Cheering for Chris

 Many times I've wallowed in grief over my friend, Chris, who died in December 2022.  I wrote how we met and the poem I wrote when I needed her.

Missing Chris*

Happy is he who finds a friend and he who speaks to attentive ears. Sirach 25:9

My soul mate, Chris would help with my mess,
over spinach artichoke dip, nachos,
ice tea, girl-talk, dope slaps, and laughter;
deftly would your perspective fix my problem;
snap smooth wrinkled excuses and cobwebbed thoughts,
as we share late night secrets and pray for grace.

*from The Preacher Poets, Dominicus Books, Inc., 2008, page 15.

Chris was also a fan of the New England Patriot's Football Team, especially Tom Brady, when he was their quarterback. She went to as many games as she could and when she didn't have tickets, she went to a sports bar in Gillette Stadium (where the Patriots play) and in that charged atmosphere she watched her team play on the big TVs.  She would have loved the movie *80 for Brady.*   It's about four octogenarians who love the Pats and Tom Brady, just like Chris did. 

I went to see it for her.  I would not have ever entertained the thought.  I never liked "Golden Girls." I thought the show demeaning.  It was unbecoming and unseemly for senior citizens to talk dirty and act sexy.  And that's what "80 for Brady" is about.  But Chris would have loved it, so I considered going for her.

As fate would have it, I won a ticket to go!  My Senior Center had a lottery to go to the movie, and I won one of the tickets.

I had the best time, as you can see from these pictures taken at the movie theater in Gillette Stadium.

and thus it is that I am inspired to write another poem for Chris.  

Cheering for Chris

1 Thessalonians 4: 13-15

“We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with Him those who have fallen asleep.”

 

My friend, Chris, who loved the Patriots,
       would have wanted to see “80 for Brady.”
And so I went for Chris, to see, to laugh, and maybe
       to lessen the feel of my grief laden cross.

Chris would have howled with laughter,
      and so I watched for the two of us.
Cheering, clapping, enjoying, plus
      thinking of your happiness ever after.

You're So-o-o-o Catholic!

My friend Chris and I use to tease each other by playing a game we called "You're so Catholic."  I was reminded of this game, when I read Matthew Warner's article in the National Catholic Register, "How "Catholic" should you be online?"

Chris to Faith:  You're so Catholic that all the religious medals you wear clang so much, the cows come
home.

Faith to Chris:  You're so Catholic that the UPS driver gets lost in the Nativity Scene set up in your front
yard.

Get it?

We're not crazy.  We're just Catholic!

Friends

Guess who's on Face Book. My best friend in the whole wide world. I'm so happy. I can't explain it. You see....well....let me explain.

Actually, it's unexplainable. Is there such a word? What I mean is....well...I can explain who she is, but I can't explain the relationship. I can't express the feelings, the emotions, WTF!

I'll try.

I met Chris in 2000. (Year of the Holy Spirit) We both had joined a parish prayer group. We both fell in love with our Faith that year. We attended Life in the Spirit Seminars, we were anointed with the Holy Spirit and our lives meshed somehow.

She is a generation younger than I, but it never mattered. The leader of the prayer group was Fr. Aniello. He was a sweet heart. We both loved him.

Let me give you a run down of how we spent prayer group day. I went to work, came home and prepared supper, cleaned up and attended prayer group. Chris stayed home with her babies and did mommy things and attended prayer group. Fr. Aniello conducted a charismatic prayer group. After prayer group (after 10:00 PM) Fr. Aniello, Chris, and I, and anybody else who wanted to, went out to eat. We stayed at the restaurant and talked, and laughed, and laughed and talked, until sometime after midnight. We usually closed the place down.

We were happy living this way for a couple of years. During this time, Chris and I became very close. We told each other secrets like teenager girls. We just reveled in each other's company.

But life happens. First, Fr. Aniello, who is a missionary, got posted to China Town in Chicago. :-( Then Chris got sick. :-( Then I got sick. :-( I'm talking nasty sick--years recuperating and still feeling the affects.

We were too sick to interact with anybody. It was difficult, for me anyway, to keep up with my family, even. And that's the way, it was until, this morning.

Chris asked to be my friend on FB. I had just responded "Of Course," when the chat window opened and we chatted--for over an hour. LOL


What a blessing! What a way to start a new year! Thank you Jesus! I have thought and prayed a lot for Chris, over the years. I even wrote a poem about her, when I was really missing her friendship. I know it's silly, but it's NOT!

Missing Chris*

Happy is he who finds a friend and he who speaks to attentive ears. Sirach 25:9

My soul mate, Chris would help with my mess,
over spinach artichoke dip, nachos,
ice tea, girl-talk, dope slaps, and laughter;
deftly would your perspective fix my problem;
snap smooth wrinkled excuses and cobwebbed thoughts,
as we share late night secrets and pray for grace.

*from The Preacher Poets, Dominicus Books, Inc., 2008, page 15.

God is good! All the time!

Friends

MISSING CHRIS

Happy is he who finds a friend and he who speaks to attentive ears. Sirach 25:9

My soul mate, Chris would help with my mess,
over spinach artichoke dip, nachos,
ice tea, girl-talk, dope slaps, and laughter;
deftly would your perspective fix my problem;
snap smooth wrinkled excuses and cobwebbed thoughts,
as we share late night secrets and pray for grace.