As you can tell trying to keep a blog going with our schedule is not easy. It is now 10:30 pm and We have to give an update but everything right now is a blur.
Our days seem to be filled with endless walking and walking and talking and talking!
The Pennsylvania Convention Centre (all 1 million square miles of it) has become our home away from home and the 17,000 people milling around in it are like our best buddies. Jokes aside it is really the most amazing atmosphere. All these thousands of Catholic families under one roof. Babies, tiny tots, teenagers and parents all full of the joy of the Lord, smiling and laughing and reaching out in love to one another. Bishop Robert Llanos said he even saw a father pushing Quadruplets in a carriage this morning. deacons, priests, Bishops and Cardinals by the grap! And again we have to mention the first class organization.
We have tried to capture the scene in our interviews but we know it is impossible to really bring it all to you. Today we interviewed a lady running one of the booths who is promoting Children's Rosary groups all over the world. Well! Her little boy, 8 years old made our day and our week! Everybody has to see that interview if you can. He says "Let me get my jacket so I can talk to you properly." With that he stole the show as he explained what the ministry was all about.
We are so privileged to have the use of the most wonderful Media Room that so far we have not had to share with too many other people. The truth is that there must be about another 30 people in there but the room is so big it almost seems empty.
The Centre is very well equipped with bathrooms on every floor for the Masses but we are even more blessed with a bank of 10 toilets all to ourselves and the bathroom area is cleaned every 30 minutes. 17,000 people and we never have to line up.
There are huge TV Screens all over this room. Most show the Main talk that is going on in the hall. A couple run CNN all day and others cover whatever press conference is going on in our room at the time. We could see the Pope arriving at the White House or addressing Congress so clearly, you felt you could reach out and touch him.
Philadelphia is a city of Huge Murals everywhere and hardly any Graffiti because of that. Presently an Artist is trying to enter the Guinness book of Records by having the most people take part in the painting of one Mural. So, he has large parts of it on Tables in the Ballroom and everyone is invited to sign up and take part in painting some portion. So, we had some fun doing that yesterday. You can imagine how Lisa loved that! Philadelphia has to be one of the most beautiful cities in America. From the outskirts where we are staying, to the City Centre it is really something to see and enjoy. Not a bad place to live.
One major discovery we made early on in the week has been the 'Reading Terminal Market' which continues to amaze and entertain and provide great enjoyment for all. You walk through those doors into a 'Disney-world' of food of every kind and gift items and anything else you can think of. It is set up with streets and Aisles. The smells of Roast Peking Duck and German Sausages and Pizza and Hot Philly Cheese Sandwiches and Thai Food and Coffee Houses and Ice-Cream Shops. When we eventually have time to eat lunch we don't have to even think of where to go it is all right there under one roof!
We are amazed at the preparations for the Holy Father's visit. A large part of the city is on lock down from 6. Extremely limited vehicular traffic. People are talking as if they are preparing for a Hurricane! Some people who live in the City have actually decided to move out for the weekend. We saw a Pharmacist being interviewed saying that he had warned his customers to stock up on medication and get what they needed last week. No more cars are being allowed past a wide mike radius of the City. We have to drive to an out of town train station at 6:30am and take the train into the city and walk to the Conference Centre.
Thank God for our beautiful 'Wannabe Trini' - Cassie Schemmel. She has been pure gift. I cannot imagine what we would have done or where we would be without her. She has been wonderful as a GPS and Navigator for Rosemary as she drives. She sat and planned the best route for us to take - morning by car and by train - when we reached home with burning feet and aching backs we decided to try and sort out some of the stuff we have accumulated over the days. Piles of Catholic Literature and give aways from the exhibition. Running between the two rooms exchanging things and trying to identify what belongs to who? In the midst of this we hear a strange sound in the passage way and here comes Cassie covered in Gina's old Linus blanket she brought from home with holes all over! Making ghostly sounds and giggling. She doesn't see a Spanish lady coming down the corridor.....the Lady starts one laughing at the crazy scene. Cassie and Gina start giggling uncontrollably, twisting under the holy blanket and Rosemary is paralyzed with embarrassment in her room with the door open, her face red as a beetroot!
No laughing matter is the fact that there is some mix up with our Hotel Reservations and poor Rosemary has been back and forth with the reservations desk tonight. They are saying that we might all have to change rooms in the morning!! When??? We leave here at 6:30am!!! Pray for God to put a hand! mercy Lord, Mercy!
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