Extra, Extra! Read all of Volume Ten! I'm still on the phone (fine, on hold) with so-and-so about this-and-that, so let's get this post oot and aboot...
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Confession: I didn't know people ACTUALLY home schooled their children until I went to college. It sounded like a myth, or a kind of educational theory. I rationalized that only people who didn't have schools within a certain number of miles of their home would do that. I grew up in a huge city with tons of schools: public, private, parochial, take your pick! Then I found out Cincinnati is a huge homeschooling city.
I admit: I should have known better.
My father was that parent who made us do extra work when we got home from school. He went to teacher-parent night to complain that we weren't being given enough homework. He always said, "I already know my kids are the best. I want to hear how you're going to make them better."
He also told us to play for fun, climb trees, read books and then write our own. He listened to every single child tell him ridiculous stories, only to have him tell us a better one. Yeah, you want to meet my dad now. Who doesn't?
The loner holds out for grace --the Maker's mercy--though full of care he steers a course, forced to row the freezing, fierce sea with bare hands, take the exile's way; fate dictates. The earth-stepper spoke, heedful of hardship, of brutal battle, the death of kith and kin: "Often at first lick of light I lament my sole way--no one left to open my self up to wholly, heart and soul. Sure, I know it's the noble custom for an earl to bind fast what's in his breast, hoard inmost thoughts, think what he will.
For sure, no man's wise without his share of winters in the world. He must be patient, not too keen, not hot tongued, not easily led, not foolhardy, not timid, not all gusto, not greedy not too cocky till he knows life. A man should take stock before a vow, brace for action, be mindful of the mind's twists and turns."
So spoke the wise man from his heart, musing apart. Blest is he who holds true. No man should openly bare his heart's hardships unless he knows the cure, that is his great feat. It's well to seek solace from the Maker, out only security.
Last night, I helped out at Cast Your Nets, a high school event put on by the Vocations Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. I was put on PowerPoint duty. My finger performed exceptionally well tapping the arrow keys. I think I might have found my true calling in life!
Fr. Kyle asked if I went to Franciscan University of Steubenville, a Catholic college in Ohio and I replied, Nope, I went to Hillsdale College in Michigan. Not as exciting in Catholic spheres, but that hasn’t been the first time someone has thought I went to a Catholic college. Nope. I didn’t even look at Catholic colleges, unless they had a lacrosse program.
My alma mater's religious ratio is (about) 60 percent Protestant, 40 percent Catholic (with about 1300 students in toto). I was blessed to graduate with many friends on campus, but, of my top ten closest friends, seven are Protestants and three are Catholics. (I know, the numbers are so Biblical!)
