Airplanes and Holy Water

We recently made another trip back to IL, this time for a family wedding, and to have the boys baptized. Why even think about driving when you have the chance to change a diaper at 35,000 feet? If that alone isn't worth the ticket price, seeing the faces of the 4 poor souls in our row made it worth every dime. Kristin, who is much less bitter toward humanity, actually took her crying lad to the back of the plane, while Finn and I just sat in our seats and cried about the leg room. She later returned with a free Toblerone candy bar, and grumbled something about karma being a bitch. After snatching it from her hand and chowing it in one swift motion, I asked if she was sure about that.

Our driver (Russ) showed up promptly as usual, and we were both ready to hand off babies to the waiting Grandmothers. In regards to baby care, our weekend was a piece of cake. Its the referee duties that kept us both on our toes. Time spent with the boys has evolved and is now categorized into different tiers of quality. Group time doesn't count, and alone time is to be split evenly 50/50 without question. And if either Grandmother tells you they aren't counting the minutes, send them on their way. That isn't to say that we all can't play nice together because we can and did. But, alone time with the boys, when nobody else can see the ridiculous faces that are made, is gold for a Grandma.

Above: Nina and Steve, the Godparents of Finley Jacob

The wedding service for Kristin's cousin Lindsey went well. The boys were well behaved until the bride walked down the aisle. Eliot and I then decided to inspect the neighboring soybean field, while Grandma Cyndi and Finn went on their own field trip through the parking lot and beyond. All things considered, having one of the creatures during the church service is the way to go, especially if you are occasionally bored by the droning sound of chanting in unison. And no disrespect intended, even the boys mustered up the reverence to participate in their rite of passage the following morning.

The church service was about to begin when we got the message that my brother Dan was lost, but we could go ahead and start anyways. Thank God. So it began, and eventually both sets of Godparents were holding a boy, renounced the evils of the world, and dunked him. Steve and Nina are close as both family and friends, and may be the only source of steady sanity in a chaotic family. Brett and Britt, cousins from Kristin's side, are now forced to make a trip or two out west to check on their nephews and instruct them in the ways of running a football. These four folks combined with the mix of Catholic and Lutheran

onlookers, offered a balanced welcome into the world of God, good, and religion. All four Godparents sponsored a boy in part because they have a strong moral fiber; they might not ask what it takes to be a good person, but they also don't have to be told. And the other part is their gift giving capabilities, which they all demonstrated well on Sunday.

Right: Brett and Britt, Godparents of Eliot Cash

The service continued on, and soon enough we had our first experience in the cry room, where we found Shawn's entire family camped out. We left the boys and paid a visit to Dan and Carly sitting in the back row, who gave me some story about how they showed up just in the nick of time to witness the blessing. Carly reeked bourbon from the previous night, and Dan forgot his clothes as he left Chicago in a hazy stupor. He walked up to receive communion wearing my dad's clothes and having to use one hand to hold up his pants. Most people would be embarrassed, but Dan and his baggy pants arrived back at his pew with a smile on his face and said, "its hammer time."

The Catholic side of the family made fun of the Lutheran communion offering individual portions of wine, both red and white (as if they have any room to talk.) And the Lutheran side made fun of the Catholics for using the baptism bath as holy water to make the sign of the cross with. I still don't see the problem with that, but laugh it up. Good times had by all, and the boys are blessed and on their way.