Final Good Bye

This is my final post to all the wonderful folks at SOV2. I have been accepted formally as a member of the Institute of Servants of the Queen of Apostles. I requested what is called a "bilateral transfer" and it was granted. I now assume all the privileges of my new community. They are a wonderful group, and I know I have finally found my lasting home. After more than 40 years of roaming, always wondering where I belong, I have finally found it!

One of the privileges of my new community is that I received a new name. I am no longer Sr. Fairah. I am now Sr. Mary Martin of the Blessed Sacrament. Now before everyone goes on and on, yelling about male domination, let me explain why I LOVE my new name.

Mary: She was the BEST and BOLDEST woman to ever live on the face of the earth. Who else could have told the Son of God to take out the trash?

Martin (de Porres): He is the patron saint of social justice. Now, you know I GET social justice. While my new community doesn't usually DO a lot in the area of social justice, they are really BIG on praying for it. I am dedicating my entire life for the cause of justice in the world. Everything I do will be given over to that end.

"of the Blessed Sacrament": It is tradition that a devotion of particular interest be given to the Sister. Because I have spent close to 20 hours a day in chapel since my arrival in Columbus, they thought it was fitting I be devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, and I agree!

Now, I know some are still screaming about my taking a man's name. CALM DOWN! GET A GRIP! Here's how I see it: We believe that in Christ, there is neither free nor slave, neither male nor male, neither rich nor poor. So if Dym Tim were to decide to become Dym Tammy, you would all applaud his recognition of the divine feminine in him. So, I am doing the same thing. Consider this: taking a male name reminds us all that gender is secondary to being. I am SISTER to all, and that is my primary name. Martin was a HUGE lover of the poor, the natives, the untrodden. I am HONORED to be named after him. Scream all you want, I don't care if it is a male name. It does not bother me at all!

So I will miss everyone. I am happy the Gorbortines are making themselves such a big part of SOV2. I am glad Dym Tim (or Dym Tammy, as some would have it) is back. I hope Che' doesn't come back from his cruise all red like a lobster! I will greatly miss Maryann and Keith and IR. I still call some more women to come forth in leadership at SOV2. I hope Adoro will come around more often ... she has a lot she can teach you all! Oh, and I don't miss H. Roberts at all ... I am praying for the repose of his soul (a concept most of you don't get, but it's ok... God gets it!).

To one and all, peace and the love of Jesus Christ. You will be in my prayers as I give myself over to Jesus. Pray for me, too.

Good bye and God bless...

First, about the road trip: at first I was going just to accompany Molly Jean. But as we visited, read and prayed, I started to sense a stirring in my own heart.

I’m seeing a whole new side of the Church. The evil male hierarchy isn’t evil at all. They’re not even anti-womyn. DO NOT STOP READING.... You see, as we traveled, we took turns reading MULIERIS DIGNITATEM out loud. That is an apostolic letter by John Paul II. Now before everyone starts screaming at me, let me tell you: it’s IN YOUR FACE on the dignity of womyn. While I’ve always been proud of being a womyn, I had NO idea before how BLESSED by God I am as a womyn. And how much men and womyn need each other. Even as a woman promised to celibacy, men still compliment me. Here’s my favorite (well, maybe second favorite) line: “In the life of consecrated women, for example, who live according to the charism and the rules of the various apostolic Institutes, it can express itself as concern for people, especially the most needy: the sick, the handicapped, the abandoned, orphans, the elderly, children, young people, the imprisoned and, in general, people on the edges of society. In this way a consecrated woman finds her Spouse, different and the same in each and every person, according to his very words: "As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me" (Mt 25:40).” Whoever thinks this is anti-womyn obviously can’t read. And my FAVORITE line: “the dignity of women is measured by the order of love, which is essentially the order of justice and charity.”

Whoever thinks the man writing this is fascist and chauvinistic and anti-womyn … well, I challenge you to read it for yourself.

