November... the Month of Remembrance

November... the Month of Remembrance 

Remember... November, Remember ...November, ...

The November wind consistently chills to the bone while it repeatedly cries out, “Remember Me!” The eleventh month of the year is naturally one of the most forgettable months, ...yet it demands to be remembered. By the time this seemingly stark month arrives, the vibrant colors of autumn are completely washed-out or have simply vanished. Greens and blues have been methodically replaced by browns and grays. The beauty of Fall is no longer a distraction for us and now, ...for thirty (30) long days, we are presented with new opportunities to reflect and to remember before winter sets in when we will again be faced with other distractions. The month of chrysanthemums beckons us to remember it ...and so much more.

November begins with seemingly somber tones encouraging us to remember the dead. Rather than calling us to focus on the morbid... November advises us to remember with fondness and appreciation all those whose lives on earth have impacted our own.

All Saints' Day

The first day of November is set aside for remembering and celebrating the lives of noted holy men and women of God who have achieved what the foolish consider as greatness during their earthy lives. This recognition of greatness was bestowed upon them in recognition of their great acts of reflecting the love of God. These notable souls have been posthumously distinguished with the title of "saints". November 1st is a day set aside to remember "All Saints". Some of these wonderful souls are more well-known than others but all of these are presented to the world as honorable role models for us. By remembering them and their saintly lives, we are also remember that we have been called to that same greatness and that our vocation is to allow God's love shine in our own lives. For all those who inspire us to lead more holy lives... we are truly grateful.

All Souls' Day

On November 2nd we commemorate all the other lives of the faithfully departed. This day is observed as "All Souls' Day". Though we are called to pray every day throughout the year for all of those gone before us marked with the sign of faith, this day is set aside for collectively remembering the countless others who have been good and faithful servants. We personally know some of these souls and it is easy to remember those but  we are also urged to remember the forgotten multitudes, now known only to God. Some of these souls may have actually lived what we would call "saintly lives", though most of them will never be ceremoniously proclaimed to us as being an official "saint". Still each of their lives is memorable and should be prayerfully remembered. With gratitude for each soul that has influenced our lives and for all others... we prayerfully remember their precious lives.

Dias de los Muertos

Many in the Mexican culture observe the first couple of days of November as "Dias de los Muertos" (Days of the Dead). To many outside that culture, this annual observance might seem to be bordering on the macabre. Skull-shaped candies are gleefully devoured by all. Diminutive skeleton dolls are dressed in festive garb and posed to look like they are dancing or maybe even performing in a mariachi band. All of these comical images of the formerly alive are on proudly displayed throughout the cities and pueblos. Other cultures might look upon all of this as morbid and as a preoccupation with death .... yet these days are set aside in that culture for remembering and celebrating the earthly lives of relatives, neighbors and friends. On these special days, families gather in cemeteries to visit the earthly remains of their dearly departed and decorate their final resting place. Oftentimes this remembrance of past lives is solidified by placing a candle-lit prayer table prominently in the home and adorning it with pictures and mementos of the departed loved ones. The message here is strong and clear, "Gone ...but not forgotten ... you are alive in our hearts." For the wonderful memories of our loved ones who have gone before us... we are blessed and thankful.

Marine Corps Birthday

The icing on the November birthday cake is the annual celebration of the United States Marine Corps' birthday. The official birthday of the USMC is celebrated each year on November 10th. Two hundred and thirty six (236) years ...and counting... of a proud and glorious tradition of being... "The Few... the Proud... the Marines". Men and women Marines and their families stationed around the world faithfully celebrate "their" birthday each year. It is looked upon by Marines as the social event of the year. Marines with children struggle to find an available babysitter to watch their Marine brats while dad and mom attend the gala event. Of course, every babysitter on base knows that they can command premium prices for their services on that one night each year. Marine Corps bases around the world put on their finest to celebrate this birthday with the formal Marine Corps Ball. It is the perfect occasion for everyone (...from Private to General) to gather together to proudly sing with one voice, "The Marine Corps Hymn":

♪ ♪ From the Halls of Montezuma

to the shores of Tripoli;

We fight our country's battles

in the air, on land, and sea;

First to fight for right and freedom 

... and to keep our honor clean:

We are proud to claim the title

of United States Marine.  ♪ ♪

(The best verse has to be the last one...)

