Last Friday, after I picked up the kids from school, I finished packing my things and headed up to Chicago. I drove by myself, which was quite nice. I didn't have to cater to anyone else's whims about when to stop, what to listen to, etc. I basically stopped when I felt like it and sang quite loudly the whole way up. I used the Waze app on my phone to find my way to my hotel.
Whatever did I do before navigation apps?!?!? I had printed directions from mapquest, like the "old days." I totally would have had to turned on a light to read the directions. This nice little device told me where to go next! Yay! Having a Smartphone is grand!
Before going on the trip, I had researched area hotels. At first, I thought it would be nice to stay in a hotel near the Convention Center. Rooms in that area were $90+ / night. PLUS you had to pay for parking, breakfast and internet. Yeah. Internet. What a rip off!
I discovered a Super 8 near O'Hare Airport which was closer to $50/night with FREE parking, FREE breakfast, and FREE internet. PLUS - they offer free shuttle service to the convention center. Once I found this place, it was a no brainer. :-)
I had decided previously that I would go to Mass on Saturday morning. That would help me settle down and be prepared for the day ahead. I used the MassTimes.org app on my phone and found a nearby church with a 9:00 AM Saturday morning Mass. I also found a church with an 8:30 Mass with confessions following Mass until 10:00 AM. I programmed both addresses into my Smartphone navigation the night before.
I barely woke up in time to make it to the 9:00 Mass. Of course, I hit the wrong address on my phone and it took me to the wrong church at first. Grrr. Fortunately, I still had a little bit of time to make it to the other church for Mass. I got there at 9:00. The place was locked...of course. I tried every door I could find. At my home parish, there is one door that is usually open, but you have to know which one. None of these were open. FINALLY, an older lady opened a door and asked if she could help me. I told her that I was there for Mass. She kindly informed me that Mass was actually at 8:00. :-P I, not-as-kindly, told her that they needed to update their website. I asked if I could come in. I sat in the church for a while. I used the Laudate app on my phone so I could at least review the Daily Readings. As I was sitting in the pew, another older lady approached me and not-at-all-kindly said, "Ma'am. Are you here for a REASON?" I told her that I was there for Mass, but missed it because their website was wrong. She quickly informed me that I needed to leave...because she had to lock up. Well, I was trying to start off the day right, but missing Mass tore me up and I started crying. A little stressed out? Perhaps. I'm starting to cry as I exit the place and the first lady, who had opened the door, asked if I was ok. I said, "Not really." As I walked out. And that was that. I sat in my car and tried to compose myself for a bit. Since I missed Mass, I might as well take advantage of the other Sacrament that was available to me. So I had my phone take me back to the first church.
It was much easier to find my way in, since someone was coming out and the doors weren't locked. ;-) Finding the confessional was tricky. After wandering around a bit, I discovered a room with an open door and the profile of a priest. I entered and made sure I was in the right place. It's tricky in these "newer" churches where things are in the "wrong" place. I closed the door. The priest was probably a "retired" priest. He asked why I was crying. I told him that it was because I missed Mass. Not sure if he didn't believe me, or just forgot as soon as I said it because it came up again. I was recounting my experience to some others and they said that they would love to have a priest who really forgot everything they said right away during Confession. To me, it was annoying. He said the blessing of absolution so quickly that I would have had no idea what he was saying if I hadn't heard it before.
His basic advice was to remember that Jesus died for my sins and "shut up". He said he was quoting a saint. Um...ok. He also said that singing Christmas carols would help. (If you are wondering what I confessed, well, too bad. Ha!)
My phone took me back to my hotel. My friend from high school, Cam, lives in the area. She came over to the hotel to hang out with me before it was time to head to the convention center. I had arranged for the shuttle to take me. Cam arrived with some flowers and a "Good Luck" balloon. :-) Yay! When it came time for me to head that way, I asked her to drive me, instead of taking the shuttle. I was very glad that I did. Cam told me to give her a call when I was finished and that we would go out to dinner later. If only I could have called her. . . (more to come)
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