And as we visited these awesome communities, I began to see a part of my life that I’m really missing. I need to be with other Sisters. I need to relearn what my vows are about, and I can’t do that unless I’m around other Sisters.

We stopped at the provincial house for my community in Omaha. Sadly, I had no desire to stay there for more than a short visit. But when we stayed at the other convents, I felt so drawn to stay and not leave. I felt especially attracted to the nuns (and they are nuns) at Institute of Servants of the Queen of Apostles in Columbus, OH. They have a beautiful spirit, and well, I want to learn more about them. So they’ve invited me to stay. There is nothing in Knoxville for me to return there. Everything was ruined in the water-leak… absolutely everything. I have all my worldly possessions with me.

I’ve updated my profile one last time. I will be able to check the community blog once or twice during the next week, but starting on the 17th, I’m leaving SOV2 for good. The nuns don’t do anything online, and have asked me to let go of it, too. I’m sad I can’t come back to say goodbye to everyone, but I want to stay here.

A CALL TO ARMS, WOMYN: We need more of you to step up to leadership roles at SOV2. “H. Roberts” (or whomever is playing him) claims to have a committee taking applications to leadership here. I suspect it’s a committee of one. In any case, he needs to be BOMBARDED with womyn applying. ARM YOURSELF with strength, the order of justice and love and come forth to leadership at SOV2!

My final testaments:

Che’: BE NICE. Let go of your anger. Be church to everyone, even the Syb family.

IR: I’ll miss you! You have MUCH to give to SOV2 … don’t let anyone make you believe otherwise. I promise you’ll find a friend to take my place.

H. Roberts: you’re fake, a farce, a sham. A brain in a jar can’t communicate like you claim to. Who ever is claiming to be H. Roberts, be honest with the community. It’s wrong if you aren’t. Che' and Keith: don't change his water / mixture any more. The dead brain needs to rot.

Maryann: take over as spiritual advisor for me. Maybe you can get Brittnee to come back????? The community needs more womyn!

Dym Tim: If you’re ever in Columbus, come see me. Come back soon!

God bless you all. I love you and will pray for you.

Contest winner

So, the winner is: CHRISTINE: WELL DONE! 100%

1. Philadelphia, PA - Convent of Divine Love - Pink Sisters
2. Starrucca, PA - Oblates of Mary, Queen of Apostles - Traditional Order for Women
3. Summit, NJ - MONASTERY OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY - Dominican Nuns
4. Columbus OH - Institute of Servants of the Queen of Apostles - Traditional Order for Women
5. Rockford, IL - Poor Clares Corpus Christi Monastery
6. Debuque, IA - Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey - Trappist nuns
7. Agnew, NE - The Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Discalced Carmelites ) - Traditional Order for Women
8. Denton, NE - Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary (FSSP w/ Latin Mass)

All the cities have either a Cloistered Convent or a Latin-based (Trinitine) Convent. Except Denton, NE. It’s the American headquarters for the FSSP. They don’t have a women’s community YET, but are beginning one. Molly Jean wanted to go there. But she’d have to go to Europe for formation if she joined them, and that’s not “on her radar screen.”

The prize? We prayed for you at every chapel, every morning and evening prayer, and had a mass said for you. Congratulations, Christine!

I’ll write more tomorrow.

i-phone dead

I dropped my i-phone off a cliff when we stopped to take in some great scenery. So I won't be posting or commenting much ... just when we can get to a public library.



Glad the celebration of reparation went well. Molly Jean and I have been talking about it, and it's ... an odd concept: celebration of reparation. Oh, well, I'm sure i missed a doozy.

Peace out.

road trip

So we're having a great time on the road. But it's hard to post from the i-Phone. Just a word about the contest. Some people are half-right. You're very close. No tours, though. Keep guessing.
Agent smith: You must have seen someone else on that camera. I was only in that outfit 5 minutes.

