"And so this is Christmas, and what have you done..." Two

Our trip to Ohio was without incident. We didn't hit any snow at all until crossing through the northern panhandle of West Virginia into Ohio. Then, as I escorted Sal on her first foray into the Great Midwest, there were light flurries until we hit Columbus. From there to Cincinnati, it was obvious we were in for a white one.

I trust everybody had a good Christmas. On the Eve, we went over to the eastern outskirts of the city, to Milford where I grew up and where my folks still live. There, the Alexander clan assembled for the opening of presents. Mom and Dad are in failing health, but in good spirits nonetheless. We had the house renovated to allow for wheelchair access for Dad, and we have nurses and aides come in, so we don't have to send our folks off to one of what my Uncle Gene used to call "those old smelly places."

That night, Sal and I drove into the city, and attended Midnight Latin Mass at the beautiful "Old Saint Mary's" in Cincinnati's Over-The-Rhine district. It was a most beautiful Mass, if a bit on the chilly side. There were the usual large families, and a few older folks. Everybody cleared out afterwards to escape the cold. But it was just as well; I didn't recognize anybody. I've been away too long, I reckon. Still, the pictures of the recently restored church are quite beautiful. Check the link above.

Christmas Day itself was a quiet one. We went to the movies that afternoon, and saw two of them. Just light romantic comedies, nothing too cerebral. We fell asleep watching TV that evening.

The next day, "Boxing Day" in Canada and the UK, we went to a parish east of the city, Immaculate Heart of Mary, for Mass, hoping to see the pastor, who is an old friend of mine. Sure enough, he was there. The Mass was a contemporary setting, but true to my friend's way of doing things, it was carried out with all due reverence. Afterwards, Sal and I took the good Father out to lunch. Father and I caught up on old times, and what life was like for him and the Church in that neck of the woods. He shared with us how God was always calling him to the priesthood, even though he answered late.

The sun is setting on Monday as this is written. The time here in Ohio has been restful, mostly with family. Having experienced both the East and West Coasts, this was Sal's first trip to middle America. She expected something backward, but what this native Filipina found was a place as civilized as any place in America she had known, if one with a slower pace of life.

As we toured what Winston Churchill once called "one of America's most beautiful inland cities," we wondered what it would be like to live here...