As they do every year in June, Boricuas indulge in a lovefest as they come out by the hundreds to celebrate their heritage with the Puerto Rican Day Parade. The parade runs from 59 St., all way up to Spanish Harlem. But because the parade tends to get very crowded, this year I opted instead to go to the kite festival that was being held in Brooklyn in the Williamsburg section. Trust me, there is never a shortage of things to do in and around the Big "Mango".
My day started by Ash and I attending 8 o'clock Mass at Saint Peter's in our hometown in New Jersey. Besides celebrating the pouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples gathered in the upward room two thousand years ago, yesterday's homily focused primarily on the special prayer that was taking place at The Vatican between the Holy Father and leaders of both Israel and Palestine. We were also blessed with the visit and a special prayer in Hebrew by new Rabbi Paul Jacobson of Temple Avodat Shalom.
After Mass, Ash and I settled on a quick breakfast at McD's. IHOP is so overrated. We got two Cheese/ Sausage/Egg McMuffins for the price of one; and two large ice coffees at a dollar each, all for under five dollars. Talk about a good deal!
Once back home, I re-checked my messages and quickly realized that if I was going to make the kite festival, I needed to get going asap. I decided that I would drive into Brooklyn and look for parking in Ft. Greene. In less than 40 minutes, I was pulling into a spot in front of Emily's apartment. As opposed to other times, this time I got very lucky—there were parking spots galore in the neighborhood. And all-day parking, too! Score another one for the gipper!
Emily and her boyfriend Lance didn't have to twist my arm. In no time I found a comfy seat and the three of us sat joyfully watching the French Open. My boy Nadal and Djokovic were head to head, as they kept going back and forth. About a half hour later we had to leave, just as Nadal was leading again. Without looking back, we sprinted down Fulton down to the "G" train station. Thanks to Emily's navigational skills, we hopped on the train and got off at the Nassau stop, from where we walked to Wythe and 11th Street in Williamsburg.
First things first! It took us a while to find our party. Our friends and their precocious tyke were just wrapping up a birthday party they had been invited to. From then on, it was high-flying. Kites, that is! After purchasing one of those very colorful ones, we were off to the open field by the water for some serious kite-flying. If at first you don't succeed, you try again. Manuel was not giving up in spite of the fact that there was not enough wind to fly a kite properly. His good efforts finally paid off as he continued to run the length of the field and back. The kite finally started to take flight.
Lance had also brought along his kite—one the length of a king-size sofa, or bigger. And as soon as he saw the opportunity, he seized it. The winds had pick up speed and he was ready. In no time, that baby was soaring high above like an eagle. So was Manuel's kite! Yes, persistence had paid off. The kites seemed to compete with and tease one another, and soon they were putting on a splendid show of sorts for everyone present. I should mention that aside from another kite-flyer, Manuel and Lance were the only ones entertaining us with their kite-flying maneuvers.
After our fill of kite-flying, and frisbee, and soccer playing, not to mention running to the cool mist-making machine before passing out from the heat, we were ravenous. We packed up the kites, and the tyke, and the stroller, and we were off to find a watering hole. After sitting down at one place and realizing that the menu was way too limited, we excused ourselves, got up, and exited the establishment. A couple of minutes later Manuel introduced us to the Kent Ale House, where we sampled half of the beer inventory, accompanied by healthy burgers, salad, and sweet potato fries.
About forty minutes after bidding ciao to our party, this rendezvous of a Sunday culminated at St. Francis of Assisi Church on 135 and 31St. in Manhattan, for Emily, Lance, and myself. After having found our places in one of the middle pews, as if we had not had enough kite flying for one afternoon, the Holy Spirit ushered into the church in the form of white doves proclaiming the Good News! No, they were not real doves, but still kites (I said more kites!) in the form of bigger than normal, white doves, and soaring up the church aisle, as they were held up by very long thin wires.
Could this day get any more surprising?
What a day!
God is certainly always looking out for us! Don't ever doubt it. Not for one second.
What a beautiful feeling that is!
It was nightfall by the time I got back home. By then, I was both utterly exhausted and brimming with joy and gratitude, for all the gifts I had received from the Holy Spirit. Figuratively and literally, my Pentecost Sunday had started and ended with the Holy Spirit.
How's that for surprises!
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| At St. Francis of Assisi |
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| the gang's all here w/comedian Lance Weiss |
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| the adorable tyke hanging with the big guys! |
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| you think he's had enough pickins? |
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