5-29

Attended Mass and Fr heard my confession before heading off towards Huntington West Virginia.  Fr. Josh was so wonderful and I am so thankful for his hospitatlity.  Huntington was 43 miles from Point Pleasant so I figured 21 1/2 miles each day (like that quick math I just did there) and I'll be there no problem.  Well unfortunately I got a late start after breakfast and wasn't mentally prepared for the heat.  It ended up being in the 90's and I kept stopping places (gas stations and such) to get something to drink.  It was just one of those days.  So I came across a volunteer fire department and asked if I could sleep behind their building, it being only 4:00  and only covering 16 miles I figured I would get to bed early and get a fresh start early in the morning.

5-30

I woke up, got packed up and headed out right at sunrise.  I would have left earlier but there wasn't much of a shoulder so figured I would rather be safe than sorry.  I tried to cover as many miles in the morning as I could, I even ran a little, before the sun would beat me down.  Out in the middle of nowhere I came across Hillbilly Hotdogs.  I wasn't really hungry but thought I would regret no stopping so I manned up and ate me some hotdogs.  Guy Fieri from "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" chose it as one of his top ten places he's been. It was a good hot dog.  It was a little after eating here (No corrolation) that I seemed to develop a bladder infection.  I think it resulted from a little dehydration so I am going to have to make sure I drink more water.  It was in the 90's again and the last part of my day was pretty rough.  I should have been in Huntington at 3 but kept having to stop and go the bathroom so it wasn't till 5.  But Mass was at 5:30 so I was just in time.  I stayed at the rectory with Fr. Dean, who is a wonderful priest with a great sense of humour and a great laugh.  Brian was also here, a 23 year old first year seminarian, who I will keep in my prayers that he continues on his path towards the priesthood.  Oh yeah Huntington is home of Marshall University, I had no clue where Marshall University was, even though I've seen the movie "We Are Marshall"  (excellent movie by the way).  If I was on Jeopardy, and if what city is Marshall University in was the final jeopardy question, this would have been me....

 Hillbilly Hot dogs and yes its that gaudy.   You can eat in the school bus, there is another one behind it.

 This was taken the next morning so the ice had melted.  Fr. Dean had this ready for me when I arrived, he was really trying hard to get a good review on my blog.  He tucked me in and read me a story (no not really but Fr. if you would have done those things you would have gotten 4 stars instead of 3).

The altar at St. Joseph's in Huntington

5-27

Today was memorial day and the latter part of the day turned out beautiful.  Arriving in Pomeroy I made my way to the Catholic church and knocked on the door of the rectory where I met Fr. Kozac.  He gave me permission to sleep next to the church and gave me the key to the social hall basement so I could use the rest room...well the neighborhood was...um...sketchy to say the least, and so I slept in the basement.

5-28

Attended Mass and Fr. made me breakfast, what a priest.  I asked him to call the priest in Gallipolis my next stop and let him know about me and that I was on my way.  With farewell greetings I headed off.  About ten miles from Gallipolis a truck whipped past me, at first I thought this jerk was trying to hit me.  But out came an angel named Romie who offered me a ride which I gladly accepted.  Getting into town we went to lunch at a little diner.  Romie was a marine, and works for the coast guard and department of defense.  After lunch we went by the rectory and met Fr.  He told me that he called the diocese and they had never heard of me  and I couldn't stay there and closed the door.  To me it was no big deal, priests are sinners and if my pilgrimage is going to be all roses there has to be some thorns (to think guns n roses were actually onto something).  I will pray for this priest that he will be more welcoming.  But it did teach me a lesson.  As JESUS instructed I have to just kick the dust off my sandals and move onto the next town.  But Romie was with me and was quite shocked.  He told everyone we met after what happened and whenever he relates the story of picking me up, he will also relate how a priest shut the door on us.  I learned how our actions can be like a rock thrown in a river, the ripples spread past our line of sight yet still traverse, affecting the still water in its path.  As do our actions, whether we realize it or not.  when that priest shut the door, he opened a new one unknowingly.  So Romie and I made our way back to the truck and drove back across the river to West Virginia, O-bi-o Ohio.  He drove me to the church in Point Pleasant where Fr. Josh welcomed me with open arms.  After unloading my cart Romie took me for a tour of the town, Point Pleasant is where the Mothman, you know the Mothman phropecies with Richard Gere, supposedly took place.  I thank Romie from the bottom of my heart for all he did.  After dropping me off Fr. Josh took me out to dinner and than let me take a shower and do some laundry.