♪ ♪ If the Army and the Navy

ever look on Heaven's scenes; 

They will find the streets are guarded

by the United States Marines. ♪ ♪

For the past, present and future service of the dedicated men and women of the USMC ...we are truly grateful. "Semper Fidelis!"

Veterans Day (Remembrance Day)

Those chilly November breezes also stir the stems of every poppy growing in Flanders Field and, in turn, those fragile flowers respond in whispered tones, “Remember Me.” Whether we observe November 11^th as Armistice Day ...or Poppy Day ...or Veterans Day ...or Remembrance Day, we are again called upon to recall the sacrifices that many men and women have made to ensure all of the freedoms that we enjoy today. They have made innumerable sacrifices for their country (i.e. for us) including; sleepless nights, low pay, tasteless food, poor working conditions, physically exhausting work, grueling weather conditions, as well as long periods of separation from families and other loved ones... to name but a few. To forget even one act of sacrifice of one veteran that ever lived is the equivalent to a slap in the face... when what they all truly deserve is a grateful slap on the back from each one of us. For their sacrifices and their dedication... we "owe a debt of gratitude". Though our debt can never fully be repaid... it is extremely important that we strive to remember and show our thanks to all.

Thanksgiving

November also presents to us the great feast of Thanksgiving as another call to remember. On the fourth Thursday of every November, we gather our family and friends around our table to celebrate what should be a high holy day for us. On this special day each year we are called upon once again to remember...so we can realize that we have much for which to be thankful. God help us if we forget the true meaning of the day and end up diluting this feast to nothing more than an opportunity for overindulging on turkey and football. Thanksgiving is to be a day of remembrance. Above all other holidays, this is the one that best focuses on our need to cherish family, friends and all of our bountiful blessings. It is on this day when we reflect, not only on our material blessings (home, employment, and possessions) ...but also on the non-material blessings of health, family, and friendship. This occasion also becomes the perfect opportunity for us to again call to mind those who are not physically sitting at the table with us yet are surely present to us in a most memorable way. For all good things and wonderful people we have been blessed with... Thanks be to God.

The Fear of Forgetting

On every day of this month, November begs for us to remember. Each day we are to remember this person or that group of people pr this event or that and all of the blessings which we have received ...but the month primarily calls us to strive to remember... lest we forget. It is healthy to exercise our memories on a regular basis so that we can keep the memories fresh and grow in our appreciation for what we have. Many of us recognize that if we fail to remember the important people, events and blessings on a regular basis we will soon begin to forget them... one by one. 

One of our greatest fears in our lives is that we will forget. We have seen this happen too often to some of our beloved elders as their memories begin to fade. When we observe this happening to our beloved friends and family, our hearts feels like breaking.  In some cases, those memories end up "fading to black" ...to the point that they cannot even remember those closest loved ones. If we are the one of the ones they happen to forget ...we are crushed and deeply hurt. Seeing this precipitates a fear in us that we too may eventually go down the same path and end up forgetting everything and everyone that is dear to us. Though at this point there us no known cure for the cursed disease of Alzheimer's, it is reported that we can stave off the effects by keeping our minds as active and challenged as possible. Fight against it. Exercise your brain, your memories ...as often as possible, especially after you have reached your mid-life. Learn a new language or challenge yourself with a new crossword puzzle or Sudoku daily. Start tagging all of your photos with names of friends and relatives that you can remember and then try to remember something good about each one. Review these often and appreciate the memories that you now have. Keep a journal. Do something positive to keep the memories fresh but also so that after reflection on family and friends that are still alive... that you will be moved to expressing your love and gratitude to them while you can ...face-to-face.

