Without even bursting into flame.

We all went to Mike’s memorial today. First there was mass and then the memorial. During the mass communion was held and I took communion without even bursting into flame. Pattie and Darlene didn’t take communion, Pattie because (she said) she hasn’t been to confession in 5 years and should have started confessing last week if she wanted to make it in time for communion. Darlene didn’t because, well, she probably would have burst into flame and that would have been a slight inconvenience for the people that rode to the church with her, not to mention the clean up.

But I took communion. Mainly because Jeff was going up and I didn’t want him to go by himself, since he appeared to be the only one out of the 20 people we were with that was going to take the long walk up the aisle to absolution. So hopped on up.

I am Methodist. But I take salvation where I can get it, and I don’t think God gets really miffed like that. I mean, it’s the thought that counts, right? Just like when I crossed myself at the appropriate times. Because I know how. So I did. And I even kneeled. And thanks to sporadic visits to the Catholic Lite Church (Lutheran) with Chelvis now and again I also happen to know when to come in speaking with the rest of the congregation. Although I forgot that when you shake the hands of the people all around you, you say “Peace be with you”, so when the lady with the mild moth ball aroma next to me reached over to shake my hand, she looked at me expectantly, I said.

“Hi”, nodding and smiling.
“Peace be with you”, she said, turning back to her husband no doubt mouthing the words, “Methodist” to him while she rolled her eyes.

But no one from our group yelled out “Free Bird” during the gospel songs and everyone teared appropriately during Ava Maria, steeped in tradition as it was, it was a good service. And we are all going to miss Mikey, so very much.