| Melanie: For Whom the (joyful) Bell Tolls (in a completely out of context and non-death related way) |
On Sunday the kids were so sleepy after church we decided to get lunch to go and give the kids a "car nap". This is a treat for me since it involves zero effort to help them fall asleep. The downside is I don't get a nap. Anyways Lance and I drove around enjoying our absolutely delicious extreme pitas. After awhile I dropped him off at home and kept driving. The day was a perfect crisp and sunny prairie fall day. The fields all straw gold stubble. Cool blue sky. I drove and drove and drove. As I was heading towards home I saw a sign for St Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Parish and a Ukrainian Catholic Church. I turned off the highway in search of these old country churches I'd never seen or heard of.
Immediately I was reminded of "homesteading" with Melanie. When she was out visiting a number of years ago we ventured out in February weather exploring abandoned homesteads and digging up my family history in nearby Tofield.
I pulled into the "parking lot" of St Peter and Paul. A neat old church complete with outhouses. Not sure if the church was still in use. Anyways carried on.
Was surprised (but shouldn't have been) to find Exaltation of the Holy Cross Ukranian Catholic Church to be a blue and white building complete with silver domes. The church had been built in the early 1900s, restored in 1985 and declared a historic site in 87. It looked a little worse for wear. But what intrigued me - besides the again present outhouses and a 4 foot high door about 7 feet off the ground on the backside of the church - was the freestanding bell "tower" (pretty small tower) adjacent to the church. Complete with rope dangling down.
If Melanie were here....
If Melanie were here she would ring the bell.
I'll have to tell her I thought of her and fondly remembered homesteading.
But wouldn't the story be a LOT better if you actually rang the bell?
In honor of your daring friend?
No.
Yes.
I looked left and right. Jumped out of the van in stocking feet. Crunched through dry leaves. Took hold of the rope. Pulled gingerly. I saw the large bell just barely budge. I gave it a firm, but not to firm, yank.
RING
the bell pealed across the silent prairie
Ring
Okay twice is enough
ring
no no no please no more
I am back in the van and pulling out onto the gravel road before the last ring has completely fallen quiet.
BUT if it had been Melanie... There would've been wild laughter. WAY harder yanking. Actually savoring the rings of the bell. And then speeding away imagining what the neighbors were thinking.
So Melanie, on Sunday the bell was tolling for you.
But it would have been better if you were there! |
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| 2 Comments: |
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I hope the ringing didn't wake the kids.
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*great big smile* thanks for the story
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posted by Aimee at 
I hope the ringing didn't wake the kids.