It seems so fitting that November has been designated as Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. You may want to write that note on your calendar now and make sure that you write it on the new calendar you will soon receive for the upcoming year. By no means is this call meant to be humorous. Our fear of forgetting is real and frightening and we need to struggle against the potentiality by practicing our remembering and living our appreciation in the now. For the gift of being able to remember what we can, we are grateful.

The Fear of being Forgotten

Almost as great as the fear of forgetting is the fear of being forgotten. When we remember how easy it has been to forget the names of seemingly long-departed friends and relatives, we recognize the great probability that we too will most likely be soon forgotten. That seems pretty scary to a lot of us. We dearly want to be remembered. We want to think that our lives has had meaning and that we had some positive impact on the world ...or at least in the lives of those around us.

Some try to make a mark on this life so that they will be remembered. Some aspire to greatness and want to be remembered for their accomplishments. There are those who will try to ensure their immortality by having children so that there will be someone to carry on their name ...and so that they will be remembered for generations to come. Others try to make sure they are remembered by leaving monuments to themselves. All of these acts are elaborate pleas from mere mortals ... so that (hopefully) their lives will not be forgotten... and so that someone else sees value in this live that was lived.

Too often and too easily we forget the names of those of family and friends now departed. An exercise in humility is to try to write down the names of all the people you ever knew but have preceded us in death. This is to include names of your deceased relatives, friends, classmates, co-workers and fellow parishioners.  You may quickly find that there are not enough beads on three rosaries for the ones you can remember but then you come to the realization that there are many more you have already forgotten. Let us not accept the fact that we have forgotten even one. Every soul utters the same mournful cry, “Remember Me” ...as we will too. Memorialize others in prayer, even if their name readily escapes you ...and, in turn, you will surely be prayerfully remembered to God by others. 

Just Remember

The thirty days of November lead the heavenly chorus of saints, souls, veterans and loved ones in singing the tune "... Remember Me". They are inviting us to join in that joy-filled chorus and to remember all we have and had ...so as to appreciate and to be thankful for all of our blessings... past, present and to come. We are to gratefully sing now and forever.  We are to learn that it is not enough just to set aside a day a year or even a month each year to remember but we are to habitually remember and show our gratitude ...faithfully, daily, always.  In great gratitude we remember that the Creator is the source of every good thing and so we can join the choirs of angels as we sing together with one voice, "Now Thank We All Our God".

♪ ♪  Now thank we all our God, 

with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, 

in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms

has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, 

and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God 

through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts

and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, 

and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills,

in this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God 

the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns

with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, 

whom earth and Heaven adore;

For thus it was, is now, 

and shall be evermore.  ♪ ♪

Time to get Ugly

Time to get Ugly ...again

It was one of those near-perfect late-summer days in the Mid-West, quite suitable for mixing with friends outside of church after Mass. The oppressive summer heat had finally given way to more moderate temperatures and finally, the steamy, sticky days were now hopefully behind us. Though the leaves had not yet started to fall ...or even started to change color, one could sense that we were on the doorstep of an awesome autumn. As is our custom on beautiful days like this, some fellow parishioners stood outside after Mass and continued to give our thanks to God. 

The mid-day sun was bright (and, unfortunately for me) was bearing down warmly upon my brow as we chatted. Deep within me, my soul began reflecting on some preaching presented by someone other than our parish priest. My dermatologist continually preaches to us fair-skinned folks that we are never to venture outside without first donning a hat and slathering every exposed inch of the body with sunscreen rated as SPF-30 or higher. Who would have guessed that our conversation on that bright, sunny afternoon would have extended for more than an hour?  Anyone care to guess who is going to hear another medical lecture on the need for total solar abstinence?

