In Memory Of

I need some help understanding something. Now, when I hear "In Memory Of....", I am well aware, and especially since I am Catholic and "older," of what is coming. Just like we love a good Catholic wedding (I love the 2 hour Catholic wedding and the upcoming wedding reception aka wild party). I also, in a very weird sense, enjoy a Catholic funeral. Now don't get me wrong, I don't want to wish anyone any ill will or anything of the sort but I take great comfort in the ceremony that is steeped in tradition. Although I am a strong proponent of cremation, I will almost feel cheated at the prospect of going to a Catholic funeral and not being able to be there for the part of the ceremony where the priest walks around the casket with incense and blesses the casket and body.

Editor's side track note: Check out this video on youtube. I know that it is not a Catholic wedding but I can't help but think that I missed a great party.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

It is with this in mind that brings me to my next thought. About 10 or so years ago, I first noticed people putting "In Memory Of...." (and the person that they were close to - child, spouse, etc. that has passed on to the next life) on the back of their vehicle of choice. So, can someone please explain this to me? I completely understand that if someone spent a great deal of time into a vehicle that they lovingly cherished and then passed on. If their survivors of the dearly departed then put "In Loving Memory Of" on the back of that vehicle, that I understand. But to put it on the back of their own car, that I don't understand. Maybe it is something that I can't understand unless I actually go through it (which, by the way, I wouldn't wish upon anyone).

I did see one today and was getting ready to get annoyed (I do that a lot lately, about a lot of stuff - just ask me and I can tell you about all sorts of stuff that annoy me on a daily basis) but once I saw what it was, my annoyance dissipated. The "In Loving Memory Of" was for someone that died in service to our country, defending our Constitutional Rights. Anything that will keep the deeply lasting effects of our current debacle in the forefront of our psyche, then I am all for it (let's not get started on Iraq. Let's just say that we should support our troops but not the politicians that put us in the middle of the wars - and I am still looking for someone to logically explain to me why we went into Iraq).

So, other than this one I saw today, please explain to me why you would put it on your car. Trust me, if I put "In Loving Memory Of" on something, I intend to keep it and revere it. For the most part, cars don't fall into that category for me.

Little things I want to comment on:

1) I saw an interesting article earlier this week about the sexes fighting about the thermostat. I love my wife for many reasons that are too numerous to list here on the website but I can tell you right now that our house is at 82 degrees right now and probably will stay there for a while.

2) I have 4 classes left to graduate. My adviser informed me that I could substitute out a class this coming semester instead of waiting for Spring semester to take it. So, in a fit of insanity, I am signing up for it (another 3 hour evening class once a week). That will leave me with one class this Spring. Please remind me in September why I did what I did. I will say though that I had to get an override to take the class and just from the email, the professor seems really cool and I look forward to an interesting semester with him. Hopefully it won't be like my last 3 hour/1 night a week class where we had maybe 20 people show up (out of 100 students). The times that students did show up, I was privileged to witness one gentleman show up in pajamas (this was an evening class) and another young woman show up in a see through dress that I firmly believe that she did not know was see through. For whatever reason, I have a lot of emotions about it but none of them was "turned on." And for those wanting to know, the professor did tell us at the beginning of the semester that there really was no reason for us to come to class every week - we just needed to turn in the homework online and take the two exams. Kellie asked me if I intended to go to class and my answer was - of course. How could I not go to every minute of that stinkin class? I did get an A+ in the class but that was just as much of a function of the ridiculousness of the class and the way it was setup. I personally was highly disappointed in that I really wanted to enjoy the class (it was an elective that I needed to take).

3) I am cooking this Saturday. Shredded beef tacos (of which my wife's friend Ann cannot duplicate - Ann if you are reading this and want to learn, contact me on Saturday mid-morning and you can come over to learn - better late than never), flan and my niece Sarah recently told me she made the recipe I gave her for black bean and corn salsa that went over well with her friends in D.C. Actually, if anyone reading this wants to learn how to make these recipes with me, I will be happy to spend some time with you teaching you this Saturday. I have gotten rave reviews on my flan recipe.

Again, I hope that this post finds everyone in good health.