Legend has it, that the settlers killed this chiefs wife and children infront of him, and he put a curse on the settlers which is the mothman.

The most common question I get asked, I can truly say at least once every single day is, “Why?”  And actually it’s a different “why” from different people.  Some people think I’m nut’s so there “Why” is “Why on earth would you leave the comfort of your home and sleep in a tent across the country?”  Other “why’s” our curious “why’s”, in that it’s something they may want to do, or have wanted to do, and want to know why I made the first step of the journey.  To the first “why’s” I usually respond “why not”, which is a valid response.  And to the others I say it is a spiritual pilgrimage, that I am discerning to join the monastic life.  But actually there is not much discernment left to do, there is nothing I desire more in the world than to be hidden away in a monastery, forgotten by the whole world, and to pray for the whole world.  But life isn’t what I want, and I still don’t know what He want’s from me (I know what He wants, but in terms of how He wants me to complete it), and actually I don’t worry about it at all.  You see I have found my vocation, it is to become a saint.  Whether I join the monastic life, whether I write a book afterwards, or go work at a fast food restaurant, it really doesn’t matter, they are all means to the end.  And my end, and your end, is to become a saint.  (now let me say not the wonderful romantic saints canonized by the church we love to read about, no only a saint in God’s eyes.)   Though I long to be hidden behind the walls and forgotten, Fr. Thomas of JESUS says that if you can’t be a saint anywhere, you can be a saint nowhere.  It is not the habit (the “robes” monks wear) that makes a monk, it is sanctity, it is love.  "with the exception of marriage, lay people have the same duties as do religious."  (St. John Chrysostom), and that is to become saints.  And so, that is what each day will be, that is what my pilgrimage is, to “love God with thy whole heart, and thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength…Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”  (Mark 12:30-31).  It can be nothing less, but can be so much more, my sanctity begins today, I must open up my pedals to be watered by the blood of CHRIST, to grow more and more into His image.    “Real virtue has no limits.  It always goes beyond.” – Martial Lekeux.  “What a magnificent favor it is to our souls that they can grow endlessly, more and more, in the love of their God, while they are in this frail life climbing from virtue to virtue towards eternal life.” – St. Francis de Sales.  And it is in this I have found the beauty of time, oh what a gift time is.  Time was given so we could grow in the love of God.  Satan, when he choose to defy God, his decision was for eternity.  Angels cannot change their minds, it is not possible, they were given all the facts in the case and made their decision.  But not so for us, oh I have been worse than satan you could say, he only sinned once, and I have sinned more than the stars in the sky.  But God is waiting with open arms, and has given me time to become a saint.  To grow in love with love.  As Fr. Ben said thank God we were made out of dust.

5-24 Went to Adoration, had confession heard, and attended Mass.  I got on their local bus system and went and got supplies.  Met many wonderful knights at the hall.

 St Xavier in Parkersburg.  The painting is done in all dots.

5-25Stayed extra day found a rip in a cart so had to glue on patch.  The glue had to set 24 hours so Mike, Greg and the knights were gracious to allow me to stay another day.  Mike picked me up and took me to lunch with his fiance Joyce.  As they had to get packed for their trip to Cleveland to attend some Red's games they let me take a shower at their home which I am so thankful for.  I wish them all the happiness they deserve in their marriage.  We take so many things for granted in life, or at least I do.  A shower, to someone in my position, can be one of the greatest gifts.  My health, I never give thanksgiving for it until I am sick, and than I have a pity party for one.  I have a lot of room to grow, I'm still just a little sprout in the life of sanctity.