ROAD TRIP

Molly Jean (my bus friend) and I are on a HUGE road trip. Below are the cities we're going to be visiting.

I'm hosting a contest. Whoever can guess what all these cities have in common will will a prize! You have to guess why we're vi sting these exact cities. You can't just say something like "they all have a post office." Use the comment box to make your guesses.

1. Philadelphia, PA
2. Starrucca, PA
3. Summit, NJ
4. Columbus OH
5. Rockford, IL
6. Debuque, IA
7. Agnew, NE
8. Denton, NE

PS: I changed my profile Pic... hope you all like the "new me!"

taking time away...

My home is full of water. Not just a little, but up to the chairs in water. I got home this afternoon and couldn't even get in the door. The landlord said it's better if I find somewhere else to stay for a week or so, while they clean up.

I met my bus-friend over at St. John's. She's invited me to stay with her as long as I need. But she lives in the hills, and doesn't get phone reception very well, and can't afford Internet connection. So I won't be posting for a few days. When we go into town, I'll use my i-Phone to check things out, and comment, but it is just too hard to get a real post done.

I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm starting to get to know the church over at St. John's, and they are great people. Some of their ideas are a little constricted, but ... well, I need to be church to them, too.

And I don't care what Dym Tim says about the Monstrance. I love being there.

I'm glad Agent Smith is moving in, as he knows more about Unix and can keep H. Roberts under control. Be church to him, and make him at home.

See everyone next week!

PEACE

Dym Tim, I miss you. Your "peace out" every post has really hit home.

Last weekend I went on a bus crusade of sorts, to find a temporary home where people don't hug and touch too much. I wanted to be with church, but didn't want to give anyone my ... problem. It took lots of bus riding and lots of avoiding kind people wanting to greet me with a faith hug and kiss, but I finally found a really nice church at St. John Neumann's. Everyone was really very nice, but there was no chance of spreading the baldness.

When I first went into the church, I just slipped into the back because it looked like they were having a weird service of some sort. Everyone was sitting in the front pews, and there was something on the table in the gathering space. People were real quiet, though. I thought maybe I just couldn't hear them from the back. After a long while, and a few people came and went, I decided maybe it wasn't such a formal service anyway, so I went closer to look.

On the altar there was this really big odd-looking metal thing. It had a cardboard circle in the middle, and spokes radiating out from it. There were really pretty gems placed very artistically in places. It actually looked like a 2-dimensional puffer fish from the tropics (I went scuba diving once, and had a lot of fun making the puffers puff.) ... only much prettier than a plain brown puffer. When I tried to go up to the table, one of the gentlemen in the church stopped me, and said I couldn't go up there. I didn't want to make contact with him, so I didn't push it, but went back to a side pew to see what would happen.

Nothing happened, really. But as I sat there, I realized I was feeling a peace that I've not known before. I sat there for a really long time, but it didn't feel like a long time.

I went back the next day, and the next. It is such a beautiful place, but beautiful in an unusual way. I miss SOV2, but not as much as I thought I would. There is something there that I just can't leave. I can't put words to it, but it's very real.

I think I'm getting better, though. The squirrels in the neighborhood, and me, have very thin hair, but it is growing back. I found another stray cat (this one was healthy to start) and brought it home, and it hasn't lost any hair yet. But before I come around, I want to be absolutely sure, and I want more hair. I hope to be back soon.

Che': PLEASE, unhook H. Robert Williams from anything electronic. He's going to get nasty if you don't!

Dym Tim: Can't you stop H. Robert from posting?

Peace out.

So I'm partially contagious

Wednesday night I got a phone call from the Sister who is in charge of my region. We are supposed to have them come visit us once a year, but it hasn't worked out so well the last several years. When Sr. Ophelia asked if she could come visit, I tried to explain that it wasn't a good idea, and that the poor cat had died and that all the squirrels in the neighborhood were now hairless. For some reason, she didn't believe me, and insisted on coming and bringing another Sister with her. Well, when they arrived, they saw I wasn't lying about being hairless or the squirrels in the neighborhood, but still insisted on staying with me. I told them I was afraid they'd get it, but they wouldn't take "no" for an answer. So they came in, and stayed the night. However, I insisted they not touch me, and that they sanitize the bathroom first.

