
Someone died.
And you know that means when you're Italian....a huge glass full of fucking FEAR that the deceased may not be given access to the V.I.P. crowd hanging in Club Stairway to Heaven.
And you know that means when you're Italian....a huge glass full of fucking FEAR that the deceased may not be given access to the V.I.P. crowd hanging in Club Stairway to Heaven.
It means chanting back canned phrases at a man dressed in an embellished robe, while tuning out and thinking about the kind of casserole the Parish may offer at the end of the service, or if the pretty stained glass was painted by hand (?). Rosary's aren't a form of "meditation" they're superficial comfort of familiar words that are supposed to "mean something" so that you feel less guilt about the fact that you haven't prayed since Easter and some sort of ease that you've "done your part", or put in your request for her swift acceptance into such an exclusive club.
My Great, GREAT, Aunt Margaret, kicked off after 80something years of feisty red-headed, Italian/Irish existence and then last night, we had to attend the Rosary to pray for her PERMISSION into Heaven. Like it's the fucking country club for do-gooders.
.....? No? No one else finds that strange? That a woman who lived a full bountiful, incredible life, loyal, kind, happy- would need to be given permission? To me, the whole praying that they weren't "too big of a sinner" thing is like asking if a child deserves to be fed. OF COURSE they do. Were we not created by a PERFECT creator to be perfectly the way he/she envisioned us being?? Have the lives we lived not been exactly the plan that the Divine has planned for us???
My Great, GREAT, Aunt Margaret, kicked off after 80something years of feisty red-headed, Italian/Irish existence and then last night, we had to attend the Rosary to pray for her PERMISSION into Heaven. Like it's the fucking country club for do-gooders.
.....? No? No one else finds that strange? That a woman who lived a full bountiful, incredible life, loyal, kind, happy- would need to be given permission? To me, the whole praying that they weren't "too big of a sinner" thing is like asking if a child deserves to be fed. OF COURSE they do. Were we not created by a PERFECT creator to be perfectly the way he/she envisioned us being?? Have the lives we lived not been exactly the plan that the Divine has planned for us???
Our "source" created us, therefor- I'm sure would like to see us at the end. Sort of like a Time Capsule, you put it away for awhile and then you're like, "WOW! Good to see you again!....I remember you." Or an old sweater that used to be your favorite until you lost it behind the dryer and then found it seven years later. We're God's favorite lost sweaters. Of course we're allowed back on the shelf (unless we're some heinous argyle pattern.)
The idea of Hell is simply one I can't and won't buy into. It implements an idea of fear, and GUILT, both of which if you've been reading my blog are emotions are abhor.
So, yesterday sitting in the pews staring at my feet and listening to the rattle of my Granny's beads and other mourners, I couldn't help but think- do you think that my Aunt Margaret, in the moments before she died, was really asking for forgiveness for eating too many meatballs and partaking in gluttony? Do you think she was sorry for taking pride in her fire engine red hair and making sure that it was dyed PERFECTLY crimson even when it should have turned gray?? Or was she thinking, "Damn, what a great ride."
Were her "sins" really sins at all or just a part of how she lived and shouldn't we CELEBRATE them rather than worry that she's in a waiting room in the sky waiting for her "final verdict."
At the END of my life, I won't be sorry, or begging for MERCY (yes, we repeated the words "have mercy" 20 plus times in the service) because I was " a sinner". In fact, I'd like to say that every moment I was greedy for another piece of chocolate cake, or licked my lips lustfully when I saw someone's abs, the times I wanted MORE, or felt a pang of jealousy, the nights I've slept pre-maritally with someone that I loved, the times I've been PROUD of my gay friends, or my friends who had a different religion that I, or been consumed with other seemingly sinful activities... I haven't and WON'T be begging for mercy for ANY OF THEM.
So, Aunt Margaret- I hope your Chariot arrived with a glass of champagne in hand and that your return to the divine started off with one kick ass party.
What's your favorite SIN?...And do YOU believe in HELL?