Well I'm in the last town of West Virginia before entering Ohio, and I heard how beautiful West Virginia is.  Well I walked the whole state, and searched and searched.  Dolly Sods were pretty, the mountains were OK, the people were pleasant, but I did not find beauty until driving from Mikes house (Mike made me put the disclaimer this is not him) I found the beauty of West Virginia....drink it in....your welcome America.  This is West Virginia.  I mean come on, the guy had a backyard but no, he had to go out on the street.....I guess if you've got it, you mine as well flaunt it.

5-26 Left Parkersburg and entered Ohio.  It was a beautiful day and spent the night in the backyard of a pastor.

My favorite part of this picture is that I had told myself today that since I would be walking mostly highways now I wouldn't be getting too many good pictures, but God proved me wrong as always, and gave me my best picture yet.  I love how he shows me how little I am, and proves me wrong over and over again....when will I just trust completely in Him?

5-19

Went to Mass and stayed at the knights hall all day planning my route through Ohio.  The American Discovery Trail has been good to me but it zig zags way too much for my taste.  So I am going rogue, going off the grid, and planning my own route to California.

5-20

Was able to attend Mass and have my confession heard before heading out.  I reached the North Bend Rail Trail about 5 or 6 miles out of Clarksburg.  It is an old rail road converted into a hiking trail.  I passed the spot where John, the fellow hiker I met in Oldtown, got attacked by two dogs.  Keep him in your prayers please as he is still waiting to see if has rabis.  He is OK but they did puncture the skin.  After a full day of walking I reached Salem and had dinner at Willies.  Willie was very pleasant and arranged for me with the police to sleep in a pavillion in the middle of town.  The only thing was that the town seemed pretty "rough", I saw more police in this town than all the rest of West Virginia combined.  When I roll into these small towns everyone notices me, and so I didn't want to get noticed setting up camp.  I appreciated the offer but headed on down the trail.  I decided today to do a little night walking.  It is so humid out during the day I figure I could make more, and much easier miles during the night time.  So I took a nap outside a tunnel earlier in the day.  It was great, the wind cut through it like a wind tunnel and it was like I had my own air conditioner outside.  About 2 in the morning I decided to set up camp.  Setting up my tent I realized it was completely soaked from the last time I camped.  I meant to air it out every night but they called for rain every night which it never did.  So packing up my tent again I walked another hour to a trail shelter and laid out my tarp and slept on the ground like some kind of animal.  I ended up walking 29 miles today!  I'm like the 6 million dollar man...or maybe the 6 million yen man....no I'm not even worth that much....the 6 million ketchup packet man.  Why ketchup packets?  Well we all know our economy is in trouble and I have it on good authority that our currency will be in ketchup packets.  Sure my two sources wear tin-foil hats, but don't judge them.  So I have been slowly accruing a small fortune every McDonalds I hit.  And there is my secret, that is what my cart is full of, ketchup packets.

Oh yeah forgot I passed these 3 young girls in Salem and said hello to them.  No response.  But as I passed I heard one say to the other, "He's a garbage man."  I was like really, why you have to be so mean.  And I wrestled with including it in my blog, cause well I figured that nickname would stick.

 Back to marking the years off of prison

 At 11:30 at night I had to walk through a tunnel.  It was pretty spooky.  I made the sign of the cross, said a quick prayer and headed in.  The tunnel was filled with water so I had to play hop scotch on rocks to get through.  It's times like these I so wish I had the voice over from the Dukes of Hazard narrating my pilgrimage...man that would be awesome.

 The "trail" isn't very well groomed in a lot of places.