I was so scarred that the next day they'd both be hairless, too. But thank Gaia that they weren't. So I am sure now that I am only contagious if I touch someone.

But that's still a problem at SOV2. Everyone is so inclined to hug, I just can't come around yet. But I am going to go tomorrow and find a church that won't hug and stuff. I'll be very careful about not touching anyone, and won't let anyone hug me or anything.

You see, I'm getting terribly lonely. I just have to go out and be around people!

And I just can't stand the thought of going out bald. But wigs HURT (the rash is still there). A nice, soft, white cloth works well. But this afternoon, I walked to the corner mini-mart to buy some green tea, and THREE different people thought I was Amish. Apparently, the white head covering is distinctively Amish. I don't want that mistake to happen again (although it was a great experience of unity), so I borrowed one of Sr. Perpetua's veils (she was the one that came with Sr. Ophelia). Poor Sr. Perpetua is one of about three in the community that still sticks to those awful male-imposed habits. But at least I won't be mistaken for Amish this way. I just HAVE to get out, and the veil will allow me to do that. But please, no one think that I'm being subservient or anything. And if you should see me, DO NOT touch me under any circumstances!

Che': are you running the antivirus check EVERY 2 HOURS, like I said? And running that script that will keep H. Robert from upgrading to Vista again? DON"T FORGET.....

Dym Tim, enjoy Jamaica. Don't let Che' get to you. You deserve the break. I've heard the scuba diving there is outstanding!

Maryann, will you prepare the sermon this week? I don't think the community really wants Che' or Keith again, and I personally will NOT allow H. Robert to do it again. He is SUCH a facist!

Don't come near me!

I don't know what I got into yesterday, if it was one of Keith's experiments or the gunk around H. Robert's brain, or a electric jolt, but whatever made my hair fall out and is causing this rash on my scalp ... it's catching!

There is a squirrel that I've tamed. It comes into the kitchen when I open the window, and i feed it peanuts and pet it. Then it goes back outside. Well, last night after I got home, it came in, ate, got petted, and went back out. This morning when it came in, I almost screamed ... it had NO FUR AT ALL. At first I thought it was a huge rat or something, but then when I saw how it moved, and its tail bounced just like a squirell's, I realized it caught whatever I have. So, to see if that was just a oddity, or if it's catching, I lured in a stray cat, petted it (It was actually very friendly and didn't mind being petted at all) and put it in a box to see what would happen . About an hour later, I checked, and it's hair had fallen out, too.

So NOONE COME NEAR ME. And don't expect me to come around SOV2 for a while. I'm afraid to even to go out to the doctor, for fear of giving it to someone else....

Anyone want a really ugly hairless cat???

H. Roberts ... he is literally sick

So I went last night to Che's apt, to check out what is happening w/ H. Roberts. Well, it isn't good news. I think someone else has the key, or the landlord is letting someone else in, because he was nearly re-hooked to the Vista machine, and I could NOT believe all that is on that machine ... the data bases were absolutely mind-boggling! His threats to alter your credit were SERIOUS. And the spyware he has running ... HE IS THE SPY, and not to mention the hacking programs that were running. He did have my password, as well as a screen shot of some of my emails. I strongly recommend everyone change every password you have. And remember to make your passwords strong, with some non-alphanumeric characters. For example, (H3'=@$$ is ideal.



And H. Roberts doesn't look good. And it isn't just because Che' skipped changing his water once. He has this bulge on one side of him (remember, he's a brain). I hope he doesn't have cancer or something. I remember when my mom's cancer went to her brain, she started acting all funny, like H. Roberts has been acting. But how do you take a brain to a hospital or a doctor? Maybe the growth will just fall off or something.