We lingered a bit longer than usual on this particular Day of the Sun because a few parents were waiting for one or more of their children who were attending a class meant to prepare them for the Sacrament of Confirmation. So the parents and the siblings of the Confirmation students, as well as a few of their friends, stood together outside the church and engaged in deep philosophical and theological discussions as everyone waited for their missing family member to join them.

Just a nanosecond before us adults were going to be able to answer all life’s questions and solve all the problems of the world, we were interrupted by a determined-to-be-heard voice.  A six-year-old boy broke into our adult conversation, loudly asking me, “So, what are you going to be for Halloween this year?”

For the last dozen years or so, it has become a tradition for me to overload our over-sized van with youngsters from our church and lead a caravan of other vehicles that were also hauling a cargo of kids to a safer neighborhood on the other end of town for a little bit of ”Trick or Treat”. It has been a special joy for me to introduce quite a few children and their parents to this special Fall holiday. It will not be too much longer before the children of the first group of trick-or-treaters will be old enough to join our growing caravan.

This enthusiasm for the brighter side of All Hallows Eve was properly directly inherited from my father. It was an apparent joy for my dad to stand at the door of our home and pass out treats to all of the costumed creatures who came knocking, chanting their pleas for candy. One of my favorite memories of this time of year is how my father would take the time to fawn over the night visitors dressed as story book or comic book characters and feign horror when confronted by children outfitted as monsters yet they were little more than a yard stick in height.  

Halloween was my father’s favorite holiday, which seems hard to believe if you ever saw the twinkle in his eyes at Christmas. There can be no doubt that this annual autumnal event was at least one of his top two favorite days of the year. Several years ago, our father passed from this life only days before Halloween.  

So, a few years have now come and gone since our father distributed penny candy to the diminutive beggars at our doorstep. Those who knew my father well can easily imagine that at this time each year he is probably entertaining unsuspecting cherubs and angelitos with his feigning and fawning antics.  As we headed to our father’s evening wake and rosary service, it seemed somehow fitting that our family encountered hundreds of costumed youngsters making their annual pilgrimage through the neighborhoods with their bags in hand.  More than likely our father would have loved the scene.

My flashback of these Halloween memories from my childhood was sharply interrupted by a tug at my trousers, delivered by the youngster still seeking my attention. “My dad wants me to go ‘trick or treating’ dressed as Batman again this year ...but I want to go as something else!”  (...If truth be known, this kid’s dad probably wanted to get at least two-nights-worth out of last year’s costume before the super hero evolved into another character needing a new outfit). Sometimes money is no object to young super heroes.

It turns out that my older sister also had an deep affection for this particular holiday which extended throughout her adult life. Maybe all that enthusiasm for goblins, ghosts, witches and warlocks was somehow inherited from our father. It may also be that she especially liked this holiday since her birthday fell within the month.

Faithfully, each year my sister would decorate her whole house inside-and-out for the Halloween holiday. It was always a joy for me to escort young trick-or-treaters to my sister’s Halloween House and watch how she enjoyed sharing all this with the kids.  It seemed like she was perpetually adding new items to her scary, yet mostly-funny collection. Several years ago our older sister joined our father to celebrate together in a much better place. Gone but not forgotten! Both of them left us much too soon but they left us with such great memories.  To this day, whenever a unique Halloween decoration is spotted, my older sister comes to mind, guessing that she would want to acquire it for her Halloween House.

The pesky persistent voice once again interrupted, “...You should go as Freddy Krueger this year... but you will need to buy some of those sharp fingernails.”  For anyone unfamiliar with  “Freddy Krueger” he is a truly scary-looking dude from a whole series of slasher movies based on the original “Nightmare on Elm Street”.  Not exactly my “cup of tea” as far as movies go... nor the kind of movie genre appropriate for a six-year-old ...but this little guy was actually suggesting that it would be a good character for me to imitate (...not him) when we take our annual trek on that special  night on October this year.