 Do you see that little cubby hole to the left.  That was for people walking through the tunnel, if a train came through they could duck inside.  \

5-21

Nothing too eventful today.  Just alot of walking.  Although after setting up camp I got into my tent just before a big storm hit.  It was neat to lay in my tent and listen to the thunder, to the lightning illuminate my tent, and than to hear the rain coming like flood waters....it was actually quite peaceful

5-22

Almost into Cairo I met Ed on the trail, he was doing his daily exercise on the trail and walked with me into town, I truly enjoyed the company.  I also learned from him a lot of history about the area.  In fact he showed me an old tunnel that was from the civil war that was off the path.  Getting into Cairo we met Ken in the general store.  He runs the kind of historic society for the town and offered to open up what used to be the old bank and give me a tour.  It was very intersting and he had all sorts of office equipment the bank would have used in the era it opened.  I never knew the history of pencil sharpners could be so interesting, we came a long way.  It was refreshing to see someone so passionate about their town.  I thank Ed and Ken for teaching me so much and opening my eyes to the little world around me I would have just breezed through on my own.  I walked some more and realized it was almost dark and I could see the storm was coming, I was walking right into it.  My map said there was an over pass 4 miles ahead so I decided to carry on and set up camp there.  I don;t know if it was smart, it rained like a monsoon.  But I do enjoy walking at night.  The animal kingdom comes alive at night, and your headlight reflects their eyes, so as you walk you see all these animals watching you from the trees.  Set up camp under the overpass which was dry, but was all rocks.  I have an air matress but thought it would be good penance.  Fr. Ben said sleeping in a tent is penance enough.  It wasn;t bad till I shifted in my sleep and than got a nice big rock in my back, yup I was up.

These frogs or toads or whatever play a mean game of chicken....I lost everytime.  They would not get out of my way.

3-23

Got off the rail trail and made my way into Parkersburg, my last city before crossing into Ohio.  It was early, I stunk (if you can smell yourself you know your bad) and needed to laundry so I got a room at a Red Roof Inn.  About a mile from there I got drenched by another quick storm.  And unfortuanetly my beloved shower was ruined by finding a tick, it was so gross getting him out and watching him move.....ugh.  Darrell got me in contanct with the knights and Greg, the grand knight, picked me up and took me to their council meeting.  I met many wonderful knights and Fr. Neil as well.  I would like to thank Greg and Mike for the hospitality.  I will be staying at the hall tomorrow night so I can go and get supplies in town.

5-16

It rained the entire way into Philippi and of course stopped as soon as I got into town.  I don't mind walking in the rain really, much better than the humidity that follows.  Frank, my KofC contact for this area got in touch with Fr. Jim and arranged for me to stay in the spare rectory.  So thank you Frank and Fr. Jim.  Philippi is a very cool little town.  The area through Maryland and West Virginia that I have walked through is full of Civil War history, but sadly I'm not much of an American history fan.  Not that I have anything against American history its only that European history always intrigued me more.  But Philippi changed all that.  This is the sight of the first land battle of the Civil War.  The bridge that the cars drive through, I had to walk on a pedestrian bridge along side of it, is the same bridge the union soldiers crossed to attack the confederates.  Part of the bridge had to be reconstructed not to long ago after someone overflowed their gas tank at the nearby gas station, hence spilling gas into the road where a passing car ignited a spark which caused the fire that burned part of the bridge.

The bridge the Union soldiers crossed.  They came from the side I'm standing on and crossed over into Phillipi.

5-17

Unfortunately Mass this morning was cancelled since there was an accident on the road and Fr. Jim couldn't make.  So instead I said the Divine Office with some woman at the church.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with what the Divine Office is I will briefly explain.  It is the official prayer of the Church.  The different prayers times are called hours (they don't take an hour to pray them).  The hours consist of praying the Psalms with all your brothers and sisters throughout the world at the same time.  You can think of private prayer as an intimate, personal prayer to your brother, to your friend, JESUS.  But the Divine Office is a universal prayer to your King.  After the Divine Office I made my way to Grafton.  The walk went well until I got to the actual town.  I of course had to go up a large winding hill, and since some genious city planner decided to put steps in the sidewalk since they looked cute or something, I had to walk in the road and held up traffic.  I had a few motorists yell at me but I kept smiling and going on.  I finally made it up to the Catholic Cemetery where I met Sheldon who let me into the Knights Hall.  Now I am really spoiled on this pilgrimage, Sheldon even put in a air conditioner for me.  After unloading my things Sheldon, a truly wonderful knight, took me to Tygart State park for dinner which I am so thankful for.  Amazingly, Sheldon is the one who planned the American Discovery Trail from Dolly Sods to Clarksburg.  I had to admit to him that I've kind of strayed from the trail and have not used one piece of his planned route.  Also, Frank, the knight who got me intouch with Sheldon helped plan the ADT in Missouri.  Oh yeah I forgot Grafton is the home of the first ever Mother's Day.  After dinner Sheldon took me to a house where they were working on the memorial day float for the parade in town.  Memorial day is huge in Grafton since it is home of the only 2 national cemeteries in West Virginia.  I was told that it is oldest or among the oldest continually running parades in the country.  I was able to meet Fr. Jim and thank him for allowing me to stay in the rectory.  He drove me back to the knights hall and on the way swung by the church so I could receive communion, which meant so much to me.