But things just keep getting weirder all the time ... when I was tracing back a fiber cable to see what it was connected to (there were cables EVERYWHERE, going every direction!) I suddenly felt this slimy, gooey stuff on my fingers, and realized I had gotten all the way back to the jar. Immediately all the hair on my head (and NO, I don't have a beard, like Che's mom!) stood on end, and I felt this electric volt go through my body. I pulled my hand out of the spaghetti of wires, and unconsciously touched my head, and the sticky stuff got in my hair. I didn't think much about it at the time, since we were so involved in figuring out what all the cables and CPUs and monitors go to (there must have been 50 monitors in that room!). But later, after we had hauled out most of the equipment (Agent Smith wanted to take a lot of it), Britnee made a comment about my head, and I went and checked the rear-view mirror in the van (the mirror in Che's apartment is unusable), and I HAD NO MORE HAIR, and there is a rash all over my scalp. So Che', DON'T TOUCH THE STUFF THAT THE BRAIN IS IN. Wear gloves!

While I think we took away anything that would allow H. Roberts to do any real damage, there is still the possibility that he has some connectivity. We found at least 5 wireless access points, and I can't promise we got them all. I did agree to leave one old machine, running DOS, with the brain, because Che's says he gets really grumpy when he doesn't have something to do. I pulled out some frogger and pacman games, and set him up. But whoever is doing the computer stuff is probably just going to upgrade it anyway. I did put a great firewall and Norton on it, but can't promise he won't just disable them. Agent Smith said a lot of the programs were running in UNIX, and I don't know anything about it (other than when it's the same commands as DOS), so I couldn't tell Che' what to watch for. So please, change your passwords! Another example of a strong password is +y^'s#Up.

retraction of earlier post ... and TOTALLY WIERD occurance

First, I hereby retract my earlier apology of sorts. H. Roberts is a hoax, and a mean manipulating facist. He will not "be" for much longer.

Now, the real post: So the absolute WIERDEST thing happened... even wierder than seeing Crystal re-cessitate the frog! I AGAIN ran into that young womyn on the bus. We AGAIN got into a wonderful discussion. She really is a bright, engaging young persyn. Based on our past encounters, I decided this time to just let her talk. She really had some very interesting points to make, and it's actually making me see another view of some things. Mind you, I'm still not ready to go to the Latin ... thing ... with her, but she really has some interesting takes on Latin.

It makes sense that because the same church is throughout the world, a single language would make us more one church. And just as I would find a ceremony in Spanish or French hard to understand, our brothers and systers in other countries don't like the breaking of the bread in English. Latin is at least neutral! English might even be offensive to someone from Iran or Hong Kong.

And then I happened to go into a different Catholic Church for liturgy, and saw a gazillion Mexican people there. No one was participating, and I couldn't figure out why they were there. I checked the bulletin, and there was even a Spanish one offered in the evening. I asked someone later, and they said the bad guys from immigration come to the Spanish services and catch people there, and deport them. So those poor Hispanic brothers and systers have to endure liturgy in a language they don't understand, to avoid being deported.

And the other day at SOV2, there was a couple there... I think it was Xavier and Marie Grafshalm, who have a very special child. He's 13, but really hasn't been given the same "stuff" that most people are given, and all little Bebo can do is sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." So when you and I are enjoying "We are Church" and Kumbyah, Bebo just sings yet another verse of Twinkle. In other words, what language the breaking of the bread is in, doesn't make a difference. In order to be church to Bebo, we should have the breaking in a language no one gets. Then, we'll all be as happy as Bebo is.

So if we all went to Latin, we'd all be equally happy.

I can NOT believe I'm writing this.

Apology (of sorts) to H. Robert

Che', Maryann, Britnee and I went out for green tea and the best vegi chile ever. We had a nice, long talk. It was the nicest experience of Church in a long time!



