{After Christmas Sales: Humility - Tolerance - Patience - Integrity - Compassion}

On Sunday morning, March 6, 1988 we did go to a Moorish, Byzantine style Church with Venetian Gothic influence. That was in New Orleans, Louisiana, across from the historic Roosevelt Hotel then called Fairmont hotel. We just had arrived the previous day for the 7th North American Mushroom Conference where Pieter would present a paper as Vice President Training & Development of Campbell's Soup Mushroom Division. We'd driven the 600 miles (965 km) from Fairmont Drive in Dublin, Georgia. We just moved from one Fairmont to another Fairmont... 

The Immaculate Conception or Jesuits Church was a beautiful building. You also can find info  here: Jesuit Church in New Orleans. We did meet with Fr. Tonnar after Mass because his short homily was one I wanted to bring home for my writer friend to use for his weekly columns. Quite appropriate for after Christmas I share it here with you as well...

I am flat broke from overspending at Christmas. But I need to go shopping again soon because I am completely out of self-respect. I've said a few things I wish I could take back, and I am not feeling very good about myself.

I also want to exchange a carton of self-righteousness for an equal amount of humility. I hear it is less expensive and it wears better. And while I'm at it, I'm going to check on tolerance and see if there is any available in my size.

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I must remember to try to match my patience with the little I have left. My neighbor is loaded with it, and it looks awfully good on her. I was told the same department has a repair shop for mending integrity. Mine has become frayed around the edges from too many short-cuts and too much compromising. If I don't get it refurbished soon, there won't be any left.

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I almost forgot the most important thing of all -- compassion. If I see some, no matter what the color, size or shape, I'm going to stock up heavily, regardless of the price. I have run out of it so many times and I always feel ashamed when it happens.

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I don't know why it has taken me so long to get around to shopping for these items. They don't cost nearly as much as some of the frivolous things I've bought on impulse and I'm sure to get a lot more satisfaction from them.

Yes, I am going shopping today and I can leave my credit cards and checkbook at home. The things I am looking for have no price tags.

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After my friend wrote the column with this text, I did write Fr. Tonnar again and I received a very nice card back.

Unfortunately he died about 8 years after we'd met him, in 1996...

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