 A helicopter landed right next to me.  I first thought the knights were sending Squire One to come pick me up.

 Part of the old highway leading into Grafton

Me infront of Tygart Lake

5-18

Walked 20 miles to Clarksburg in what seemed like 200% humidity.  I made good time the first 7 miles in about 2 hours since it was all flat.  But than came the West Virginia hills.  I was told I would hit 2 large hills.....it was more like 200.  West Virginia is a beautiful state but I will be glad to be in the relatively flat midwest, plus I won't be told I have an accent there.  Everytime someone tells me I have an accent, I respond that I talk just like everyone on T.V., your the one with accent.  The worst part of the hills isn't going up like you would think, its actually the decent.  You see going up I have my momentum and can take breaks by resting my cart against my hips.  But going down my cart wants to take off so the whole time I have to pull back on it.  It actually takes more effort going down than up.  O well I'm not compain'n just explain'n  I also got pulled over for the first of I'm sure many times.  The police officer just wanted to make sure I was careful since as he put it 3 times, "Some of these idiots just don't care."  It's better for me to walk against traffic so I can see the cars coming.  But up here in West Virginia I have to walk with traffic since there are so many windy and hilly roads that if I walk with traffic someone will just whip around a corner and take me out.  And these people fly, there like Nascar drivers except they have the ability to make right turns.  So, I made it to Clarksburg and met Jimmy who let me into the knights hall.  I was able to attend Mass and Jimmy arranged a meal for me at the restaurant across the street from the hall.  I was only able to talk to him briefly since Mass was beginning soon so I hope I can see him tomorrow to learn more about him, the knights here and the community.  Oh yeah, Jimmy is allowing me to stay here tommorow night so I can plan my route through Ohio.

I found this birthday card crumpled up on the side of the road, and being the nosey little pilgrim that I am I picked it up and read it. It is from Michelle but she never wrote his name.....so we shall call him Fernando.  The first part of the letter is pretty cookie cutter about how great he is and how she loves being with him.  But my favorite part is near the bottom where it says "I will be honest and not cheat." Is that really necessary to say Michelle?  Are you trying to say with anyone else you'll cheat but not Fernando?  Fernando if your out there, do you know how lucky you are?  Michelle has put in writing that she will not cheat on you.  With all the attempts of re-defining marriage I could see them putting this into their vows, actually I think they would rather push the "I will cheat, if you love me you'll understand".   Fernando if your out there, do you know how lucky you are?  Michelle has put in writing that she will not cheat on you.  And obviously your taking it for granted since you threw it out your car window.  If I may be so bold I say I worry about our future.  If these two kids can't make it, who can?

5-14

My phone was supposed to be delivered at 10:30 this morning but didn't arrive until 3:15.  So checking out of my room at noon I hung out at the picnic table infront of the hotel and patiently waited.  John came into town and I was able to give him his lost journal.  Pat and Kathy were going to pick me up for Mass and than drive me to Parson's so I could hear Mass in the morning there.  But after Mass Fr. Timothy offered to by me a room for the night and drive me to Mass in the morning which I gently refused, he had already done enough, and so I stayed in the social hall instead.  After Mass Pat and Kathy took Fr. Timothy and I to Hellbenders Burrito for dinner in Davis.  The burritos were massive.  Thank you Pat and Kathy for everything.

