Dateline Dayton — This past weekend Pauline and I traveled to Michigan, the city of Niles, for our grandson’s Confirmation.

Pauline took her brother, who has been staying at our house, back to his home on Friday so he could spend the weekend there. He will continue to stay with us until his eyesight improves.

We started out early on Saturday, and after stopping for breakfast, I suggested we stop in Shipshewana, IN, for pretzels, which we could consider lunch.

I remembered a pretzel stand in a store there with the best pretzels around. The pretzels are hot when served. Usually you wait for them to come directly from the oven, the best time to enjoy them.

Once we tried saving some for later in the day. But they weren’t the same.

Hmm, No Time for Either?

Pauline said we wouldn’t have time for a pretzel stop. So I said we probably wouldn’t have time for our traditional discount store stop, either. I was correct in that assumption.

We arrived at our daughter’s just past noon and her husband Mike’s parents came shortly afterward. They also live in the Dayton suburb of Kettering; however they left on Friday, so they could attend a musical in which Emily, who is Darlene’s and Mike’s youngest, participated.

After lunch, Pauline, Heather, Darlene and Emily were off to the grocery. I had them drop me off at the Antique Store. Last month when I was there, I found 10-cent postcards. I went to te card section, but there were none. I did find a couple items, spending a grand total of $4.19. That’s quite an improvement from the 40 cents I spent the last time.

Confirmation was during the 4:30 Mass, and it was a wonderful ceremony, celebrated by the retired Bishop of the Kalamazoo Diocese. Bishop Murray had a great service. His homily was excellent, down to earth, explaining what it meant to be confirmed.

I remember my Confirmation Day well, a unique experience. In the morning we received our First Communion. In the afternoon, we were confirmed. At that time, individuals were being confirmed at an early age; however, for both events to be on the same day was unusual.

The New Way Is Preferable

Personally, I like receiving Confirmation later. At our age, we didn’t understand what it was all about. The main subject of conversion was how hard the Bishop would hit us on the head. At that time it was customary for the Bishop to give you a tap on the head. In our young lives, a tap could be anything, even to the extent of having to pick yourself up off the floor.

There was no such thing as community service. Today, individuals wishing to be confirmed must perform some type of service for their community. This is an excellent ideal. It points out that church is not just a once a week event that takes place in a building.

After Mass, there was a small reception at church. From there, we retuned to our daughter’s for supper and a little party. We did get to meet Ryan’s girlfriend, whom I was suppose to meet on my previous two visits. For some reason she was always getting herself grounded. I was developing a complex. I thought Ryan may have told her how horrible I was. Maybe she was only imaginary. I really behaved myself. She is a sweet girl with a Chrysler 300 she can’t drive yet.

On Sunday, everyone met for breakfast except my son-in-law Mike, who had to work. After breakfast, we started for home, stopping to get some flowers and then stopping at the cemeteries in Piqua and Pleasant Hill to do the planting.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend. Please remember our servicemen and women.

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net