Gail Carter:
CLASS OF 1961
Riverdale Collegiate InstituteClass of 1961
Toronto, ON
Gail's Story
Catch 'em up on what you've done and who you are.
A Minor Event in My Life
I got an e-mail from my daughter-in-law, Jan, a few days ago. It was addressed to another relative and to me, informing us of Jossalyne's (granddaughter) Confirmation. She told us that upon such short notice, she would understand if we were unable to get to the ceremony. We would be walking from their house across the park behind their house to the church.
I hemmed and hawed, thinking Jossalyne certainly isn't going to miss my attendance. Perhaps I would send a card instead. I bought a Confirmation card - one about 'the lifting up of the soul and one's spirits' and thought those are appropriate words for how she would feel when she saw the fifty dollar bill tucked inside. In the end, I decided to go. Curiosity got the better of me. I drove through a rainstorm, strengthened by the Tim Horton's coffee I bought along the way.
When I arrived at Vic's and Jan's house no other relatives had arrived. Jossalyne was dressed and ready, looking as lovely as a thirteen-year-old can look. Her brother Jordan was eating the remains of dinner. Jan came downstairs, both surprised and pleased to see me. Because time was passing quickly, I suggested I drive Joss and Jan over to the church. My son and Jordan would walk. We got there just in time for Joss to meet in the back hall with all the other Confirmation candidates. Meanwhile Jan was a bit stressed that her brother Paul hadn't turned up yet. He's been asked to be Joss' sponsor. I said I'd stand in at the hall until Paul arrived.
There were very many of us in the hall, candidates and sponsors. The Priest entered and gave instructions regarding the ceremony - where the candidates and the sponsors should stand, just how the sponsors should introduce the candidates, and exactly what should be said; where they should be seated, etc. Then the Principal of the school reiterated the instructions. No Paul. By this time I felt committed to the task and told Jan not to worry: nobody will know the difference. She informed me she really appreciated my standing in for Paul. Parents couldn't do it. It has to be someone who is baptized and Catholic. Hmmmmmm.
Previously, on the drive over to the church, the notion of my filling in for Paul ('back-up'as Vic termed it) was a bit of a lark. Jossalyne had protested, weakly mind you, saying, "You don't even believe in God!". I answere jovially, "Now Jossalyne, you've heard me use God's name!- especially when I'm angry!" Then Jan added kindly, "Granny Gail and Grandad Glen go to church every Sunda...Expand for more
y. They go a lot more than we do." That's true, even though I often drag myself there. We were all in a good mood. It was going to turn out well.
In the church hall, as I was immersing myself into listening to instructions for this solemn ceremony - an important one for my granddaughter, I became emotionally and intellectually committed to doing as good a job as possible. I was proud to be so connected to Jossalyne. It was too late for Paul to insert himself into the ceremony. I was no longer a substitute. Proud to be there, I was.
After the beginning rituals the Priest began his homily by relating, of all things,a golf joke. 'A husband told his wife he'd be home by four o'clock after golfing. He didn't arrive until eight o'clock. She was spitfire mad until she heard the reason the game was held up: Fred had died right ther on the spot on the course. The wife apologized for being angry when she heard this news. Then he went on to say that it really had slowed their game because every time someone made a shot they had to drag Fred!' Yes, that got my attention. How was he going to interweave this joke into his sermon? As it turned out, we are all paying too much attention to the daily chores and stresses in our lives, instead of cvoncentrating on the religious principles we've been taught, therby dragging Jesus around.
After the sermon came Communion. Everyone is invited to go up to receive it. I felt I had to because I'd be the only Sponsor left sitting in the pews. I couldn't let Jossalyne down. I lined up with horrid trepidation. I watched everyone carefully . I'd never done it before in a Catholic church. Well, as it happened, I was in the Priest's line-up. I took the wafer extended to me and walked away, just as I'd seen others do. I got as far as maybe four strides away when I felt a sharp tap on my shoulder. I turned to find the Priest confronting me. "Are you Roman Catholic?" "No", I said, wringing my hands. He snatched the wafer out of my hand and dropped it back into the pot. He then put his hand out and blessed me. Yes. I was embarrassed. I returned to my seat.
At the end of the ceremony, the Priest reminded the newly conmfirmed children that, no, it wasn't all over now. It wasn't time to forget their lessons. It was time to remember that they had made a new start in their lives. He then invited everyone to come up to take pictures and to celebrate.
Later at Vic's and Jan's, someone said to Joss, "You did real good, kid. Now you can relax." I can relate with great satisfaction Jossalyne's response: 'It's just the beginning."
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