5-15

Fr. opened up the church early and I was able to say my morning prayers and mental prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  At 8 Fr. picked up my cart and myself and drove to Parsons for Mass.  Being able to pray 4 Masses in 3 days was such a blessing on this pilgrimage   After Mass he drove me 6 miles further down the road and dropped me off at a wonderful little restaurant/resort that just opened last week.  I promised them I would advertise but the flyer and business card are buried in my cart and I'm lazy so in my next post I will have the info.  I walked 13 miles today, and it was hot, and stayed in the backyard of a retired couple in Valley Furnace.

 Fr. Timothy and I

 The altar at Our Lady of Mercy in Parsons

 The restaurant/ resort Fr. dropped me off at

 My tent and comfy chair behind the retired couples garage... and don't make fun of me and my chair, what do you expect me to do sit on the ground like some kind of animal?

I knew Oompa Loompas were real, I found a Loompa house.  Willy Wonka said they were from Loompaland but he was lieing, there here in Nestorville West Virginia.

“Let us run (or walk) to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.”  St. Francis de Sales

“What a joy to remember that she (Mary) is our Mother!  Since she loves us and knows our weakness, what have we to fear.”  St Therese of Lisieux

I was on the phone Sunday evening relaying the days events to Fr. Ben and he was in turn telling Fr. Dan who was there with him.  After hearing of how I was in a hotel room and on my way to a fine Italian restaurant for dinner (I’ll discuss how this came to be later) I could hear Fr. Dan over the phone exclaim, “I thought he was on a pilgrimage?”  I know it sounds like I’m on vacation.  But these blessings are actually an indication of my true worth, and it’s not what you think….let me explain.  There has not been a day on my pilgrimage that angels have not held me up and guided me.  (And I give a shout out to Ignatius (I named my Guardian Angel Ignatius) the hardest working Guardian Angel out there.  Believe me, getting me this far he deserves an extra halo.  I don’t know if he got in trouble in heaven for getting stuck with me, but Deo Gratias I got him.)  There has not been a day where Mary hasn’t looked down with pity on her lowly servant.  There has not been a day that Our Lord has not showed me the way to His Sacred Heart through his side, through His humanity, through each and every person I have come across.  Many would say that I have been blessed so far on my pilgrimage, which is very true.  I am amazed each and every moment at the love of God displayed on all creation.  But from these blessings I see my true worth.  Like the sun, which catches our eye more than anything visible on earth or in the sky, yet is the thing we behold the least in fear of damaging our eyes.  So, there is nothing more visible than my weakness, yet I only look within briefly in fear of damaging my pride.  The blessings I have received are the sun, blinding the eyes of my worldly self.  Blinding me till I hopefully see the world for what it is, nothing just like me.  That once blinded I may finally open the eyes of faith in my heart, to behold the kingdom of God, and live internally, to detach from the world and attach myself completely to God.  To allow Him to make me something, to recreate me into another CHRIST, to allow Him to be all my strength, to overcome all my weakness.  Now, the help I have received from heaven isn’t because I’m some great saint, or I’m better than anyone else, far from it.  No it is proof of my nothingness, of my weakness.  I am certain that all of you reading this, if you undertook this pilgrimage, would fair much better than I with only half the graces I have received.  I need these spiritual crutches or else I will crumble like a potato chip.  And so I thank you, all of you, for it is your prayers that have helped heaven to look with pity upon me. The lives of the Saints are full of stories of heroic acts in times of trials and sufferings as they united themselves to CHRIST.  I am too far from that point, I am too weak, and this is why I look to my little mother to instruct me and raise me as she did JESUS so long ago.  And so I must give credit where credit is due.  I have not walked a single step this entire pilgrimage, I have been carried by my little mother.  I have felt the same warmth Our Savior felt in her loving arms.  Mary, never ever let me go. 