What costume, if any, would be appropriate for me to wear this year? Obviously, it could not be anything so gruesome that it might actually scare the youngsters being shepherded through the neighborhoods. The more that this question was pondered, the more obvious the answer became. Actually, my dear dermatologist helped me see the light since he had recently recommended (for the third year in a row) that it was again time for me to undergo a very special treatment for my sun-damaged skin.  In addition to all of the regular freezing (burning) of precancerous areas on my face and arms, it has now become an annual event for me to undergo a month-long treatment of Carac® cream. For those unfamiliar with the product or the treatment, be first advised that one should avoid appearing in front a camera for at least a month after beginning to apply this special cream to the face.

The dear doctor continually reminds me that all of this is necessary to pay for the sins of my youth when my skin was repeatedly burnt to a crisp. In those Dark Ages, some of us young, ignorant types would only “protect” ourselves from the sun with Johnson’s® Baby Oil... sometimes tinged with iodine.  So, because of all the pleasures of the flesh my body was subjected to about a half century ago ...now the torture to face, arms and dignity must be endured. Needless to say, no scary makeup will  be necessary for me this Halloween.  

My sensitive skin and its tendencies to burn with the least amount of exposure to sunlight is probably directly related to my own genetic makeup. Though my heritage is of a Heinz 57® variety, this freckled, easily-scorched skin of mine is probably most effected by my ancestors from Wales, England and Ireland. God bless them all! Thankfully, modern medicine can help people like me deal with the issues that go with having fairly fair skin.

My dear dermatologist advises that, in addition to the burning (freezing) of precancerous areas all over my head and arms and this now-annual treatment of Carac® ...my head is to be henceforth covered at all time with a big, wide-brimmed sombrero and my arms and legs are also to be completely covered, even if slathered with SPF-30 or higher-rated sunscreen. All of these precautions are to be followed, unless, of course, there is a complete loss of interest in maximizing the number of autumnal holidays that are to be enjoyed in the future. Maybe it is time for me to become a creature of the night. Maybe a big black cape would be a fitting costume for me this year.

It should be noted that Carac® packs a pretty powerful punch.  In fact, one of the key ingredients of this cream is commonly used in chemotherapy.  Pretty potent stuff ...but it does have a tough job to do! This powerful medicine comes packaged in a very small tube. Unfortunately, for those with graying hair and tired eyes, the size of a tube of Carac® happens to be exactly the same size as a travel-size tube of Sensodyne® toothpaste and might easily be mistaken. For that matter, the tiny tube of Bacitracin in the medicine cabinet is the same size and color scheme as the Carac® and the Sensodyne®. It is so dangerous to have any two similar-sized tubes of anything within reach... at least at that hour in the morning ...in my house.


Of course, it would be nothing more than a “mel-of-a-hess” if one would spread Sensodyne® toothpaste all over the affected areas of the body... however, squeezing a generous amount of Carac® onto your toothbrush will surely have some devastating, long-lasting effects. For the sake of every one's health, safety and welfare it would be best to remove all other tiny tubes from the bathroom as long as anyone in the house is undergoing the Carac® treatment.

Note to Self:  ... "Make a note of that!"

Every morning of the treatment, the smallest amount of Carac® is placed on my fingertips and is applied to the majority of my facial area. "A little dab will do yer!" Within a few days of staring the Carac® treatment, it might look like you have been out in the sun too long.  A day or so later, you could look like you developed a serious case of rosacea ...and quickly after that it looks like you have developed one of the most horrific problems of acne. Usually by the tenth (10th) day of the Carac® treatment, people are starting to stare and point in your general direction.  It might tend to bother you when you notice mothers grabbing their babies and trying to shield them from my view. It is at this point when you realize you could easily impersonate the Freddy Kruger character and do a little ("...how you say ...'trick-or-treating'") ... without needing to put on a mask or apply any makeup whatsoever... "but you will still need to buy some of those sharp fingernails!"

HAPPY HAUNTING!