I realize now that I don't like H. Roberts because he's different than me. That's not fair. I'm different than the trees and mother earth, but not lesser than them. I forgot that even H. Roberts has a spark of the divine, even as a brain. To be honest, H. Roberts is smart ... probably smarter than me ... and therefore probably closer to Gaia! After all, some day we will all reach perfect knowledge, and he's a lot closer than I am. That day, there will be no distinction between a brain and a spirit. Doesn't it say somewhere in scripture that there is no difference between male and femyle? Well, the same is true for a brain and a spirit.



So I'm taking a step back and stopping my disapproval of H. Roberts. I STILL can't accept his idea that litigation is what is best for the church. Krystal, after all, has done some awesome things in revealing the power of the divine.



Dym Tim -- can't you ban litigation for members of SOV2? If so, we'll all get along better and be church better. After all, H. Roberts HAS TO listen to you. Threaten to ban him if he continues with this talk of suing. Do it for us, the church!

This speaks for itself.

I'm so confused!

I just don't get H.Roberts. We're all supposed to be heading toward a unified spirit with Mother Earth / Gaia and each other. How can a brain have a unified spirit? It has no spirit ... it's just a brain. I'm thinking the whole H. Roberts thing is a hoax. Dym Tim, have you ever seen H. Roberts? Since he died at least? Sorry, Che, but I think you are taking us all for a ride of some sort.

Then I keep running into that womyn on the bus. She's starting to make sense. I don't want to go into what all we talk about, but ... I'm getting more confused each day. She's a wonderful, kind, caring, compassionate young womyn. And she's starting to make me think ... well, just that. I'm starting to think. Not that I didn't before, but this is different somehow.

And I'm out of green tea. I'm out of money. The bills from that awful retreat center in the mountains keep coming. I think I"m going to move and not leave a fwd address. But I have to stay close to SOV2, even though people here anymore aren't really being church, they're all I have. You at least have stayed away from that horrible other language. But even that has it's good points, I'm starting to realize ... but that's a post for another day.

I'm confused! Anyone who needs me, I'll be in the labyrinth....

Global Poverty and Warming together!

Wow.. isn't this the most PROFOUND thing:
"“This is an emergency,” Mr Gore told the opening session of the Clinton Global Initiative. “I think that the key to fighting global poverty is to have the wealthy nations and the developing nations join together to reduce global warming … I think what we need is a global Marshall plan to make the creation of jobs around the reduction of carbon the central principle for how we develop this.”

Read the whole article here:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/633d030a-6c5d-11dc-a0cf-0000779fd2ac.html

I say we RALLY!

Let's get real

You will never believe that I ran into that SAME young womyn on the bus again this week. I really thought after our extended conversation last time, she wouldn't care to talk to me again, but she came right up and sat with me. She invited me (GET THIS) to go to a Latin Mass with her. I tried, as gently as possible, to explain that would NOT be happening. I don't want to go into detail, but the whole conversation was a virtual train-wreck. But it brought to mind something I've wanted to suggest for a long time:

WHY do we refer to those womyn-oppressing men in ivory towers with certain terms? If WE ARE CHURCH, then what they THINK they do really shouldn't matter to us. It follows, then, that what they are called by those womyn-oppressing men in Rome shouldn't matter to us either. I now recommend and suggest that we refer them as byshops. Gender is really a non-issue, so they should have the same designation as womyn. Ideas? Thoughts?

