Parish picnic clown with Gracie Hardy in 2006
To celebrate carnival weekend being celebrated today, I share with you today......Flashback from my journals - September 10, 2006 - PARISH PICNIC - A great Mass today, during which I announced my
citizenship and welcomed everyone for another great year, with today’s Mass
being like a kick-off for the new working year. Today was also the day for our
parish picnic which was well-organized by my four go-getters who seem to work
so well together, Cathy Berka, Kelly Hardy, Tay Mohr and Arlene Dethloff,
besides their spouses, other parishioners who helped in the set-up and
clean-up. People brought lots of food, while God gave us a glorious day with
plenty of sunshine which everyone seemed to enjoy, because it was not hot with
temperatures in the 70s. Many games were organized, mainly for children, but
adults got involved in horse-shoes, bocce ball, volleyball, other than
competitions to choose one of many interesting categories, like the oldest
person, the farthest traveled person, the person from the farthest country, the
most recently married and oldest married couple. Children competed also in
drawing the most beautiful stained-glass window with chalk on the black-top. A
very popular clown entertained the children and the adults while handing out
balloons to the children, as they tried to guess who was behind the clown’s
costume. When the Pastor did not show up, it was easy for people to conclude
who it was, also because they somehow recognized the eye-brows and hairy hands,
in spite of the fact that his face was painted in white and wearing a curly purple wig. When I showed up after
removing my outfit and washing my face, I apologized for being late and tried
to convince the people that I had a run-in with the clown as he was caught
drinking wine on the steps of the Cathedral. Few of course believed me, but the
children remained very suspicious and wondered who the clown was. 
The clown handing out balloons
A
horse-driven carriage by Ron Colton provided rides around town, let by two
majestic draft horses that are big as the Clydesdale Budweiser horses. The
pinada once again was a very popular attraction for all the children, and in
spite of a few near misses with the dangerous pole in the hands of 5 year-olds,
everyone ended with a handful of candy. It was so good to see everyone having a
good time, and those who decided not to come do not know what they missed! By 3
PM, I was on my way to my Mission Church in Halfway, whose parishioners surprised
me with a fellowship get-together after Mass with some ice-cream, juice and
cookies to celebrate my citizenship. To commemorate the 5th
anniversary of the September 11 tragedy, I played my “Twin Towers Lament” on
the flute which of course was very well received. Incidentally, the girl who painted the clown's face, Mayce Collard, was killed in driving accident in February 2007, a tragic day for the entire parish. She was only 17 and had just received her driver's license. She skidded on an icy road and died on the spot.
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