...and it was good

Yea, verily, the pater and the step-mater were here for a week, and as it is written, all Lenten abstinence shall lift during the visit, to recommence upon their leave for warm ocean waters. From the book of Exodus, it has been pointed out to me, even though it's the Old Testament and therefore some doubt was cast in my heart in applying the written laws to the New Testament, nonetheless I shed my doubt and cast forth to the stores.

"There will come a time, and when it comes there will be no hesitation, you will venture forth among the heathen to pay in salt for your travels. Gold will pass hands, but greed will not be upon your countenance. When she of great shopping might is upon you bearing credit cards of gold and platinum, you will bend to her will and her coat of many precious metals. You will use the horseless carriage (really? in Exodus it says this?) to convey the stepmother to cute little rural villages laden with treasures, and you shall let her buy you a nice housewarming gift. I say to you, you must also take her to the shops of the downtown for other rites of commerce passage, where you will find a tiny jacket of turquoise and gold, and it will pass into your hands for 70% off the normal retail price. You will chat with the jewel merchant who has many baubles and bags for very reasonable prices, and you will do well to purchase a silver wire-wrapped ring. And you will praise the lord, and make many sacrifices in her name, and consume hot beverages and sweets to gather strength for the next onslaught. And you will not falter, for the lord smiles upon you and yields many sale items. And she will see what you have wrought, and smile, for it will be good."

They came. We ate, drank, we were merry. We lifted the Lenten penance and shopped and ate dessert after supper every night. They are off now on a cruise in the Carribbean.

I doubt that my dad will live another year.