sad commentary on some youth today

This last week, as I was riding the bus, a young womyn sitting near me noticed my matching cross necklace, earrings and charm-bracelet. She asked what church I attend. When I told her about SOV2, her eyebrows raised, and she told me it isn't a real church because the bishop doesn't recognize it. I could NOT believe my ears! I told her I really wasn't worried what some Pharisee in an office somewhere thinks ... God recognizes SOV2, no matter what any given human being thinks. This lead into a long conversation (I even missed my stop, and had to ride the entire loop to get to where I was going) about many things. I was so saddened by this young person... she had absolute BLINDERS on! She spoke so many half-truths, and misunderstood so many real truths. She didn't agree that God is greater than men in church office, that womyn have a right to ministerial positions in the church, that they have a right to control over their bodies, that we have an obligation to the world to protect the environment, that Gaia is feminine … oh, the list could go on and on! I asked her where she was raised, and how she came to believe these things, and she told me that her parents NEVER taught her what to think, so she went looking for answers on her own. She found them on websites and that demonic EWTN. She obviously had no idea that I’m a religious sister because she even talked about how those awful old habits are wonderful, and said that she’s wanting to find a community which wears the habit. I thought of Dym Tim’s recent post, and realized how right he is … we MUST start raising our children right! We HAVE to teach them what to think, so the rad-trads don’t get into their brain and steal their ability to think! We need to start a class here are SOV2 on raising children the RIGHT way. Dym Tim, let me know how I can help…

photos

Hey everyone!

Just got around to downloading some of my pictures that have been on my camera for a while. I found this one of the youth liturgy a while back, and just had to share it w/ everyone:













Then I found this one of the labyrinth, with me, Maryann and a few others:










And this last one ... I just KNOW no one is going to believe me. It was in the midst of several I took during one of our outdoor liturgies. I remember I was trying to catch Dym Tim in various poses / moods. The sun was setting behind us, and the lighting was really awesome. Then, I found this ON MY CAMERA this way. I PROMISE it hasn't been "photoshop" altered. I am sure it's divine intervention. I think we should take it as a new community logo of some sort:





You have GOT to agree that it was divine intervention!

Back

Hi again everyone!

I am FINALLY out of jail. It has been one HUMONGO experience. I now have a new passion for prison ministry. Let's just say I have a new awareness of the life inmates lead ... and the need there is to evangelize and comfort them.

It will take a long, long time to write about all the experiences. From my therapy with the wonderful Benedictine Sisters to being put in jail the VERY DAY I returned... I am thinking of writing a book. The upside of it all is that there was NO LATIN in jail. Not one word of Latin was uttered the entire time.

The next good news is that I am clear and free of any charges. I was blessed with the most wonderful womyn judge. When she found out my background is in IT, she asked me if I would be willing to do some community service instead of continued jail time. I jumped at the chance. She assigned me to set up the network for a wonderful family - planning center. The womyn there were so kind and loving, even if they were a little rude when I asked questions about what went on in some of the rooms I cabled. Some of the place I could go into any room at any time. But there were some rooms, in the back, that were off limits during business hours, even though I saw clients coming and going into those rooms with staff. When I cabled those rooms after hours, they were like Doctor’s clinic examining rooms… but there were no doctors on staff. That really confused me, but no one would answer my questions. I was also confused when some of the clients were young teen age girls ... why do they need family-planning? And some of the womyn were already pregnant ... what good does family planning do when you're already pregnant? And so often the womyn came out of those rooms in clear emotional distress. Why should family-planning make womyn cry? It was made very clear that speaking to the clients was off-limits, and the staff watched me like a hawk! I really wanted to console some of them, but couldn't say a word. WIERD. I reminded myself it was NOT a Christian-based ministry, so it makes sense they would be wary of me. Anyway, I’m glad that job was able to substitute for my remaining jail time.

Now, I can sign up for prison ministry. There is so much hunger among the inmates for someone from the outside to bring them consolation and love. I’ve promised some of the inmates I would do everything I can to bring them comfort. And in prison, little things bring a person comfort. The poor womyn have almost all their femininity taken away from them. They’re not allowed metal clips for their hair, makeup or jewelry. It’s hard to feel good about yourself when you aren’t allowed to make your external appearance special. So I’ve promised to do what I can to help them… I’m not sure how, yet, but I’ll figure something out!

It’s good to be back!