5-12

Woke up early and headed out towards Davis which was around 15 miles away.  I walked 7 miles till I just about hit highway 32 when I happened upon a young man on a four wheeler.  I asked him how much further 32 was and he told me it was just at the end of the road.  A couple of minutes later he pulls up with his father in a large pickup truck.  He said he would take me to Davis, so we picked up my cart and loaded it in back. Upon reaching Davis I had cell phone reception and had a message from Darrell, my West Virginia KofC contact.  I called him and told him I was in Davis and if the knights had a place for me that was fine, if not I was going to check out the bed and breakfast in town so I could hold up and wait for my phone to be delivered, also to escape the cold.  I reached the bed and breakfast which is called Bright Morning Inn where I met Sandy the owner, and Saundra the owner of the Italian restaurant Sirianni's cafe next door.  Even though the kitchen was closed Sandy made me breakfast while Saundra, knowing many of the knights, contacted them for me.  Not that Darrell wasn't hard at work, they had already heard about me and invited me to come to the Church hall in Thomas, the next town over.  So after finishing breakfast Saundra drove me over to the hall where two knights were finishing cleaning up the hall after the mother's day breakfast.  (Happy Mother's day to all the mother's.  Especially my physical mother and spiritual mother).  They allowed me to stay at the hall but Saundra needed to drive me back to Davis so I could retrieve my cart.  I walked the three miles, which to me is a jog around the block.  Along the way Sandy must have seen me leave and pulled up asking if I wanted to load my things into her station wagon.  I thanked her but explained it would be too difficult and it wasn't that far, I would be OK.  So upon reaching the hall I began to go through my things weeding out what I don't need.  I had to drop the weight in my cart, I figured if I hadn't used something by now than I didn't need it.  I seriously had cans of tuna in there I think from day 1.  After a bit I went to see if Fr. was in the rectory which he was.  He offered to buy me a hotel room for the two nights while I waited for my new phone to be delivered   This was a most gracious offer, and I know refuse nothing, but I needed to call Fr. Ben for some direction.  He explained it was Fr. Timothys way of contributing to my pilgrimage and so I gladly accepted.  He drove me over and we had a wonderful talk.  He was able to tell right away that I had consecrated my life to Mary, I won't tell you how but if you read the book "True Devotion to Mary" by St. Louis De Montfort (which can be found online for free) you can learn for yourself (this was a not so subtle way of hinting for you to read this book).  He as well has consecrated his life to Mary through St. Louis De Montforts guidance, I knew there was something I liked about him when I met him.    He is a very devout priest and the people in this area are very blessed to have him.  Saundra had invited me earlier in the day to come to her restaurant for dinner on the house and it was delicious.

5-13

Mass was at 7:15 so I woke up early and got ready.  Took a shower and got myself dressed to the nines.....ok the sevens.....fine the five's.  "Vanity of vanities!  All is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 1:2)  So of course I spent too much time getting ready and ending up leaving late so I had to run most of the way.  I got to Mass a few minutes late and sweating profusely completely canceling out my previous pampering, I may walk but I'm no runner.  After the first Mass, which was the Novus Ordo, or the new Mass which most people are familiar with which is in English and the priest faces you the entire time.  Fr. Timothy held a second Tridentine Mass on the side altar which is the pre-Vatican 2 Mass which is said in latin, the priest keeps his back to you the majority of the time, and it contains different prayers.  Now both are the same sacrifice and are beautiful in their own rights.  I was able to receive communion twice which was truly a blessing and had my confession heard.  Fr. Timothy is also going to keep my origami rose near the Virgin Mary statue in the church.  Pat and Kathy were waiting for me after Mass to take me to breakfast.  Pat is a fellow knight and I am very thankful for the meal and allowing me to get to know them.  Went into town and visited Saundra and Sandy.  Saundra invited me back for dinner again and encouraged me to have the pasta, which was unbelievable.  Talked to John and he will be in town tomorrow so I will be able to give him his journal.

 The side altar where Fr. said the Tridentine Mass