A Day of Remembrance and Celebration...come join me and Rejoice!

[Guest guest]

51 years ago today I was Confirmed in the Faith. That is to say,

having been raised Roman Catholic and being privately schooled in the

heart of an immense Archdiocese, which boasted a Cardinal at the acme

of said Arch, as opposed to a lesser Archbishop(aren't you

impressed?!), I had reached the age of Reason and Consent and would

be given the opportunity to exercise that R and C and confirm my

sanction to all things Catholic in the Roman sense, and my total

submission to the Church's cardinal beliefs, and the Pope's

infallible opinion.It was a pageant of some no small degree and I was

enraptured by the Vestments of Adornment on the Cardinal and his holy

assistants, the haunting, mood altering Latin song and Gregorian

Chant of the Seminary Choir holding forth this grand day, imbuing the

air within the imposing and majestic Cathedral with mystical

ambience. A High Holy ceremonial Event indeed! And no matter that I

now make lite somewhat of that day, I cannot but admit that lo, even

now these five plus decades hence, I still remember that emotional

imprint with nostalgic heart. My chosen Confirmation name was Jude. I

had chosen the saint's handle because as the patron of hopeless

cases, I had had times innumeral been asking and praying for his

intercession on my behalf in many and sundry hopless cases and

causes. Thus it is with boys of wonder and faith and vast amounts of

mischieviousness! I had of course already processed the Sacraments of

Baptism(which left only an arcminute engram within the cerebral

cortex having been performed at the delicate age of 2 months old),

and the Act of Confession and Holy Communion, both at age seven(a

good age to know what your sins both Mortal and Venial, are and to

begin your inner communication with the Higher Wisdom as it were, and

to Repent,Renew and Commune for all it's worth to gain forgiveness

and favour and to avoid or evade Hell or Purgatory(Limbo had been

forstalled as a possible abode for the netherworld life at Baptism we

were assured).I remember so well Mother Mary Charelsetta sitting

behind us in our sectioned area of the pews and feeling her stern eye

looking for some fault that could be used against any one of us for

the eternity of time that was left under her direction and lead(this

was grade four in an eight year sentence that our dear parents were

paying dearly for! And we were too!). But all went well, my brother

Jacques as my Sponser was standing behind me at the communion rail,

where I knelt in fervent prayer awaiting the big Card.. And he,the

Cardinal did soon come by my position and did render succor by a slap

to my my face, as is required of him to do and for we the

supplicants to endure. Soon the entire grade 4 class had been cuffed

and confirmed and directed back to form ranks for our long walk back

(in single file children!) to the schoolhouse from the House of

Worship. Now on this day of remembrance for me, I like to review, as

time goes by, what else of import obtained in history on this 24th

day of March. Following are the most crucial and sacrosanct

happenings that occured on the same date subsequent to that decisive

day of personal significance. I forthwith offer the following events

as confirming, in their critical mass of coincidence, the

unquestionable and indubitable signification and implication of this

day for me of Awe and Infamy:

 

In 1958, in Memphis, Elvis Presley is inducted into the U.S.

Army as Private Presley, serial number U-S-53310761.

 

In 1959, the Drifters release " There Goes My Baby, " their

first single with new lead singer Ben E. King and producers

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

 

In 1962, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards first perform

together as Little Boy Blue & the Blue Boys.

 

In 1973, Pink Floyd release Dark Side of the Moon.

 

Also in 1973, Lou Reed is bitten on the butt by a stage

invader at a concert in Buffalo, N.Y. Lou says America

" seems to breed real animals. "

 

In 1982, Iron Maiden release the album The Number of the

Beast.

 

In 1992, after it's discovered that Milli Vanilli didn't

perform on their recordings, a Chicago judge says the duo's

label should offer refunds to those who purchased the the

discs.

 

In 1993, Judy Collins goes jogging with her No. 1 fan,

President Bill Clinton, but has to drop out after

experiencing shortness of breath.

 

In 2000, Judge Marsha Revel orders Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ol'

Dirty Bastard to undergo psychiatric evaluation.

 

In 2002, Papa Roach's Jacoby Shaddix becomes the proud father

of a baby boy, Makaile Cielo Shaddix.

 

Also in 2002, Will Smith is beaten to the Best Actor Oscar

by Denzel Washington.

 

In 2003, ex-Van Halen wildman David Lee Roth begins a week

filling in as a morning DJ on Arrow 93.1 in Los Angeles.

 

Also in 2003, War with Iraq forces Madonna to re-edit her

controversial " American Life " clip. The video featured the

Material Girl lobbing grenades at a fashion show.

 

In 2005, Foghat's founding guitarist Rod Price dies after

falling down a flight of stairs. The 57-year-old played on

the band's 1975 hit " Slow Ride. "

 

Also in 2005, Anthrax announce they are reforming with their

classic Among the Living line-up for a tour.

 

 

Just thought you'd like to know and to come celebrate with me

....bob