedule that runs the gamut from work to housework. Other times, and especially during weekends, sleeping and lazing around were more appealing than typing away thoughts. In last Saturday's case, shoe shopping took over.

Which reminds me - I think I've taken Re'Sean to too many shopping trips he's starting to talk like a fashionista. (Or maybe it's the frequency of us watching HGTV when we have the monopoly of the TV.) While trying on a pair of pumps, he commented, "It's okay. But it has no personality." Then he insisted on walking around in some running shoes I had taken out of the box. He literally could fit in my shoes. I think it is time for us to incorporate some male-oriented activities when at the mall. Having Re'Sean around is helpful though - it cuts down in half the time I normally spend looking for my size. However, a DSW employee recognizing your 10-year-old stepson on the spot might not be too cute. It's not a proud moment for Dad.

Are you all tired of the cold weather? I surely am. I think this will be the last week we (or those in the metro DC area) have to deal with temperature hovering around the 50s. Chilly wind blowing in your face at 8 a.m. is no fun. Warmer weather offers a lot more possibilities. There's the kite festival Re'Sean wants to join in again, camping, picnics, going swimming, sightseeing, walking tours, being able to enjoy a mocca java outside a coffee shop, and not having to wear four layers of clothing.

Things are good at the homefront. There is an ongoing battle over the bathroom rug which the husband wants positioned directly in front of the toilet. I, on the other hand, want it placed right against the tub. He has already threatened to resort to extreme measures to have things his way. I will not cave in.

There had been some stressful moments owing to my father being rushed to the hospital twice since December. And some growing up to do by my siblings. Still, it's good to wake up knowing things are in orbit. In spite of the bumps here and there along life's road, there's a lot to be thankful for.

Be bold, be bright. Spring is here!